SMALL COGS IN A LARGE WHEEL: A CIVIL SERVANT’S LIFE

SMALL COGS IN A LARGE WHEEL: A CIVIL SERVANT’S LIFE

Small Cogs in a Large Wheel is an insightful memoir that offers a rare glimpse into the life of an Indian civil servant and the vital role bureaucracy plays in shaping a nation. Drawing from nearly four and a half decades of public service, Naresh Nandan Prasad reflects on governance, policymaking, diplomacy and the challenges of serving across diverse regions of India and the international stage.

📖 About the Book

Civil servants form the backbone of the Indian administrative system, ensuring continuity and stability through changing governments and policies. In Small Cogs in a Large Wheel, Naresh Nandan Prasad recounts his extraordinary journey through the Indian Administrative Service, serving across Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, while offering an insider's perspective on the workings of governance.

Beginning with his training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, the memoir follows Prasad's career through district administration, the corridors of power in New Delhi and his distinguished assignments with the United Nations. Through personal experiences and professional milestones, he examines the complexities of public administration, political leadership and policymaking.

Blending personal reflection with administrative history, this candid memoir offers valuable insights into the responsibilities, challenges and rewards of public service. It is an engaging account of one man's remarkable career and an essential read for anyone interested in India's civil services, governance and multilateral diplomacy.

✨ Key Highlights

• An inspiring memoir spanning over four decades in the Indian Administrative Service and the United Nations.
• Provides an insider's perspective on governance, public administration and policymaking in India.
• Chronicles experiences across Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the Government of India.
• Explores leadership, bureaucracy, diplomacy and the realities of public service.
• Combines personal anecdotes with historical and political insights.
• An essential read for UPSC aspirants, civil servants, policymakers and readers interested in Indian governance.

✍️ About the Author

Naresh Nandan Prasad is a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1981 UP/Uttarakhand cadre. An alumnus of St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, he holds master's degrees in History and Economics and has devoted nearly 45 years to public service.

During his distinguished career, he served for over three decades in the IAS and later worked with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). His expertise spans rural and urban development, industrial policy, elections, tourism, intellectual property and multilateral negotiations, making him one of the few IAS officers to have served in three different Indian states.

📚 Why Read This Book?

Small Cogs in a Large Wheel is a compelling memoir that brings readers inside the world of India's civil services through the experiences of an accomplished administrator. Rich in practical insights, personal reflections and historical context, it is an invaluable resource for civil service aspirants, students of public policy and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of governance, leadership and nation-building.