T. N. Seshan
| T N Seshan | |
|---|---|
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| 18th Secretary of the Cabinet 18th Cabinet Secretary of India |
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| In office 1989–1989 |
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| Prime Minister | V. P. Singh |
| Preceded by | B.G.Deshmukh |
| Succeeded by | V. C. Pande |
| 10th Chief Election Commissioner of India | |
| In office December 12, 1990 – December 11, 1996 |
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| Preceded by | V.S. Ramadevi |
| Succeeded by | M.S. Gill |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Tirunellai Narayana Iyer Seshan 15 December 1932 Palakkad, Kerala, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma mater | Madras Christian College Harvard University |
Tirunellai Narayana Iyer Seshan ( Malayalam: ടി .എന് . ശേഷന് Tamil: திருநெல்லை நாராயண ஐயர் சேஷன்) or T. N. Seshan is a retired Indian Administrative Service officer, who held several public offices in the Government of India. He was the 10th Chief Election Commissioner of India from December 12, 1990 to December 11, 1996.[1]He is widely known for his commitment to and was largely successful in ending electoral malpractices in India.
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[edit] Childhood and Education
T. N. Seshan was born in a Tamil speaking Kerala Iyer family in Thirunellai, Palakkad district, Kerala on December 15, 1932. He studied at Basel Evangelical Mission Higher Secondary School. Seshan graduated from the Madras Christian College. He then went to study at Harvard University on Edward S. Mason Fellowship where he earned a master’s degree in public administration (Class of 1968).
[edit] Career
T. N. Seshan wanted to join the Indian Civil Service. He was accepted into the Indian Police Service as he topped the examination of 1953. He wrote the civil service exam again and was accepted into the Indian Administrative Service examination of 1954. In 1955 he joined the IAS as a trainee.
An officer of the Indian Administrative Service, he also held the following posts;
- Director, Ministry of Atomic Energy
- Joint secretary, Ministry of Space
- Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Government of Tamil Nadu
- Member (Personnel), Oil & Natural Gas Commission
- Additional Secretary, Ministry of Space
- Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Defence, and
- Secretary, Internal Security.
He went on to occupy the post of Cabinet Secretary, the senior most position in the Indian Civil Service hierarchy, and Member, Planning Commission of India, before being appointed the Chief Election Commissioner.
As the Chief Election Commissioner of India he made history by introducing innovative electoral reforms and making the Election Commission a powerful body. He may be rightfully termed as the most visible public figure who redefined the status and visibility of a C.E.C in India. His name became synonymous with transparency, efficiency and forward vision during his tenure as the C.E.C. He used this to hone his political ambitions by contesting for the post of President of India in 1997 (though he lost to K.R. Narayanan). He came up with the vision of an election-card for every rightful voter in India, something that is regarded as the Indian equivalent of the U.S Social Security card.
He is often known for his crisp one-liners, be it during his service to his superiors and ministers or while handling the media. He won the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service in 1996.[2]
[edit] Misguiding Controversy
He was not without a controversy, however. In January 1994, he used a Reliance aircraft to attend a religious function in Kancheepuram (The Last rites of Sri La Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetadhipadhi ). This was the time when Mr. Seshan had cast himself as a man who was out to clean the corrupt stables of Indian politics. Caught in the glare of unhelpful public attention, he demonstratively wrote out a cheque for Rs. 95,000 (INR).[3]Most people says that these allegation are politically motivated and misguiding the focus.
[edit] His Social Activity
After retirement he founded the Deshbhakt Trust, an NGO forum for like minded citizens concerned with social reforms in India. He was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award[4] for Government Service in 1996.
In January 2008, he joined, as a permanent faculty, the Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai and is in the advisory council of B-schools like National Management School, Chennai. He teaches courses on Leadership, Influence and Managing power and Business, Government and Society.
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[edit] References
- ^ "Previous Chief Election Commissioners". Election Commission of India. http://www.eci.gov.in/Audio_VideoClips/previous-ces.asp.
- ^ Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation http://www.rmaf.org.ph/index.php?task=4&year=1990
- ^ "The Hindu : Opinion / Leader Page Articles : Flying the leader, protocol and propriety". Chennai, India. June 17, 2005. http://www.hindu.com/2005/06/17/stories/2005061706231100.htm.
- ^ "Ramon Magsaysay Award for excellent performance". http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Awardees/Biography/BiographySeshanTir.htm.
- Biography Ramon Magsaysay Award website.
