P.B. Mahishi

BANGALORE: The new Chief Secretary P.B. Mahishi wants to ensure that Karnataka advances further with "least social friction" and take full advantage of his "knowledge of Delhi" and vast experience in the State.

Speaking to The Hindu before taking charge, he said that the State was fast advancing. "Any advancement generates social conflict. This has to be minimised," he said.

The 1972 batch IAS officer said his aim was to provide good governance. Asked whether he had identified any specific impediment to good governance, Mr. Mahishi said the challenge was in handling issues on a day-to-day basis. Providing good governance was like housekeeping and it required sustained and daily attention, he said.

Mr. Mahishi said he would ensure that every department adhered to the targets set for them.

Mr. Mahishi believes that his knowledge and experience as an officer who had served at the Centre for 10 years will help him in discharging his duty as Chief Secretary.

He spoke candidly of what it is like to work in Delhi, a city that is a "great leveller" where "officers who have served as deputy commissioners in States stand in queue for milk and travel in buses."

Mr. Mahishi said he was lucky than many of his predecessors in that he had the required exposure in Delhi.

Mr. Mahishi said that working with the political set-up was nothing new for him. He regretted the fact that some saw him as having been too close to the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda.

"They do not know that I was private secretary to Chandra Shekhar, when he was Prime Minister from November 1990 to June 1991. It is unfortunate that people identify bureaucrats with the political bosses they work with," he said

Mr. Mahishi said his proudest achievement as a bureaucrat was the turnaround of the Mysore Electrical Industries on Tumkur Road, a State sector unit that was on "the brink of closure" and was now making profits. He headed the company for three crucial years.

Mr. Mahishi has a bright academic record.

He was a rank holder in SSLC and also in the combined degree course in Karnatak College, Dharwad. He was a gold medallist in Karnatak University with a Master's degree in Economics. He also holds a law degree and a diploma in Labour Relations. He stood first in the personality test of the IAS examination. He says that `Subbannanadoddi' school in Seshadripuram (later Seshadripuram Primary School) inculcated the right values in him.

"Dedicated teachers in government schools can do wonders," he said. He is proud of his high school Sanskrit teacher who gave him such a mastery over the subject that he opted for Sanskrit as a subject in IAS.

Mr. Mahishi, brother of Sarojini Mahishi who is known for her landmark report on employment of Kannadigas in Central Government establishments, hails from Dharwad. Neena Deshpande, Professor of Political Science in Bangalore University, is his wife.

He served as Assistant Commissioner in Madhugiri and Deputy Commissioner in Chikmagalur district.

He served as Director, National Commission of Rural Labour, New Delhi; Chairman and Administrator, Cauvery Basin Projects, Mysore; private secretary to the former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar; Commissioner of Karnataka Housing Board; Principal Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies and Public Works. He has been Development Commissioner since October 2006.

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