The then Deputy Commissioner of Kodagu, A. Bharath, had convened a meeting to discuss the revision of various privileges granted to the people of Kodagu.

This important meeting was chaired by the then Revenue Minister B. Basavalingappa. The meeting was at the highly ornate meeting hall that was earlier a Palace, inside Madikeri Fort.

The Palace and the Fort were constructed by King Mudduraja in 1681 and renovated by King Lingarajendra Wadiyar II in 1813.

Myself and all the District Officers, political leaders and elite public were present at the meeting. As the subject was highly contested, people had assembled in large numbers and the hall was jam-packed.

The meeting started and DC Bharath introduced the subject and highlighted the objective of the meeting. He explained the need for the revision, as many of the privileges were outdated and were out of context. Afterwards, Revenue Minister Basavalingappa expressed the thinking of the Government and wanted the opinion of the public to facilitate issuing a revised order.

As the public were preparing to put forth their arguments, suddenly the Minister shot a question: “Who is the Divisional Forest Officer, Hunsur?”

I got up and after wishing him good morning Sir, introduced myself, ‘Sir, I am A.C. Lakshmana DFO Hunsur.’

Where is the land for rehabilitation of farmers from Nagarahole Wildlife Sanctuary? Where is the money for compensation? came the thundering questions from Basavalingappa.

I was surprised by the unexpected change in the topic of the meeting. By observing his anger, I could fathom his anger, at our proposal. We had proposed rehabilitation of nearly 1,000 people from Nagarahole, which he had rejected outright and ordered for eviction of farmers.

Most of these farmers were welcomed and settled under the “Grow more food campaign” of 1950s. They were granted suitable marshy wetlands in the forest for cultivation of paddy. At that time, there was an acute shortage of food in the country.

When I tried to support my proposals for rehabilitating the farmers in alternate lands and giving some incentives, he shot back: “Where is the land I say?”

I was stung by his pungent remarks but controlled myself. I explained that my predecessor Yellappa Reddy and Conservator of Forests B. Baliah had already earmarked 400 acres of forest land at a Northern corner of Thithimathi forest.

Not satisfied with my explanation, he put a stinging question: “Where is the money? You have asked for nearly Rs. 10 lakh as compensation.”

As government servants, we were never grilled in the public like this earlier by any Minister, and this was a strange situation I was facing.

He continued, “Do you pluck Rs.10 lakh from leaves of forest trees and distribute?”

I felt I am losing a good cause by being polite and submissive and if I do not defend now, the struggle for rehabilitation that was going on for the last six years will be lost forever.

I mustered all my courage and loudly blurted, “Sir, by rejecting our proposal, you are bringing discredit to Government of Karnataka.”

The packed assembly fell into pin-drop silence at this unexpected development. My heart started pounding hard.

Basavalingappa’s voice came piercing like a bullet, “Are you in your right senses while replying to a Minister?” he shouted in a thundering tone.

Me, a trusted blue-eyed boy of the forest department, felt being humiliated in the presence of public. I was defending the voiceless innocent animals and plants and supporting needy farmers. Suddenly, I felt that I should be vociferous and blurted back: “Sir, Karnataka government that was kind enough to release over 3000 acres to rehabilitate Tibetans nearby, if they say no to the local need for 400 acres, how can the Government get a good name?”

I paused for a moment and could see the Minister in a dilemma. I shot off a remedial answer, “Sir if I sell two rosewood trees from my division I can get Rs. 10 lakh. This investment is sufficient to keep all my animals, plants and the concerned farmers happy and at peace.”

The Minister was quick to order me to sit down. He added that we will discuss this matter in the DC’s chambers after this meeting. I felt he wanted to silence me.

I stood my ground firmly and said that as the matter is introduced here in public, it must be resolved here itself.

The Minister ordered in a raised tone, “Sit down.”

I politely disobeyed him and insisted, “Sir, you should solve the problem here and now.”

After seeing my stubbornness, he asked the DC to advise me. Bharath used his goodwill and friendship and cajoled me to sit. Reluctantly, I sat down and the regular meeting started.

