Public Service, Leadership, and Legacy >>>>> The Seventeenth Friday Evening at Press Club Hyderabad With Dr PV Ramesh and Dr J Purnachandra Rao : By Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 Public Service, Leadership, and Legacy

The Seventeenth Friday Evening 

at Press Club Hyderabad
With Dr PV Ramesh and Dr J Purnachandra Rao

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao 

(June 5, 2026)

The Seventeenth Friday Evening Gathering at the Press Club Hyderabad marked another significant milestone in this evolving journey of conversations, reflections, and shared learning. If earlier meetings drew largely from journalism, public affairs, social movements, and institutional memory, this evening expanded the canvas further through the presence of two distinguished former civil servants whose careers have left a lasting imprint on public administration and public life: former IAS officer Dr PV Ramesh and former IPS officer Dr J Purnachandra Rao.

Joining them were former CEO of HMRI (Health Management and Research Institute) Dr U Balaji and entrepreneur Jogesh, each adding a distinct perspective to the discussions that unfolded through the evening. The gathering was further enriched by the first-time participation of senior journalists S Nagesh Kumar and Srinivas U, whose observations and contributions blended seamlessly into the free-flowing exchange of ideas that has become the hallmark of these meetings.

Also present were Amar Devulapalli, Bhandaru Srinivasa Rao, VJM Divakar, Mallepally Lakshmaiah, Lalita Iyer, Attaluri Aruna, Uma, A Saye Sekhar, and myself. With a rich mix of experience drawn from journalism, governance, public policy, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and social engagement, the evening promised not merely conversation, but a meaningful exploration of ideas shaped by decades of lived experience.

Despite the occasional ‘auditory intrusion’ from the adjoining table, where a lively and cheerful gathering was evidently enjoying its own exchange, the spillover of animated conversation frequently competed with our own discussions. A few observations and clarifications sought by participants were inevitably lost in the ambient noise. Yet, such interruptions are perhaps part of the character of any vibrant club environment, where multiple conversations coexist under one roof.

If anything, the experience served as a gentle reminder that meaningful dialogue flourishes best when accompanied by mutual consideration and an awareness that every table may have its own story worth listening to. Notwithstanding these minor distractions, the Seventeenth Friday Evening proved, like its sixteen predecessors, to be a thoroughly engaging, intellectually stimulating, and rewarding experience. Listening to the narratives of our two guests, particularly PV Ramesh, was both enlightening and thought-provoking, combining lived experience with insights of considerable academic and practical value.

Dr PV Ramesh drew our attention through the breadth of his experience and the candour of his reflections. A physician by education and an international development professional by practice, his professional journey spans nearly four decades across diverse domains, including public policy, public health, financial management, governance reform, organisational strategy, and sustainable development. Much of his service was spent in tribal regions, where administration often demands not merely official authority but sensitivity, patience, and a deep understanding of local realities.

Participants listened with keen interest as he recalled being the first Sub-Collector of both Utnoor and Mulugu after they were constituted as separate sub-divisions, assignments that offered him a unique opportunity to engage closely with tribal communities and grassroots governance. One revelation from Dr Ramesh’s narrative came as a surprise to many around the table. Despite a distinguished career that saw him occupy several important positions in government and public institutions, he disclosed that he had never served as a District Collector.

While much of the evening’s conversation revolved around the experiences shared by Dr PV Ramesh, nevertheless, the presence of former IPS officer Dr J Purnachandra Rao added an equally significant dimension to the gathering. During a distinguished police career spanning more than three decades, he rose to the highest rank in the service, that of Director General of Police (DGP).

Over the years, he held several important assignments, including Director General, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Telangana, and later Director General, Vigilance and Enforcement, a position he held until his retirement. He also chaired the Police Recruitment Boards of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana at different points in time and served as Inspector General of Police for the Warangal Range.

Dr Purnachandra Rao earned a reputation for handling sensitive and complex responsibilities with professionalism and composure. Among the most challenging assignments of his career was his role as Deputy Inspector General in the Special Intelligence Branch, where he was closely associated with critical peace talks involving Naxalite groups. Beyond policing, he also demonstrated administrative capability as Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), where his tenure was widely regarded as efficient and result-oriented.

His contributions to public service were recognised through several distinguished honours, including the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, the Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service, and the Police Medal for Gallantry. Following his retirement from the police service, Dr Purnachandra Rao continued his engagement with public affairs, including a stint as Head of Airport City Administration in the GMR Group.

