I have gone through with considerable care and interest my esteemed friend Sri Gopala Krishna’s autobiography.

It is often said very realistically that in a democracy where the Cabinet system of governance is in vogue, if the policy fails, the Minister (Political Executive) goes and if the implementation fails, the blame falls on the permanent Executive (Civil Servant). The political Executive being represented by the Minister has no permanent interest in the administration since the tenure is limited but the permanent executive has no such choice. Bearing in mind the legal regime that governs the administration, the views of the Minister, and the policies of the party in power, the civil servant has to steer through a difficult path. In this arduous task. Sri Gopala Krishna came out with great success. Indeed, he is what an ideal civil servant should be.

The historical events to which Sri Gopala Krishna was a witness and had an important role as a civil servant have been depicted so well that as one goes through the book, a feeling is inescapable that it is more a “Drisya Kavyam” than a record of events. In solving difficult problems concerning the influx of refugees from East Pakistan, Sri Gopala Krishna played a pivotal role.

The saying that a civil servant is capable of discharging multiple duties including commercial activities of the State fits perfectly to Sri Gopala Krishna. During his tenure as the Commissioner of Commercial Taxes in the composite State of Andhra Pradesh, the administration was streamlined so well that the revenue of the State had considerably gone up. He served the State with total commitment, devotion and dedication.

(Former Member (2004-14), Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India (SAC-PM), National Science Chair, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D), Formerly Invited Professor, IIT-D; Former JC Bose National Fellow; Former Vice Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi; Former Vice Chancellor, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad; First Director, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting & Diagnostics (CDFD), Hyderabad. Distinguished Professor, Sharda University) "Gopala Krishna Naidu’s autobiography is a remarkable documentation of the journey covered by this very illustrious, multifaceted down-to-earth member of the Indian Administrative Service. His portrayal of his immediate families spread over a few generations, his services to the nation, including the then much disturbed north-eastern parts of the country and also important departments within his cadre as well as in the centre and more recent association with public enterprises and financial institutions are not only worth reading but a great inspiration. My acquaintance with him has been personally a learning experience for me during our long association with the Suven Life Sciences Board of Management. A Graduate in law as well as Science, Naidu Garu’s depth and understanding of varied areas of governance and human management goes far deeper and comprehensive total something to envy about. I’m confident given the anecdotal as well as personal notes he has been able to provide, this autobiography will be destined to become a class apart for generations to come."

He is one of a rare breed of officers who is impeccably upright and minutely just. A persuasive speaker who could disarm anyone with his logical arguments. His contribution to the economic development of the combined AP state is unique. As MD of the Godavari Fertilizers, he operationalized the plant in a span of three years as against the normal time of five years, which at the time was a record achievement. This project helped the economic development of Kakinada and the East Godavari district in particular. M Gopalakrishna is a natural leader of men and matters and as a civil servant, he proved it to the hilt when he led the Assam Civil Service team into Bangladesh during its liberation war. His liaison with the Indian Army officers and the Mukti Bahini of Bangladesh as the head of the civil services team speaks volumes about his high level of competence in coordinating with various types of organizations in crucial times. He is a distinguished and fluent public speaker and influencer. He is a mentor par excellence and after his retirement, he used his mentoring and motivating skills to help civil servant aspirants. To sum up, he is a great gentleman and a great officer.

I call him Gopal, as many of his friends call. I met him for the first time when I was Assistant Collector, Guntur in 1962. On my first tryst with him, I came to know that he was giving a shot at the IAS Examination, which brought him to the fraternity of IAS in 1962. I have heard his lectures and presentations many times. He always delved into great detail, the disparate vignettes of the subject matter. For me, it was a learning experience, whenever I attended his unraveling of different subjects. He was a specialist in Public Sector Enterprises Management. He was bestowed with awards for exemplary work, both academic and professional. He was associated with International Organisations like UNO and National Organisations like the Institute of Public Enterprises. An Expert in Public Administration, Industrial, and Corporate Management, he was the recipient of the Life Time Achievement Awards, galore. A couple of the traits I noticed in him merit mention. When he expresses his thoughts, there would unfailingly arise a sudden flash which one may say is his coruscating trait. One last trait I would like to mention is that he always observed the discipline of not criticizing the Government when he was participating in a public function. In short, he follows the principles.

I have known Shri M. Gopalakrishna since 1964 when he was Asst. Commissioner, Gauhati, Assam where I was posted as an Army Officer. We used to meet often. He was posted as SDO, Goalpara where he handled the large influx of refugees from East Pakistan during the Indo-Pak War of 1965. He was instrumental in setting up the Assam Sainik School at Matia. At the time of the Mizo Hills insurgency, he was posted at Aizawl where he played a major role in restoring normalcy in the district. He was Secretary, Industries, Commissioner, Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, and Managing Director, Godavari Fertilisers. The Plant was built ahead of schedule and within the cost estimated a rare event in the Public Sector. He is a very good friend who is helpful and is a good speaker who quotes copiously from Sanskrit. A polyglot, he speaks quite a few languages. Post-retirement, he is active in Social work. Aspirants to the IAS and youth constantly seek his guidance and advice. He is the President of the All India Services Pensioners Association for Telangana and AP State. Our families are also in constant touch with him and his wife.