After this meeting, we met at the DC’s chambers. The Minister shot another question, “How much of compensation have you recommended per family?”

I replied, “Rs. 5000, Sir.”

“Why have you asked only Rs. 5,000 per family?” asked the Minister; it was an awkward question to me.

I gave an awkward answer, “Sir, for asking Rs. 5,000 you scolded me that much, if I had asked for Rs.10,000 by mistake, you would have thrashed me in the meeting.”

Suppressing his anger and smile, he asked my name again. I replied, A.C. Lakshmana Sir.

Suddenly my stars and luck appeared to have changed, the Minister became cool and suggested that myself and the DC should meet him at Bangalore with a revised proposal.

The Minister could understand my strong support for wildlife sanctuary and the compulsion for supporting the farmers. It is the labour and sacrifice of such farmers that had made this country self-sufficient in food front during the “Grow more food” campaign of 1950s. [PS: Even now I have continued my relationship with these farmers rehabilitated at Channangi-Gudlur area of Thithimathi. Their suggestion is, we should have given 2.5 acres to each family.]

Now the farmers were sacrificing their three decades of hard work in favour of forest and wildlife conservation. The government was bound to support the farmers. After finishing the discussions, he shook hands with us and left for Bangalore.

Next day myself and the DC revised our recommendations increasing the compensation to Rs. 10,000 per family and took it to the Minster at Vidhana Soudha. We gave the letter to him at 11 am. A government order was issued and handed over to us by the Minister promptly by 4pm along with a cup of coffee. The coffee and the government order were both sweet and remained green with us.

Retrospectively, it is an interesting study. The Minister was close-fisted and conservative and hence might have rejected the recommendations for releasing the land and paying compensation. He was aggressive in expressing his displeasure openly at me, feeling that I am liberal or laxative in dolling out favours.

Once he was convinced that I was judicious, he had the conviction and greatness to revise his judgement. What is outstanding here is his statesmanship. The file went from Revenue to Forest and Finance and then back to Revenue and a government order issued in five hours.

I have the experience of working in the Secretariat as Secretary. I know the difficulties in taking quick decisions in an atmosphere where acts, rules, precedents, court orders, government orders bind the Secretariat staff and slows down the speed of disposal. In this backdrop, the administrative skill of Basavalingappa wins the admiration of every person.

After this memorable Madikeri incident, every time Basavalingappa passed through Hunsur, he used to send words for me and shared a cup of coffee at the PWD guest house. It was an everlasting friendly gesture on the part of Basavalingappa.

Basavalingappa left an indelible mark in whatever capacity he worked. Once when he was allotted a less known Environment and Ecology portfolio, as Minister he brought it to the forefront. He awakened the staff, officers, municipalities and industrialists about the need for a clean and green environment. He was a Minister five times and was always in an urgency to deliver.

Earlier, he was instrumental in bringing a legislation bringing dignity and hygiene to the pourakarmikas in Karnataka. It is a landmark legislation that other States and Government of India are struggling to copy. His vision and efficiency should be a model for everyone, particularly the politicians who are tending to be sloppy and lack vision. Basavalingappa fought aggressively for the upliftment of the deprived, downtrodden and socially backward people. He is called the ‘Ambedkar of Karnataka.’ This is the contribution of that firebrand Basavalingappa.

Good administration heaps plenty of benefits to society. The administration is a complex subject and is the result of good co-ordination and understanding between people involved in administration. Here the law of physics ‘Light travels in a straight line holds good.’ If anyone in the line has a dissent, the light will not pass through. This ends up in more correspondence, suspicion, delays and disappointments.

Here it is worth recalling the observation of a British officer who remarked as follows: The process of taking decisions in the Mysore Representatives during the rule of Rajarishi Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, was summed “that the administration in Mysore is very good and can match the best administered States in the world. They discussed one subject yesterday at the Representative Assembly and orders are issued today.”

This efficiency is our heritage, let us revive the old glory and take Karnataka to be a model State not just in India but anywhere in the world. We should remember B. Basavalingappa and his valuable contributions to society.

[aclakshmana@yahoo.com]

Camp: New York

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / Sunday – July 05th, 2015