A Spine in Chaos: A Letter to the Future

A thoughtful message from the present to a future civil servant, exploring the true meaning of power, responsibility, and ethical leadership in shaping India.

A future leader stands steady in chaos—where responsibility, ethics, and courage define true power.

Dear Future Officer,

“Power has responsibilities that are general, not standards of showing-off.”

This was the very quote that you thought of while you read about the polio vaccination campaign led by IAS Anuradha Gupta. As a person who takes an interest in uncovering practical tactics and problems related to the field you are deciding to cover, it was a surprise that a case study would deliver to you the ‘why’ behind your ambitions. The ‘why’ being the reason for you to give back to this country, the same which led you to a polio-free life and freedom from a lot of other issues.

Today, in the position that you are in, I hope you remember: “Strategy without Ethics is a menace; Ethics without Strategy is a tragedy.”

We read about Rani Lakshmi Bai in books, about Harmanpreet Kaur (Women’s Cricket) in the news, but what we don’t always read in headlines is how IAS Durga Nagpal fought against the sand mafia (yes, something as forgettable as sand) or about IAS Otima Bordia, who not only made sure the people of Bikaner wouldn’t starve but also simultaneously foresaw the possibilities of the Indo-Pak war in 1965 and continued her night recce on the borders.

This means your work, in its exterior, might not look like that of someone celebrated, but the core pillars of your plans must adhere to equality, non-discrimination, empathy, self-acceptance, honesty, dignity of labour, tolerance, dedication, and, most importantly, justice in its highest form.

As Shakespeare said, “What stronger breastplate than a heart untainted!”

This sense of justice isn’t something you understand completely through your Bare Acts, but something you are still carving from the various experiences of your life, meaning we will always have new challenges. Yesterday it was the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, and tomorrow it could be nuclear war, which India has always diplomatically tried to avoid, while hydra-headed threats like terrorism and cross-border crimes are still moves that enemies of peace and development are currently and silently making.

So always develop your Fingerspitzengefühl (finger-tip feel) and play on four different fronts like a 4D chess player.

In this era, the only mantra that could sustain would probably be the Preparedness → Response → Recovery cycle.

Remember how the octopus has intelligence without a central brain because its neural intelligence is spread across its tentacles? Similarly, you must bring together your staff, volunteers, and skills of AI to create a web that covers preparations for D-day situations while also utilising the current resources for SDGs and the Vikshit Bharat goal.

I believe you can start by creating awareness about toxins, anthrax, and chemicals, and training citizens about their signs—how to cover oneself, wash, quickly dig deep trenches, properly discard garments, and create a desert-rose urinal.

Additionally, you can conduct surprise mock drills on how to escape if tied up and how to behave during war. Get the video of these mock drills posted on social media, where you award “The Best Survivor,” getting them trending like an influencer and consequently making citizens ready and invested.

Also, don’t forget the feeling of helplessness that you had for your neighbourhood’s young girl, who had no father, an ill brother who recently died, and an ill mother to take care of. She had no job or money for herself because she didn’t have enough opportunities for a good CV. They had to sell their house and leave—the very people who gifted you a lot of things and kept praising you during your teenage years, despite you not meeting them often, while they themselves had a lot to deal with.

Always remember, there is a market, but there isn’t proper employment for people, and so many girls like her will fall into the traps of mistreatment or silence. Please don’t forget to bridge such gaps in your plans.

I believe you should personalise this fight for everyone’s survival. If problems are created, you can innovate with solutions—the focus must be eyeball-to-eyeball.

The Sickle. To cut wheat, we let stalks turn hard, and in that, even the dullest sickle will mow. Warfare is like hunting—by scouting, by nets, by lying in wait, and other such stratagems, a hunt is accomplished better than by sheer force, as in the words of Byzantine Emperor Maurikios.

India has always maintained the stronghold of moral high ground while also being responsive. But war has always been a balance of ends and means, and the means will always have to be examined in order to win. This signifies that the method of dealing that India has today shouldn’t be blindsided in the future.

India should adhere to its plan of strong defensive systems and must stay alert to any coup.

The will of the citizens and that of India, combined for survival and growth, should be based on the continuation of soulful and adroit manoeuvring.

Remember how proud you felt watching foreigners join your cousin’s Odia community in the Netherlands and celebrate Rath Yatra? That is the soft power of India—a perfect example of how India ensures that its diaspora is not only safe but also celebrated, even though they have had their own challenges.

Life will always be an endless battle, but what I can hope for you to do is to stand in the eye of the storm with a calmness that lets you choose humanity, patriotism, and self-sufficiency over all other noises.

You should master this art—even if it is theatre for some and an essence for others.

There is a Sanskrit proverb: “Yatha Raja Tatha Praja”—meaning the led will follow in the footsteps of the lead. And you are both the lead and the legend who might not be on front pages but will stay etched in the hearts of the people you serve.

And remember to stay hydrated—because that is what Papa would have asked of you anyway.

With love and patience,

Your Inner Compass