Even as Assistant Commissioner he was the full-time officer running the Department of Relief and Rehabilitation of refugees who were streaming into Assam from the then East Pakistan. Gopal during his career had to deal with every type of crisis which was during that time so frequent in the entire NE region. The Mizo Rebellion, the border issues with Nagaland, and the conduct of Elections in Assam in the teeth of the sustained agitation by the students are but a few of the crises that Gopal handled with efficiency and dispatch. He was a competent leader in every post he held both in Assam, AP and in the GOI. Throughout his career, he operated with a value system that attached immense importance to high standards of integrity, efficiency, pragmatism, and timely delivery of service.

I am extremely happy that my colleague and friend Sri Gopalakrishna had decided to write down his memoir; any well-written memoir is a documentation of the life and times of the memorialist and hence would be of interest to contemporaries and posterity. Such documentation would be all the more interesting if it is that of an IAS officer who held top positions in the Central and State governments and as such is a participant in momentous events and decisions. I had the pleasure of being the neighbor of Sri Gopalakrishna in the Tilak Lane government quarters in Delhi for several years; both of us were moving to the top positions available normally for an IAS officer in the Government of India. There were many occasions when during conversation we shared the agony and ecstasy of moving up the greasy pole. I had many occasions of visiting Assam where Sri Gopalakrishna started his career in the IAS before moving on to Andhra Pradesh. Even decades after leaving Assam I was pleasantly surprised to find that he was still being remembered by many people in Assam. Sri Gopalakrishna held many senior managerial positions in Central and State public sector undertakings and had won many accolades as a distinguished manager. As President of the All India Services Pensioners Association at Hyderabad Sri Gopalakrishna has been doing yeomen service to pensioners. Writing a memoir is a voyage of discovery of one’s Self. I wish Sri Gopalakrishna a pleasant and enchanting voyage of discovery.

It had always been an ardent wish of mine, to find a person, who combines in himself, the three equally rare qualities, of being a distinguished civil servant, an erudite scholar in several languages, and a wonderful human being. My wish was more than fulfilled when I came to know M.Gopalakrishna. I have rarely come across persons with such clarity of thought, crispness of expression, and an engaging manner of conveying ideas. I had the honour, and privilege, of working closely with him when I was the Registrar of Cooperative Societies of Andhra Pradesh state, and he was the Managing Director of the Godavari Fertilisers. Gopalkrishna not only belongs to the threatened species of upright civil servants who value the virtues of rectitude, hard work and public spiritedness but also can give, the most eloquent of orators, a run for their money while, simultaneously, demonstrating what true friendships are made of. Having a long, enduring and educating relationship with him is probably one of the best things that ever happened in life.

I was the MD of the AP State Finance Corporation from 15/07/2003 to 03/03/2005; a part of the team that you headed as Chairman. It was my last and very significant posting in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. I then left for Delhi to seek my destiny and my future as an administrator. I carried within me what I had assimilated in the APSFC posting, from its experienced Board members, from the advice of highly qualified staff members, and above all the counsel of a Chairman who was a friend, philosopher, and guide. Your helmsmanship gave clarity and continuity to the mission objectives of the organization, and your empathy with the needs of the clients and aspirations of the accomplished staff was admirable. Your wisdom and sagacity as an experienced elder helped me to continue what you and Jatish had embarked upon when so many had given up on the organization.

M. Gopala Krishna became the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Andhra Pradesh State Financial Corporation when I was the Managing Director. He guided me with sound advice for almost a year till I was transferred in December 2002. He was specifically chosen by the SIDBI and the Government of Andhra Pradesh to utilize his expertise for revamping the corporation and bringing back its past glory. He is an outstanding and accomplished civil servant having 4 decades of experience both in government and in the industrial sector. He also worked as Chairman of the Rural Electrification Corporation where he took many initiatives in the field of the Power Sector. During his tenure, the Corporation attained a Numero Uno position in the country. It was a pleasure working with such a matured and understanding professional. In my career, I am beholden to a few senior colleagues who effectively channeled my potential and stood like a rock in support of my initiatives. Mr Gopalakrishna was one among them. I am extremely grateful to him.

