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M.G. Devasahayam is an Indian soldier, administrator, economist and public servant with a distinguished career spanning several decades, with direct and first-hand experience in the Indian Army, Civil Service (IAS), Government, Public & Private Sector, Political system as well as Voluntary Sector.
Education
editPost-graduate in Economics from Loyola College, Chennai and Tutor in Economics in the same college.
Early life
editCommissioned in the Indian Army [1] in 1964 as Second Lieutenant (Infantry, The Madras Regiment). Participated in Indo-Pak War-1965 and Counter-Insurgency operations in Nagaland(1967-68).
Career
editDevasahayam left the Army as Major and entered the IAS [1968-Haryana cadre], he has been the head of two important Districts. He had the privilege of raising a new District (Bhiwani). As the first DC, Devasahayam was instrumental in conceiving, preparing and implementing a District Development Plan which became the precursor for the Integrated Rural Development Project rolled out by Government of India few years later. Devasahayam also had the distinction of administering Chandigarh, the ‘City Beautiful’.
Besides Union Territory of Chandigarh, Devasahayam has held several senior positions in government. He was also Member of the High-Powered Committee on Agricultural Policies and Programmes set up by Government of India in 1990.
Emergency [1975]
editIn 1975 Devasahayam was Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate, Chandigarh[2] was the jailor of Jayaprakash Narayan.
He treated JP as a man who had inspired millions of Indians to take up the cudgels for their rights. He looked upon him as the living connection with and embodiment of the ideas and ideals that Mahatma Gandhi instilled in those who fought for our freedom. He treated JP with the due respect [3].
Devasahayam was not just a jailor, but also an interlocutor, and then a tireless facilitator of a rapprochement between JP and Indira Gandhi.
Connections
editJayaprakash Narayan
editDuring Emergency [1975], Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) was arrested in Delhi under MISA and sent to Chandigarh for confinement. As District Magistrate of Chandigarh, Devasahayam was his custodian and developed a humane relationship with JP. This sustained after the Emergency and lasted till JP, the architect of ‘India's Second Freedom’, passed away in October 1979. Devasahayam had the privilege of being part of India's second freedom and also had the rare honor of being called by JP as his ‘Friend’ and the ‘son he never had’.
Mother Teresa
editDevasahayam had worked closely with Mother Teresa(now Saint) and was instrumental in the setting up of the ‘Home for orphans, abandoned infants, dying destitutes and mentally retarded’ [Shanti-Dan][4] within the Chandigarh city and a sanctuary for lepers outside.
Other Positions and Services
editDevasahayam has been advisor to major corporate entities, A member of CMDA monitoring committee[5] and Chief Consultant, IIT Madras Research Park. In the Voluntary Sector he has been associated with leading international and national NGOs. He founded Citizen's Alliance for Sustainable Living (SUSTAIN)[6] to advocate environmental and resource efficiency issues and Forum for Electoral Integrity to champion ethical voting and strengthening democracy. He mobilized intellectuals and youth and in partnership with Election Commission ran campaigns to bring about honesty and integrity in the electoral process.[7] He has been member, Environment & Energy Committee, CII (South) and Chairman, Infrastructure, Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was associated with an energy efficiency pilot project in Tamil Nadu Electricity Board in collaboration with the Washington-based Alliance to Save Energy and was also the National Consultant to Sustainable Chennai Project jointly sponsored by UNDP and UN-HABITAT.
Devasahayam is a writer, columnist and author of Books “India's Second Freedom - An Untold Saga”; “JP in Jail-An Uncensored Account”; “JP Movement, Emergency and India's Second Freedom” and “A Drop of Love-Memoir of Saint Teresa.” The thrust in his writings has been Governance, Reforms, Resource Efficiency as well as topics like Freedom and Democracy.
Awards
editMilitary
edit- Samar Seva (War Service) Medal;
- General Service Medal with Bar(Nagaland).
Civil
edit- Loyola Alumni Lifetime Achiever's Award(Platinum Jubilee-2010).
- JP Achievement award(2019).
- Recommended for Padma Awards – 2016.[8]
References
edit- ^ "My Days In The Army". Archived from the original on 2021-03-05. Retrieved 2021-08-16.
- ^ "Inclusive urbanism can help prevent hydra-city growth". Tribuneindia News Service. Tribune News Service. 2018-04-12. Archived from the original on 2021-08-24. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ Ravishankar, Sandhya. "Sunday ET: A look at some unique letters that Jayaprakash Narayan wrote to Indira Gandhi when he was being kept in solitary confinement in prison". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 2021-04-23. Retrieved 2021-08-16.
- ^ "Mother who gave a soul to the City Beautiful". Tribune India. Archived from the original on 2021-04-23. Retrieved 2021-08-16.
- ^ "Illegal construction at IIT-M?". The Hindu. 28 December 2013. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
- ^ "IEEE-PES Madras Chapter (India) - Region 10 East?". Archived from the original on 2021-04-23. Retrieved 2021-08-16.
- ^ "Apex court notice to EC, Centre over tallying EVM, VVPAT votes". Tribune India. Archived from the original on 2013-08-19. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ "Alphabetical List of Recommendations received for Padma Awards – 2016" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-23. Retrieved 2021-08-16.