As Good as My Word : A Memoir

By K.M. Chandrasekhar

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About the book

‘On 19 May 2007, I was summoned to the Prime Minister’s house … He thought I would be right for the job.’

In an illustrious career spanning over forty years in public service and culminating in the highest office in Indian bureaucracy – Union Cabinet Secretary – K.M. Chandrasekhar has seen, and done, it all. He is one of those rare IAS officers who has held a wide range of senior positions in State government, the Centre, and public sector undertakings.

In this autobiography, he paints an intimate picture of the UPA government during one of its toughest phases and his own, crucial, role in steering India through some of her most severe crises – the Great Recession of 2008, the oilmen’s strike in 2009 and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks – and scams – the 2G Spectrum case and the 2010 Commonwealth Games corruption scandal. This book describes Chandrasekhar’s experiments in public administration, cutting his teeth in trade diplomacy as the Indian ambassador to the World Trade Organization, his excellent working equation with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his run-ins with some prominent ministers of the time, and his reflections on Indian democracy, economy and defence.

As Good as My Word is the story of the successes and failures of a civil servant, who successfully navigated challenging areas of public life. Unsparingly honest and forthright, and packed with political gossip, the book offers a ringside view of Indian politics and bureaucracy during the UPA era.

Pages: 312

Available in: Paperback

Language: English

K.M. Chandrasekhar

K.M. Chandrasekhar is a former IAS officer of the 1970 batch, who served as the Cabinet Secretary of India from 2007 to 2011. In a career spanning five decades, he has traversed many sectors—district administration, public finance, taxation, national security and international diplomacy, among others. He was the Founder Chairman of the Spices Board, India’s Ambassador to the WTO and the Union Revenue Secretary. He was Vice Chairman, Kerala State Planning Board, and has also held the position of Secretary for Industries and Finance departments in the Kerala government.“

As Good As My Word is a richly detailed memoir, recounting K.M. Chandrasekhar’s long and distinguished career as a civil servant and diplomat. From his very first posting in Kerala to his tenure as Cabinet Secretary via senior positions in Europe, Chandrasekhar tells us of the challenges and satisfactions of a life on India’s public-service frontlines. An insightful read. - Shashi Tharoor, author and Member of Parliament

K.M. Chandrasekhar’s memoir takes us on a fascinating journey with one of India’s most accomplished civil servants as he navigated some of the momentous challenges in India’s recent history. This is a rare and penetrating look at governance in India in all its complexity. - Shyam Saran, former Foreign Secretary, India

K.M. Chandrasekhar’s unmatched problem-solving approach and the openness to collaborate with multiple stakeholders, as narrated in this book, is bound to inspire the administrative discourse. This autobiography captures what it takes for an administrator to navigate through complex roles and relationships to render one’s duties effectively, while keeping the greater interests of the people and the nation at heart. A must-read! - Dr S. Ramadorai, former CEO & MD, Tata Consultancy Services

A dispassionate, masterly and informative account of the concatenated role of bureaucracy and politics in governance from an insider’s perspective. - Prabhu Chawla, Editorial Director, The New Indian Express

The author provides his candid comments on the eventful, indeed turbulent, years when he was at the helm of the civil service, and equally candid comments on some recent trends in India that are clearly a matter of concern to him. What the reader gets, therefore, are rich insights into the working of an administrator’s mind, from his early career to his post-retirement engagements. Some telling asides and anecdotes provide added flavour. - Shri T.N. Ninan, former Chairman & Director, Business Standard Private Limited