I first met Sri Gopala Krishna, one of our distinguished civil servants when I was undergoing district training way back in 1984. He has been a role model in service for many junior officers like me. His no-nonsense attitude in getting things done, be it in secretariat or in project execution at field level is a lesson to watch and emulate. The way he executed a Greenfield fertilizer project like GFC right from its conception to commissioning and subsequent management is exceptional not only in the public sector but even when we compare projects in the private sector. I was fortunate to work as MD, SFC when Gopala Krishna was Chairman of SFC. The way he used to conduct meetings and scrutinize project proposals has made me learn many things that I always cherish.

As a 2nd generation Civil servant in Independent India, I was fortunate to be associated with some of the prominent officers who created a path-breaking approach toward growth and poverty reduction in the Country. Mr MG was foremost among them in becoming a role model for so many of us officers. His nurturing of the Institute of Public Enterprise is a big contribution. He supported so many young enterprises through the only profit-making State Finance Corporation in the country. He also managed the most efficiently run REC in the country! MR MG was always the role model and service senior who mentored many of us with a realization towards time management, efficient decision-making, and the role of the competitive public sector, a precursor to reforms in the '90s.

As President of the Hyderabad Chapter of the National HRD Network in the years 2000 to 2007 and as Regional President of South India, he has contributed immensely to the growth and development of the Hyderabad chapter. The chapter has seen all-round development in terms of activities and growth in membership. Out of 30 chapters of the National HRD Network, the Hyderabad Chapter is the only one that was privileged to have an IAS Officer as its President. Shri Gopalakrishna Garu used all his contacts and personal influence to meet the Chief Minister and officials to get a piece of prime land in Banjara Hills on a 30-year lease for building the National Headquarters of the National HRD Network and the office of the Hyderabad Chapter. National HRD Network will remain indebted forever to Sri Gopalakrishna Garu for this selfless service for the development of Human Resources in India

Sri Gopalakrishna as Director of IPE was deeply concerned with the redressal of the immediate problems of farmers. He used to advise us to categorize (1) research projects that have long gestation periods, but once succeeded, will yield long-term benefits, and (2) projects that have short gestation whose results will help farmers in solving their immediate problems. Sri Gopalakrishna had wide contacts and a good image in society. BTU took advantage to establish contacts with Krishi Vigyan Kendras and farmers in villages. He used his contacts with the Governor’s office and involved the then Governor Dr. C. Ranga Rajan in an International Conference on Biotechnology in July 1998 and through him sent a strong message on the advantages of new technology.

The Hyderabad Management Association [HMA] is a ‘not-for-profit’ Society of Management Professionals and affiliated to the All India Management Association [AIMA] – An apex Management Body in New Delhi. Shri Gopalakrishna is one of the role model Senior Members of the HMA and contributed to the growth of the association in several dimensions. He chaired the HMA Constitutional Amendment Committee, he is a recipient of HMA's Manager of the Year Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, and HMA`s Member of the Year Award.

Much before the AASU took up the problem of the illegal migrants in Assam, he had drawn the attention of the government to this menace. His commitment to Assam has been total and respect for culture and tradition endeared him to local people. I am from Jorhat, a rather conservative place and I know how the local people appreciate today his knowledge of and respect for the culture and history of the place. He is held in great esteem by Assam civilians. Gopalakrishna Naidu has a store of anecdotes and stories of those days, of people, seniors, and public figures as well as his deep perception of issues and events of his days in Assam. If he recounts it would certainly be a great treasure for the administrative history of Assam.

In one’s career, one comes across many people from different walks of life. And if after a gap of almost 30 years, a person is as vivid in one’s memory as he was when one used to meet him in an official and personal capacity, that person is remarkable. That person is Mr. M. Gopalakrishna. I have innumerable fond memories about him which I even now narrate to my colleagues. His in-depth knowledge of the subject, the clarity with which he explained beautifully and cogently both verbally in extempore (with words flowing in torrential sequence) or in beautiful handwriting was mind-boggling. In my entire life, I have never met a person as gifted as him. As head of the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI) which represents the entire mining industry – coal, non-coal, critical, and atomic minerals in public and private sectors – my visits to him were quite frequent. He would listen to me with an open mind, discuss and understand, and find solutions that would mostly be in the interest of the mining industry. His decisions would be clear and precise. I wish the officials today were as accommodating and bold.

M. Gopalakrishna, IAS was the Commissioner and Secretary to the Government of Assam in the Home and Political Departments, during the utmost turbulent times and volatile situation in the State of Assam. He was affectionate, absolutely straightforward, candid, categorical, and very pleasant and transparent in his very first interaction with me and subsequently as well as dime-a-dozen interactions with me throughout his brief, extremely challenging, and toughest assignment during that short period. I would also like to mention that he was polite, courteous, and business-like and had interacted with me and other senior and junior officers and staff members wearing his infectious smile on his face always with a cool-headed approach and composure. I had learned from him the nuances of the art of governance and literally followed his footsteps in the learning curve of my administrative career in my later years in the Indian Administrative Service.