I never met Kalyan Singh except at the official meeting.
During most of his first term as the main minister who began in 1991, I was a district judge (DM) in Sitapur.
This means there are several opportunities for face-to-face interactions with cm.
My first direct experience from his functioning style came early in my term.
The pro-farmer agenda the new government ran aground due to the installation of a stick mount to farmers because the sugar factory loosely paid them.
As a result, coercion of government authorities means and, acting with Alacrity, I attach two personal sugar factories and confiscate their assets.
Et-lose broke because this had not happened before and the strong interest was involved.
Some Mandarin in Lucknow marked me for my ‘immaturity’.
But cm, which I learned later, was firm in its support for actions taken in public interest.
A few weeks later, CM spoke to me and said, “Aapne Jo Bhi Kiya Bahut Achha Kiya.” (Whatever you do is fine).
Imagine how to increase my moral for the rest of my term in the district and so on.
Kalyan Singh’s Fairness and the taste of judicial and the extent to which he supported sincere officials proved on another occasion.
In one o’clock, there are large racquets of marginalized parts that are tailored to false documents in collusion with income officers.
Criminal cases are submitted, a number of pradhans and lekhpals (patwaris) are stopped, and efforts begin to recover land.
As expected, there is a strong pushback of personal interests.
In an unprecedented step, the local MLA, which was included in the ruling party, threatened quickly to death until DM was fired.
But cm stand firmly.
Rajendra Gupta, Minister of Finance, who came from Sitapur, and also the Head of the BJP of the State of the State, then told me that CM had told the delegation that MLA was free to use a hunger strike, but “Yadi Koi Anhonee Ho Jai to Main Zimmar to Main Zimmar Nahin Hoon .
“(If there is an accident I will not be responsible).
Such is the courage of the man.
Kalyan Singh is a big picture person who is willing to take the heaviest decision and try hard to do what he believes good for the country.
The operation of anti-mafia is one of the initiatives and education of reforms is another.
He, together with the Minister of Education Rajnath Singh, carried out campaigns throughout the state to curb a rampant mass copy.
It has a beneficial impact directly on the quality of graduating classes despite the average value obtained and the percentage pass down.
Years later, as a Varanasi Magistrate district, when recruiting the Registrar based on a sign of graduation, some candidates said: “Main Kalyan Singh to Zamane Postgraduate Rail Hoon”, (I graduated with the era of Kalyan Singh) – protest compared to their score that has passed when cheating Rampery.
Many have not forgiven Kalyan Singh for the demolition of the Babri Mosque on December 6, 1992 on his watch.
The jury is still out whether he can do more to prevent demolition.
But there is no doubt that he is one of the highest CMS.
An iron integrity man with a strong feeling of a fair game and justice who did not hesitate in taking a commotion.
In 1993, I posted as a staff officer to the advisor to the governor, during the President’s administration, which was put down after his government was dismissed.
Notes related to decision making on the day that determines the mosque falls clearly shows how it really and firmly has all the responsibilities for all that has occurred while lower people may be tempted to give money to the regional government to the government and the police.
Today, Kalyan Singh is no longer.
And India has lost a good governance icon.
But his legacy as administrators and statesmen live and many will appreciate his leadership.
Rip sir.
(J S Deepak is a retired IAS officer from above who works as Secretary of Telecom & IT, Indian Government and Indian Ambassador to the WTO)