Smt. Nalini Netto, Chief Secretary,

Adv. Narendranathan Nair, President, Nair Service Society,

Shri. K.M. Chandrasekhar, Former Cabinet Secretary,

Shri. T .P. Sreenivasan, Director, NSS Academy of Civil Services,

Dr. Divya S. Iyer, Sub Collector

Shri. M.Sangeeeth Kumar, President, NSS Taluk Union,

Dr. C.S. Shaijumon, Honorary Member Secretary,

Dear Faculty, Students,

Sahodaree Sahodaranmare

Ellavarkkum Ente Namaskaram

       I am very happy to inaugurate the Fifth Annual celebrations of the N.S.S Academy of Civil Services, which has been striving to equip young people to qualify the Civil Services Examinations.

       As an institution established in 2012 by the Nair Service Society, which manages some of the most prestigious educational institutions in Kerala, this Academy has won the trust of the student community in a short span of five years, by helping around sixty aspirants to qualify the Civil Service examinations.

        The role of the Nair Service Society in the social transformation of Kerala and in the uplift of the Nair community is too well known to be recounted here.  The vision of its founder, the Late Mannathu Padmanabhan and his unflinching faith in the power of hard work have always guided the Nair Service Society.

        I understand that this Academy was the result of the Nair Service Society's recognition of the need to help students from Kerala to get a fair representation in the positions available in the highest Services of the country. Let me therefore, compliment the leadership of the Nair Service Society for its vision in establishing this institution for the benefit of the youth.

       As we all know, the Civil Services Examinations offer the best careers that our youth can ever dream of. In a democracy, the role of the Civil Servant is to carry out governance in tune with the policies of the elected government in such a way that his or her actions uphold the law and the provisions of the Constitution. 

       I mentioned the Constitution, because its Article 311 provides for protection of the Civil servant from politically motivated or vindictive actions. Almost every day we come across incidents of some people criticizing and even trying to victimise Civil Servants for their bold actions which may be as per law. If the Officer remains fearless, it indicates that he has the law on his side. This is perhaps why the civil service is  regarded as the steel frame of administration in our country, forming an essential part of good governance.

        Much has been written about the Civil Services by way of service stories, novels, biographies and the like. In Malayalam, some of you may have read Malayattoor Ramakrishnan's novel,  Yanthram [Machine],  a title that refers to the administrative machinery. It mentions about the civil servant as :

“a cog or a wheel to be thrown into the scrap-heap of administration”.

        If you read the initial chapters of the book, ‘Words, Words, Words,’ by your Honorary Director  Shri. T .P. Sreenivasan, you would think that the initial days in Foreign service would be a cool honeymoon, whether it is in Tokyo or in the Wayanad district of Kerala.  Well, his description of his tenure in Fiji and Kenya also describe how hard a Diplomat's life could be. You may also have read the accounts of many other Civil servants like K P S Menon, Dr. Babu Paul and so on and I am certain that these accounts have inspired you. The rise of Civil Servants  as future political figures also inspires us and we have stalwarts as lofty as  former President  Late K R Narayanan to recall.

       It is therefore, no surprise that the Civil Services have become the most sought after career in India. In fact, each aspirant has a different reason to pursue this aim. For some, it is the glitter of the power and prestige; for many, it is the prestige of offering one's service to the activities that shape the destiny of one's nation. There are some who come forward with the desire to change the world. But, whatever be the reason for opting to aspire for the Civil Services, everyone agrees upon one thing – that it is the most difficult examination and to cross it, you need to work very hard.

       Yes, undoubtedly, this is a very difficult goal. The syllabus would remind you of an ocean with little clue as to which part is deep and which is treacherous. Many people realize very soon that it was easy to aspire and easier to abandon the dream because they are clueless on how to move ahead. It is here that you need wise counsel from people who have either cracked the examination earlier or who can guide an aspirant well. Academies like this offer this valuable service along with providing the much needed motivation to keep one's spirit alive.

       I understand that the NSS Academy of Civil Services has been providing this service well in the last five years. I am told that the Academy offers interactive sessions with officers of the civil services so that aspirants get a feel of what actually lies in store for those who qualify the examinations. What one should remember is that the challenge you may face in your job is one of understanding the issues of society. It is always easy to blame the politicians and look down upon them as less educated, but at times the learned official may have to learn from those people, whose education has been provided by the harsh social realities of our times. And, let us not forget that in assessing people's problems and issues, they could be right.

       In conclusion, I would also like to touch upon the pattern of training for civil services. At present, the stiff competition in the field has made civil service training like the usual entrance coaching that tends to catch people young.   There is no harm in beginning early, but initial years should be used to enlighten youngsters on the social realities in our country, rather than merely training them in cracking objective type questions with the speed of computers. What we need is perfected human potential, not living machines tuned only to an exam and not to social realities. 

       I once again congratulate the NSS Academy on its dedicated efforts to transform young people into responsible civil servants.

       I compliment Shri. T.P. Sreenivasan and his team for conducting this anniversary celebration in a befitting manner and wish the Civil Service aspirants all success.

Ellavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal

Nanni

Jai Hind