Satish Jha
I first met Arvind about the time he started Parivartan and began impacting the lives of people who needed help. Coming from the world of working for those who could not help themselves, I was naturally drawn to his sincerity in pursuing causes dear to me and I lent my support in small ways that I could.
For someone who joined the civil services, his has been a journey worth watching. I left my home when my parents nudged me to consider joining the IAS etc. The idea of becoming a subordinate did not seem appealing. And then I found myself joining an institution that was a sort of club where our civil servants came to spend from a couple of days to a year. It was interesting to learn from and engage with these civil servants starting with the batch of 1954, before I was born, and I began to see the merits and challenges of being a civil servant who often preferred to be not so civil to those with less power and thought of themselves as officers, as distinct from the servants they are supposed to be.
Of the 400 odd IAS and allied officers that I met there, one made me a hero of his novels, another became part of my life for a while, yet another mentored me and several others helped in ways they could. But few had the passion, sincerity, simplicity, humility, decisiveness, focus and the goal that I later saw in Arvind.
Clearly he does not need anyone's certificate. His batch mates from IIT or the services have an opportunity to admire him. Small minds among them may feel jealous of him or try to advise him with little credentials to engage in any advice to anyone who can lead.
He has blazed a trail unlike any in quite a while. Hope he continues his journey ahead with the attributes he has come to symbolize and bring some cheer to the Aam Aadami in the years ahead!
