Posoowa: Posoowa and the Assam Association, Delhi is proud of the fact that you have recently been appointed as the Secretary to the Govt of India.
H S Brahma: Thank you so much Posoowa! Through this medium, I sincerely wish to thank all my Assamese brothers and sisters, elders and well wishers for their blessings and good wishes, which went a long way in my elevation to this level of Secretary apart from my hard work of course.
Being an Assamese, I am happy that Posoowa is doing a noble service in publishing all the achievements of Assamese people spread all over the World. I hope this medium (Magazine) would be a good reading material, especially for the Non-Resident Assamese to keep track of the happenings at Assam (home front) and else where.
Posoowa: Please tell us about your childhood. How did it all begin and how have you arrived at this position where you are today?
HSB: I was born in a small town named Gossaigaon in the Kokrajhar District of Assam in April 1950. I did my schooling in Don Bosco School, Guwahati and passed out in 1966. I did my college education at St. Edmund’s College, Shillong and obtained BA (Honours) degree in 1970. Later on I completed my Post Graduation (MA) from Gauhati University in 1972. I appeared in the Civil Services Examination conducted by the UPSC in 1974 and was finally recruited in the year 1975. I was allotted to the Andhra Pradesh Cadre. After joining my Cadre in 1976, I served in some of the most sensitive and important positions in the state government. I served in all the three regions of Andhra Pradesh Rayalaseema, Telengana and Coastal Andhra. I have held many important assignments in almost all the fields from Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad to Transport, Electricity Dept, Food & Civil Supplies, Environment & Forest etc. in the State and undertook many developmental projects and implementation of various welfare schemes. Later, I joined the Govt. in the Centre by serving in the Ministry of Home Affairs in the capacity of Joint Secretary (Border Management) and thereafter as Additional Secretary in National Disaster Management Authority. I am working in the same organization till date i.e., National Disaster Management Authority in the capacity of Secretary.
Posoowa: Did you have to face any kind of politics or lobbying related to your appointments ever? Did that ever come in your way?
HSB: I don’t think there is any such thing as lobbying. During my entire career of four decades, I was extremely fortunate to have the affection and best wishes of my seniors and colleagues and I didn’t face any problem in working with the various Chief Ministers or Ministers. I have always maintained a very cordial and professional relationship with whomsoever I had to work with and in reciprocation they too have whole-heartedly supported all my endeavors. My career progression have been timely and in accordance with my seniority and there has never been an iota of lobbying at any level either for postings or promotions. Perhaps, I was too lucky.
Posoowa: You are an accomplished person. Please tell us a bit about your focus areas if any?
HSB: I have always felt that the provision of food security and employment opportunity should be one of the prime concerns of any civilized society. Accordingly, I tried to implement the Rs. 2/- per kg rice scheme of the Govt. of AP along with proper market intervention during the onion price hike of 1997-98. In fact, due to this timely intervention, the same ruling political party in the state could return to power while many state governments collapsed because of price hike.
Posoowa: You’ve had a long and successful bureaucratic career. What are the lessons you have learnt from your profession and life?
I would like to mention the following lessons learnt during my four decades of Government Service:
a) One should be professional, upright, sincere and hard working. Proficiency in the subject matter is always a MUST. Unless one is proficient and knowledgeable in his areas of responsibility, one cannot lead a team.
b) One should be open to suggestions coming from his juniors/colleagues besides his seniors.
c) One should exhibit exemplary discipline & punctuality, both in personal and professional life, besides being sympathetic to all.
Posoowa: Did you always want to become a Civil Servant? What was your aim in life initially and do you think you have deviated from it?
HSB: No, not exactly! You see I always nurtured a dream of leading a sportsman’s life, as I was very passionate about playing football and participating in athletics. As the Captain of my school football team, I have led my team in various district, state and national level tournaments and won accolades for my school and the state. But it was my parents’ wish that I should join the Civil Services of our country. Accordingly, I reduced my sporting activities once I joined the college. In fact, to ensure that I do not continue with my football career, my parents refused to admit me to any college in Assam which included present day Meghalaya. Fortunately, when the HSSLC results were declared there was a heavy flood in Assam during June 1966 which disrupted both rail and road connectivity. That prevented me from leaving Assam to pursue higher studies. Ultimately, I joined St. Edmund’s College in Shillong from where my elder brother had also graduated. Having joined the college, I found my Teachers and Superintendent of my college hostel keeping a very close watch on my studies since my father informed them that I should desist from participating in any major tournaments etc. Here, I would like to put on record the role played by Dr. B. Datta Roy, HoD of Political Science, Prof. Hasan of the History Dept. and Ms. Walong of English Dept. who really motivated me to be serious about my studies. Dr. B. Datta Roy, Supdt. of the Hostel also made me the youngest Hostel Monitor for two years despite the presence of seniors in the hostel. I believe this additional responsibility also made me quite serious about my studies.
After graduating from St. Edmund’s in 1970, I joined the Post Graduate course in Gauhati University and passed out in 1972. Here, I would like to narrate two interesting anecdotes of my student life. Once two lady classmates of mine in a group of half a dozen boys and girls belonging to Manipur accused me of wasting my time just before the final exam and enquired from me whether I have any future plan in my life at all? A week later, two of my senior professors from the university also enquired the same when I met them in the staff room. The question was the same and I replied in negative on both the occasions!
Posoowa: As a non-resident Assamese, do you miss Assam? What is it that you miss the most?
HSB: Of course I do! Whenever I look back, I always feel the absence of my school and college friends in my life, particularly my football team mates from school as well as the players from the state level team. Some of them unfortunately have died young and a few of them have migrated to other countries.
Secondly, I fondly reminisce the miles and miles of beautiful paddy fields with irrigation canals in my village and the fragrant aroma of scented rice that one could smell from miles away. Finally, I miss the great Bihu festival and the Baishagu.
(Posoowa wishes Mr. Brahma a great innings as Secretary to the Govt. of India)
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