PC Alexander & Congress’ ‘Whisper Campaign’ that denied him the President’s post in 2002

Padinjarethalakal Cherian (PC) Alexander, a 1949 batch IAS officer, served as principal secretary to two prime ministers, Indira and Rajiv Gandhi. But court intrigues cost him his position in the infamous Coomar Narayanan scandal. Watch former IAS officer and columnist Sanjeev Chopra explain the issue in his latest column.
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[@ChrisWrenthlei]

Love listening to these episodes...Good job The Print!

[@roydavidkurian6135]

This is a great contribution by Print for people to know some background and machinations of the Civil Service that holds the Govt together. These are the intellectuals who keep the machinery well oiled

[@patmclaughlin107]

What is this about? This whole talk sounds like IAS officers self-congratulating and self-perpetuating.

[@damanbedi7029]

Very intersting information

[@rameshadige7882]

Nice account given by Mr.Sanjeev Chopra. MrMr.P.C.Alexander (PCA) was never liked by Mrs Sonia Gandhi. Rajiv Gandhi always addressed PCA as 'Sir'. Some insights into the bonhomie between PM Narasimha Rao and Mr PCA would be of great interest. Wish we could hear something about the excellent steering of Mr.A.N. Verma Prin Secy to PM during 91-96 ,for ushering in liberalisation and delicensing, and for attracting FDI.

[@prempalsharma7]

Great initiative! great series! But who is narrator?His name should be displayed more than once! excellent presentation sir!

[@praveensaxena3920]

The problem is that these stories of Mr Chopra would have kept us spellbound before 2014 ..as we thought that governments would always be run the way Congress ran them..however all that has gone for ever ..and a new governance model is in place .

[@ranganramasamy6820]

Excellent series. V.P. Menon' s book on his work with Patel sets the standard. But events in today's India , economy wise are equally momentous. Wish some top beauracrat would become an observer and chronicler of these times.

[@subhrangsudutta8029]

🙏🙏

[@sundareshanal1849]

We do not yet have a tradition of declassification of govt files, even on the nominal workings of practical governance, decision making and governance deliveries. This is the sanctum sanctorum of the powerful. Not meant for the laity to know. The political- bureacratic class - call it a special interest group - will never want sunlight on the workings of p9litical administration. The ancestry of both political authority and its bureacratic arm is colonial. The aura, mystery and raw power surrounding political governance will be brahminically kept intact by these stakeholders. Administrative, Police and Judicial reforms will never actually happen on the ground. For that to happen , democracy has to deepen, the citizen has to get involved and empowered. Even a minimal dose of lateral entrants , largely technical in nature, is resisted by the bureacracy . Politicians too dont push the envelope. The status quo will persist whether or not bureacrats pen memoirs. Yet whatever gets wrotten gives some idea of the life and workings of this aristocracy .

[@Nk99995]

I guess you're overcomplicating Politics/Governance/Tradition. All that matters for Congress Party is the "Gandhi Family" which intends to be in power by any means, either directly or indirectly. Repeated failures of Rahul Gandhi never mattered and he still reigns despite holding no position.

[@vikramraop]

Unfortunately this sounds so like a colonial master view of the locals! Totally to disregard as a biased view