Three Lals of Haryana

"Life in the IAS: My Encounters with the Three Lals of Haryana" is a 332-page book that walks readers through the different phases of Ram S. Varma's life, from his entry into the IAS (initially the IPS) to his eventual retirement. Having served in roles ranging from Sub-Divisional Magistrate to Chief Secretary of Haryana, with a stint as Public Relations Officer in between, the author revisits not just the first three formative decades of Haryana's history but also the many events that shaped the state's bureaucratic and political landscape during that time. He was part of much of it himself, and in many ways still is, recounting his encounters with numerous people, most notably his work with Haryana's three Lals: Bansi Lal, Devi Lal, and Bhajan Lal.

The Foreword, written by S.K. Misra, former Secretary to the Prime Minister and Chairman of the Indian Trust for Heritage & Development, offers useful context on what the political landscape looked like before and after Haryana's formation as India's seventeenth state. He notes that the author "was allotted to Punjab on his first Indian Administrative Services (IAS) posting in 1965, and was assigned to serve as Assistant Commissioner in Hisar district." Ram Varma began his career as a trainee under Misra's guidance, and the two have known each other since those early days, giving Misra a close view of the author's later encounters with the three Lals, each a strikingly different personality with his own lifestyle, habits, and approach to governance. Misra describes the author as a quick learner who picked things up fast despite having no prior administrative experience, and suggests that young entrants to the civil services will find the book especially engaging. It is written in a simple, accessible style that keeps the narrative flowing smoothly, with humour woven throughout.

India's seventeenth state, Haryana, was born on 1 November 1966, carved out of Punjab. This moment is captured beautifully in the Preface, which draws a comparison to the Rig Veda's "Nadi-Stuti" hymn, celebrating the nineteen rivers of the Sapta-Sindhu region, particularly the Saraswati, which once flowed through what is now Haryana, northern Rajasthan, and parts of Pakistan before reaching the Arabian Sea. The Preface traces Haryana's origins back to the roots of Indian civilization itself, touching on pre-Harappan sites that the author suggests might more accurately be called the "Saraswati civilization." He also reflects candidly on his own career, including what he calls its one dark mark, being labelled a "deserter" when he took up the post of Principal Secretary after Bansi Lal was sworn in as Chief Minister of Haryana for the second time. The book covers the state's history in full: its formation, its chief ministers, its bureaucracy, and major initiatives like infrastructure rebuilding, rural electrification, and lift-irrigation projects. Two years before Haryana came into being, the author had graduated from the IAS Academy and was posted to the Punjab cadre, later transferring to Haryana once it was formed. The new state, in its first year, was in considerable disarray, quickly earning a reputation as the land of political defection, immortalised in the phrase "Aya Ram, Gaya Ram."

In the opening chapter, "The Birth of Haryana," the author draws a parallel between Haryana's creation and the biblical story of Eve. Just as Eve was formed from Adam's rib, becoming, in Milton's words, "flesh of flesh, bone of my bone," Haryana too was carved from parts of Punjab. This split brought with it real cultural friction, as Haryanvis had never accepted being identified as Punjabis. The chapter also traces the Punjabi Suba movement and its revival, including the Punjab government's appointment of freedom fighter Shriram Sharma to head the Haryana Development Committee, tasked with assessing the state's development needs. The resulting report painted a stark picture, revealing, for instance, that representation from the Hindi-speaking region in Punjab's civil services stood at a mere 20 to 289 compared to the Punjabi-speaking region. The committee also called for greater investment in education, irrigation, and electrification. The author points out, somewhat wryly, that Haryana's creation wasn't really a victory won by Haryanvis themselves, it came about largely as a by-product of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi yielding to sustained pressure from the Akali Dal, who were pushing for a separate Sikh-majority state.

In "My Early Days in the IAS," the author recalls the emotional rollercoaster of his early career, starting with his disappointment at being selected for the IPS rather than the IAS, a blow to both his heart and his pride, before eventually making it into the IAS and completing his training. He joined with a rank of 95, uncertain at the time which cadre he would be assigned. Fellow trainees urged him to pull political strings to secure the Punjab cadre before someone else claimed it, warning that otherwise he'd be stuck in Kerala, an outsider with no local ties. He responded that the other candidate deserved it more, and that he'd be just as much an outsider in Punjab anyway, without knowing the language. He goes on to describe his time in Mussoorie with real fondness: evenings at the Library Point on the Mall, playing in the April snow while shouting "yahoo" like Shammi Kapoor in his famous song, and memorable nights at Kempty Falls, including dinner at a roadside dhaba. While training in Hisar, war broke out with Pakistan, and S.K. Misra appointed him District Public Relations Officer, a post that happened to be vacant at the time. In that role, he issued press notes covering public meetings meant to boost morale, highlighting donations of money and jewellery from the public. Throughout the book, the author revisits key moments in India's history that shaped the country into what it is today, weaving them together with his personal encounters with the three Lals and his own life's journey through fate and circumstance.

Chapter Five marks the start of the author's account of Bansi Lal, the first of the three Lals, set against the backdrop of the mid-term elections of May 1968. As the search for a chief ministerial candidate got underway, two emissaries sent by Indira Gandhi put forward the name of Bansi Lal, who had by then served six years as a Congress member of the Rajya Sabha. The author recalls several moments from this period, including one at the oath-taking ceremony of then-Governor B.N. Chakravarty, when a reporter asked Bansi Lal about his achievements. His instant reply, "Papad belta raha" (I was just rolling papads), sent the audience into laughter.

