BANGALORE:
He had the options of becoming a professor at the University of Florida, taking up aUnited Nations job and becoming a globe-trotter, earning tax-free income before taking voluntary retirement, or joining the IAS, which he had cleared in top form. Away in the US for a doctorate in criminology, deciding on one of these options was something which 26-year-old S M Jaamdar found difficult to do in 1979.
His procrastination made the central government give him a final call to either take or give up the IAS career. Coaxed by his father and wife, Jaamdar reluctantly chose to go down the bureaucratic path.
“I went directly from the US to Tarikere in Chikmagalur as assistant commissioner. My professor in the US, Vernon Fox, analyzed the three job prospects saying my country had sent me to study and use the knowledge back home. His advice helped me.”
But within six months Jaamdar called it quits and went to the UK only to return in 1984 to resume his IAS career. Today, he has no regrets about coming back. His most memorable and highly trying stint was as commissioner, resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) of persons displaced by the Upper Krishna Project (UKP) in 135 villages of Bagalkot and Bijapur.
12 YEARS IN BAGALKOT
During the 12 years (1994-2006) spent in carving out a new town __ Nava Nagar __ in Bagalkot, Jaamdar reported to five chief ministers of four governments belonging to three different parties and came to be known as “people’s man”. Two arches in his name were put up on National Highway 13. But local politicians were not happy with him. “There was frequent pressure from netas to replace me, but none of the CMs yielded.”
The World Bank, while resuming funding for the UKP, put forth a condition that the official in charge of R&R cannot be changed till work is completed. “It was a challenging 24×7 job. Every day, bus-loads of people would come with their problems. I tried solving them by taking a decision on the spot and issuing relevant orders,” he recalls. Prominent among his many memories is the 1997 floods, when 300 people had to be shifted in boats at 7pm.
SOLD PROPERTY TO STUDY
Studying for two masters degrees and a doctorate was financially not easy for Jaamdar. His father used to own lands at Ramdurg in Belgaum district but lost them due to bad management. “I lost my mother in infancy and my only sibling was a sister eight years older to me. My father, who had studied till seventh standard in Marathi, was keen that I should get the best of education. To pay my SSLC fee, he sold two acres of land and during my PUC, some gold ornaments.” Appearing for the IAS was sheer accident and this time he was inspired by neighbours, the Rege family, where the father, daughter and uncle were in the IAS.
EARLY MARRIAGE
“I can call mine a sort of child marriage as I was only 20 when my father got me married. I’d got a scholarship to Stockholm University and my father decided if I’m not married I would either not come back or if I did, I’d not return alone.” He adds in a lighter vein, “My in-laws were ready to take the risk of me being away for a long time. That’s possible only if you don’t have a demanding wife.” His wife, of the reticent kind, is from Torgal in Belgaum.
Jaamdar credits his wife for the upbringing of their four children. Two daughters are married __ Meena, a doctor, is in Singapore and Naina, a software engineer, is settled in Arizona, US. The youngest Sapna is a techie working with Accenture, while son Chetan is doing his BE in telecommunications. “It was our mother who took care of us entirely,” says a candid Naina.
US STYLE IN BUREAUCRACY
Any person who walks into his chamber is first made to sit. “I learnt this in the US that even if you cannot help a person, just listening makes a difference.”
ME AND I…
“I am supposed to be snobbish and arrogant. That’s because I don’t mix with people and am not bothered. I am cruel with my staff and suspend or dismiss them if they don’t do what’s to be done. My new posting as principal secretary (home) is of a sensitive and secretive nature.”
Quote Hanger
I have taken up the role of mentor at the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice in Belgaum which is affiliated to Rani Channamma University. The government has allowed me to visit the institute once a week. A year from now, when I retire, I will be the dean.
OFFSIDE
* I am a sharp-shooter and learnt it when I enrolled for the officers’ training unit, from which I dropped out. Had I continued, I would have been a major-general now.
* I believe in God, but not in religion.
FAVOURITES
Interests: Architecture, landscaping, photography
Movies: Watched Ingrid Bergman’s 29 of 37 films. Likes Western classical and old Hindi film songs
* Food: Vegetarian and Italian
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / by Nigar Ataulla / TNN / June 06th, 2011