Subsequently, he entered social and political life with a focus on issues relating to social justice and the empowerment of Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, and minority communities. Presently serving as the National Coordinator of the All India Bahujan Samaj Party (AIBSP), he remains actively involved in public causes. Although he spoke only briefly during the evening, the experiences he shared reflected a lifetime of service across law enforcement, administration, and public engagement, adding another valuable perspective to the rich exchange of ideas that characterised the seventeenth Friday gathering.

Among the many experiences shared by Dr PV Ramesh during the evening, the most Interesting one, was literally a heart touching real life learning story to the next generation of civil servants. This happened when he got his first posting as first Sub-Collector Mulugu, after it was transformed as a Sub Division from the revenue Division. Serving as a Sub-Collector is an IAS officer's critical first independent test, granting them vital Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) powers.

They wield the authority to conduct the magisterial inquests into suspicious deaths or custodial casualties. This particular incident at the very beginning of his administrative career held the gathering spellbound amidst ‘auditory intrusion’ from the adjoining table. More than the event itself, it was the manner in which he narrated it, with clarity, humour, and remarkable attention to detail, that brought the episode alive. The story dates back to his first day as Sub-Collector, Mulugu, a newly created subdivision, when he was 25 years old and afresh in public service.

That first day happened to be a Sunday. Having just arrived and possessing little knowledge of the locality, he had neither official accommodation nor a clear idea about the whereabouts of the newly established Sub-Collector’s office. Faced with limited options, he arranged temporary stay in the residence of an Electrical Engineer, much of which was covered by a zinc-sheet roof. After the journey and the formalities of arrival, he looked forward to some much-needed rest. However, events had other plans.

No sooner had he settled down than there was a knock on the door. On opening it, he found a police constable who appeared rather urgent and requested him to accompany him immediately to meet the District Superintendent of Police. Assuming it to be a routine courtesy call, Dr Ramesh readily agreed, expecting the meeting to be somewhere nearby. He was escorted into a vehicle and the journey began. As the vehicle continued to move farther and farther away from the town limits, curiosity gave way to concern.

Repeatedly he asked the accompanying personnel where they were headed. The response remained unchanged: ‘Nearby... nearby... almost there... reached, reached.’ As the journey progressed, daylight began to fade. The surroundings gradually transformed into forest terrain, unfamiliar and increasingly isolated. By the time they finally arrived at their destination, darkness had almost set in. There, he was received by the district’s top police officer, who appeared visibly relieved at his arrival.

Surrounded by a sizeable police contingent, the Superintendent greeted him warmly and, in Dr Ramesh’s recollection, said words he remembers to this day: ‘Welcome, Ramesh. You are the only available Magistrate now.’ Until that moment, he had little idea why he had been brought there. The purpose soon became clear. He was requested to conduct an inquest on a dead body. Neither the precise circumstances nor the location had been disclosed to him earlier. Drawing upon the legal training received during probation, Dr Ramesh politely declined, pointing out that he had been specifically instructed never to conduct an inquest after sunset.

The officers persisted, requesting that he at least come and see the body. Eventually, he agreed to have a look. What followed was an unexpected trek through paddy fields and difficult terrain in near darkness. After covering a considerable distance, fatigue began to set in. At one stage, when he expressed his inability to proceed further, those accompanying him literally supported him by holding him on their shoulders so that the journey could continue. What happened thereafter, as Dr Ramesh himself observed with characteristic restraint, is a different story.

The police achieved their immediate objective by ensuring his presence at the required location, and the necessary legal formalities were eventually completed the following day. The return journey proved no less memorable. Once again, he had to be physically assisted over parts of the difficult terrain before reaching the point from which the vehicle journey resumed. By the time he finally returned to Mulugu, it was around three o’clock in the morning. Sleep had barely begun when another knock disturbed the silence.

Opening the door, he was astonished to find a senior police officer, above even the district chief, waiting to invite him to breakfast as a gesture of gratitude for his assistance. Barely six weeks later, Dr Ramesh would be transferred as the first Sub-Collector of the newly created Utnoor Sub-Division following the Allampally encounter and the declaration of Adilabad as a ‘Model District.’

What began as an unexpected Sunday adventure thus became one of the earliest and most unforgettable lessons in the unpredictability of public service. Adding a touch of humour to the recollection, Dr Ramesh revealed that only a few days later, before his transfer from Mulugu, he discovered that the destination to which he had been painstakingly led through fields and difficult terrain was not the four kilometres he had been made to believe at the time, but less than a quarter of a kilometre away.

The disclosure evoked considerable amusement around the table, not merely because of the distance involved, but because it perfectly captured the gentility of a young officer encountering the realities of field administration for the first time. Indeed, much of the seventeenth Friday Evening unfolded through such engaging narratives, stories that combined experience with insight, humour with reflection, and personal memory with larger lessons in public service and governance.