Another memorable moment came the day after Bansi Lal's own oath-taking, at his first public meeting as Chief Minister, where he publicly thanked his benefactor, B.D. Sharma, and named him his mentor. But Sharma had other plans, and his growing resentment eventually led to internal scheming, including urging party supporters to resign in protest. Congress, however, remained unmoved, and Bansi Lal's tenure continued. This chapter also covers V.V. Giri's political rise, which led to Indira Gandhi's expulsion from the Congress party and the formation of a new faction, Congress (Ruling). A devout Arya Samajist, Bansi Lal proved to be a tireless and sincere Chief Minister, spending as many as 25 days a month touring the state and facing down difficult situations, including the anger of protesting farmers. Water, electricity, and roads topped his list of priorities, and he made real progress on all three, bringing electricity to nearly 7,000 villages and connecting them with all-weather roads. His agenda also included the well-known pilot lift-irrigation project, with the Siwani Lift Irrigation Project beginning in 1971.

Chapter Seven turns to Devi Lal's rise as Chief Minister, alongside the author's own struggles in the aftermath of the Emergency. The 1977 parliamentary elections dealt a serious blow to Indira Congress, and that same year, Devi Lal was elected party leader and subsequently took over as Chief Minister. He captured his vision for the role in a single slogan: "Bhrashtachar Band, Pani Ka Prabandh" (End corruption, manage water). He worked extensively for farmers' welfare, earning a reputation as their champion, offering them relief, amending the outdated Land Revenue Act, and easing the burden on small and marginal farmers. He also advanced Rs. 1 crore to Punjab to support the Sutlej-Yamuna Link project, under which both states were to build a canal through their respective territories. When the Punjab government failed to act, he took the matter to the Supreme Court for resolution.

The author writes with real admiration for Devi Lal, especially recalling a meeting shortly after the election results, when he went to offer his congratulations. Devi Lal, seated at the head of a table surrounded by officers, rose immediately to welcome him and asked the other officials, including the Principal Secretary, to step out so they could speak privately. Though his memory was beginning to fade by then, Devi Lal still recalled having seen the author before, in Sirsa, and confronted him about a moment during the Premsukh Das election when the author had asked non-candidates and counting agents to leave the hall. Taken aback by the accusation, the author explained that he had simply been following procedure, with no intention of causing offence, and that he hadn't even known who Devi Lal was at the time. The author also recounts being summoned by the Bhiwani police, detailing the events that led to his court appearance and questioning by the DSP (Vigilance), Bhiwani, in connection with a criminal case. He reflects on how the Emergency created an atmosphere of constant, almost oppressive discipline, during which he often felt unfairly targeted. His appearance before the Reddy Commission stands out as another significant chapter in his life, and his eventual transfer as Officer on Special Duty for Administrative Reforms in 1978 came as a welcome relief.

The book continues through a wide sweep of personal and national history: Operation Blue Star, Devi Lal being overshadowed by Bhajan Lal, Indira Gandhi's political resurgence, Bhajan Lal's dramatic party switch, disputes over water-sharing, the Asian Games in Delhi, floods in Assandh, the state transport fleet, the 20-Point Programme, and the turbulent period following Indira Gandhi's assassination, among other events. He describes how Bhajan Lal kept his MLAs content by allotting them a quota in government appointments, and how he had a habit of gifting people pure ghee. On one occasion, Bhajan Lal asked the author to meet him at Haryana Bhawan at seven in the morning, where the author found him sorting through hundreds of requests from MLAs and assorted supporters, all seeking peon appointments. "Arey Varma ji, bada jhamela hai," Bhajan Lal remarked, a phrase he used often. The author also recalls a tense episode in which the SP wanted to arrest Deputy Commissioner Pius Pandarwani after the DC's wife was found to have accepted a bribe from a Red Cross fair contractor. Amid the chaos, the author suggested transferring the DC instead, and Bhajan Lal tasked him with finding a replacement. The section "An Effectual Love Letter" is particularly worth reading.

From there, the book moves into Devi Lal's political comeback, covering the running of the Electricity Board, the construction of Shakti Bhawan, a watermelon treat hosted by the Chief Minister, the aborted "Dilli Chalo" movement, the Mahem bye-elections, Chief Minister B.D. Sharma's tenure, the Chautala years, and the author's visit to Jerusalem and its historic tomb, among other episodes. In 1991, when Bhajan Lal returned as Chief Minister, he appointed Sher Singh, an independent member, as Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Commission, and ordered CBI investigations into several matters from the Chautala era, including the deaths of Amir Singh and Chautala's daughter-in-law Supriya, as well as an assault on former Chief Minister Banarasi Das Gupta. Yet his greater concern was the dissidence brewing against him within Congress, led by Birender Singh (who was later removed from his position as party president) and Shamsher Singh. The author also describes his own role in helping save P.V. Narasimha Rao's government from collapse during a no-confidence motion, through what he modestly calls his resourcefulness in a tight spot. Toward the book's close, the author reflects on his appointment as Chief Secretary of Haryana and the state's golden jubilee celebrations, two milestones he considers among the most meaningful of his career. A father of three daughters, he adds a personal touch by writing about his wife, Savitri, to whom the book is dedicated, and his daughters.

The book's real strength lies in its narrative style, which brings the facts to life and keeps readers engaged throughout. It closes on a note of quiet positivity, the kind we all hope to carry through life's many moments: its thrills, its setbacks, its victories, and its quieter processes of self-discovery, much as the author himself seems to have done. Ram Varma has managed to capture not just the essence of his career as a government officer, but also a detailed, insider's view of Haryana's governance and the country's broader trajectory since independence, tracing how both state and nation evolved together over the decades. This book is a worthwhile read for anyone, and especially valuable for those interested in India's bureaucratic and political history. It is available on major e-commerce platforms for anyone looking to pick up a copy.