This question stayed with me while reading retired IAS officer J.S. Deepak’s memoir, I Dared to Dial Differently: An Insider’s Account of the IAS, published by Hachette India.
Drawing on nearly four decades in public service, Deepak takes readers beyond the familiar world of postings, files and bureaucracy to explore the choices, pressures, innovations and dilemmas that shape governance in India.
From the 3G spectrum auction and international trade negotiations to public health, the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and the innovative use of folk media, his experiences offer a rare insider’s perspective on how policy decisions move from government offices to the lives of ordinary citizens.
For me, the book’s central theme is perhaps not the IAS itself, but the power—and limits—of individual choice within a system.
Can one officer make a difference? Can administrative courage and innovation change the way government works?
My detailed review explores these questions and what Deepak’s journey tells us about bureaucracy, governance, public policy and the human element behind government decisions.