Equally intriguing was the story behind what might have been. In 1994, orders were issued posting him as Collector of Medak district. However, circumstances took an unexpected turn when political leaders from different parties reportedly appealed against the posting, leading the Government headed by NT Rama Rao to withdraw the appointment. What appeared, at least on the surface, to be a missed opportunity became instead a turning point in his career.

Ramesh was subsequently appointed Director of Tribal Welfare and Ex-Officio Secretary to Government, a position that enabled him to contribute to policy and institutional development on a much wider scale. In retrospect, the episode offered a telling illustration of how public careers are often shaped as much by unforeseen circumstances as by personal choice, and how apparent setbacks can sometimes open the door to larger responsibilities and lasting contributions.

Beyond his extensive experience in several Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs), established to deliver public services, welfare programmes, and development initiatives to Scheduled Tribes, Dr PV Ramesh’s career remained closely associated with tribal development and grassroots governance. As Project Officer, ITDA, Rampachodavaram, he coordinated the implementation of multi-sectoral programmes aimed at the sustainable economic development of nearly seven million tribal people across the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh.

It was during his tenure that the Tribal Cultural Museum was inaugurated, reflecting his commitment not only to development but also to the preservation of tribal heritage. He also served as Joint Collector in Karimnagar, Mahbubnagar, and Chittoor districts, gaining wide administrative experience across diverse regions. His administrative journey subsequently expanded into several key leadership positions. Dr Ramesh mentioned that, he served as Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister, with Cabinet Minister Rank, besides holding important portfolios such as Principal Secretary, Finance, Medical and Health in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh Government.

At this point, the conversation took a particularly moving turn when Mallepally Lakshmaiah recalled an episode that connected public policy with personal experience. He remembered how, during Dr PV Ramesh’s tenure as Principal Secretary, Finance, he, along with another representative, had approached the Government seeking enhancement of the remuneration paid to Grama Sevikas, locally known in some areas as Neeradis or Sunkaris. Dr Ramesh processed the proposal, resulting in the monthly remuneration being doubled from Rs 3000 to R 6000.

Recalling this decision in Dr Ramesh’s presence, Lakshmaiah became visibly reflective as he spoke about his father, whom he affectionately referred to as Ayya. His father had served as a Sunkari, following a hereditary family occupation, and had passed away nearly five decades ago. Though the remuneration in those days was a mere Rs 5 per month, he continued in the role with dedication, sustained by a sense of duty and tradition. The recollection added a deeply human dimension to the discussion, illustrating how administrative decisions often touch lives in ways that statistics alone cannot capture.

Then Ramesh mentioned that, he also served as Chairman and Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), Director-General of the National Archives of India, and held several senior assignments with national and international institutions. His professional engagement extended across the Asia-Pacific region, Africa, West Asia, the Arab States, and Europe, providing him with a broad global perspective on governance, development, public finance, and institutional transformation.

 Dr PV Ramesh’s professional engagements extended well beyond India. Over the course of his career, he visited more than thirty countries across Asia, Africa, West Asia, Europe, and North America. A significant phase of his journey was his distinguished thirteen-year association with the United Nations system, where he held important diplomatic and operational responsibilities, particularly with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

A specialised United Nations Agency and International Financial Institution, IFAD is dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries by strengthening rural economies and supporting smallholder farmers, fishers, and rural entrepreneurs. Dr Ramesh specialised in development finance and the formulation of national strategic plans. Notably, he served as Country Programme Manager for the Asia-Pacific Division of IFAD and worked closely with organisations such as UNOPS and UNFPA, overseeing sustainable rural development portfolios and development initiatives across the region.

The discussion and conversation further offered an opportunity to appreciate the long and often demanding journey of an All-India Service officer. An IAS officer typically begins as an Assistant Collector under training, progresses through field assignments such as Sub-Collector, Joint Collector, Project Officer of an Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), District Collector, Municipal Commissioner, or Chief Executive Officer of a Zilla Parishad, before moving into increasingly senior policy-making roles in State Governments, the Government of India, public sector institutions, and international organisations.

The ascent may eventually culminate in positions such as Principal Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, Chief Secretary, or, at the national level, Union Secretary and Cabinet Secretary. The career progression of an IPS officer broadly follows a similar trajectory. While not every officer reaches the highest positions, the journeys of Dr PV Ramesh and Dr J Purnachandra Rao illustrate how young officers who begin their careers respectively as Sub-Collectors and Assistant Superintendents of Police can, through experience, dedication, and leadership, rise to occupy some of the most significant positions in public service.