Suraj Yengde: The test of an Ambedkarite is to learn the game but stay true to righteousness

This missive is for all of you – those who have joined the elite and the non-elite ranks of government service, the ones who have gone to prestigious schools and universities, who are occupying important posts and handling heavy portfolios – in India or outside. I am in solidarity with you. It is heartening to witness the pressures you endure, often feeling that you must deal with these assaults single-handedly.

In this neoliberal, privatising era, government jobs – the very few that remain – are highly sought after. Though the tide of privatisation began decades ago, you dared to dream. You shared your plans to pursue the path of civil services with your teacher, mentor, family, friend, and advisor.

Many must have scoffed, doubted, or tried to tear down your vision. Yet, you persevered, turning days and nights into a single-focused regimen. You may have felt you had no one to look up to. Perhaps that one officer had a different surname, making you hesitate to even reach out for advice.

You are already aware that joining the government’s executive branch, especially as a gazetted officer, is a profound responsibility that comes to a chosen few. I have met people in bureaucracies in other countries who...

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