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M.G. Devasahayam

M.G. Devasahayam is a Soldier, Administrator, Economist and Public Servant with a distinguished career spanning several decades, with direct and first-hand experience in the Indian Army, Civil Service (IAS), Government, Public & Private Sector, Political system as well as Voluntary Sector.

Education
Post-graduate in Economics from Loyola College, Chennai and Tutor in Economics in the same college.

Early life
Commissioned in the Indian Army in 1964 as Second Lieutenant (Infantry, The Madras Regiment). Participated in Indo-Pak War-1965 and Counter-Insurgency operations in Nagaland. For leading a successful operation against a fully-armed Naga underground Army unit and capturing a dozen insurgents and a big cache of Pakistani weapons, Devasahayam was recommended by the Battalion for the highest Ashok Chakra award that did not materialize.

Career
Devasahayam left the Army as Major and entered the IAS [1968-Haryana cadre]. He had the privilege of raising a new District (Bhiwani). As the first DC, Devasahayam was instrumental in conceiving, preparing and implementing a District Development Plan which became the precursor for the Integrated Rural Development Project rolled out by Government of India few years later. Devasahayam also had the distinction of administering Chandigarh, the ‘City Beautiful’.

Besides Union Territory of Chandigarh, Devasahayam has held several senior positions in Government. He was also Member of the High-Powered Committee on Agricultural Policies and Programmes set up by Government of India in 1990.

Emergency [1975]
In 1975 Devasahayam-a young and dynamic officer-was Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate, Chandigarh It fell on the shoulders of this young man to be the jailor of Jayaprakash Narayan.

Besides his duties as a civil servant Devasahayam did something more .He met JP on an almost daily basis and interacted with him intensely. He treated JP as a man who had inspired millions of Indians to take up the cudgels for their rights. He looked upon him as the living connection with and embodiment of the ideas and ideals that Mahatma Gandhi instilled in those who fought for our freedom. He treated JP with the respect due him.

From a low point JP gradually recovered his old self, and in spite of his ill health, determined to right the wrong that has been done to India i.e. defeating Emergency. Devasahayam brings JP to life in all the glory of his integrity, moral fervor, and gift of the fight against all odds. Devasahayam was not just a jailor, but also an interlocutor, and then a tireless facilitator of a rapprochement between JP and Indira Gandhi.

Jayaprakash Narayan
During Emergency [1975], Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) was arrested in Delhi under MISA and sent to Chandigarh for confinement. As District Magistrate of Chandigarh, Devasahayam was his custodian and developed a humane relationship with JP. This sustained after the Emergency and lasted till JP, the architect of ‘India’s Second Freedom’, passed away in October 1979. Devasahayam had the privilege of being part of India’s second freedom and also had the rare honor of being called by JP as his ‘Friend’ and the ‘son he never had’.

Mother Teresa
Devasahayam had worked closely with Mother Teresa(now Saint) and was instrumental in the setting up of the ‘Home for orphans, abandoned infants, dying destitutes and mentally retarded’ [Shanti-Dan] within the Chandigarh city and a sanctuary for lepers outside.

Other Positions and Services
Devasahayam has been Advisor to major corporate entities and Chief Consultant, IIT Madras Research Park. In the Voluntary Sector he has been associated with leading international and national NGOs. He founded Citizen’s Alliance for Sustainable Living (SUSTAIN) to advocate environmental and resource efficiency issues and Forum for Electoral Integrity to champion ethical voting and strengthening democracy. He mobilized intellectuals and youth and in partnership with Election Commission ran campaigns to bring about honesty and integrity in the electoral process.He has been member, Environment & Energy Committee, CII (South) and Chairman, Infrastructure, Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was associated with an energy efficiency pilot project in Tamil Nadu Electricity Board in collaboration with the Washington based Alliance to Save Energy and was also the National Consultant to Sustainable Chennai Project jointly sponsored by UNDP and UN-HABITAT.

Devasahayam is a writer, columnist and author of Books “India’s Second Freedom - An Untold Saga” ; “JP in Jail-An Uncensored Account” ; “JP Movement, Emergency and India’s Second Freedom” and “A Drop of Love-Memoir of Saint Teresa.” The thrust in his writings has been Governance, Reforms, Resource Efficiency as well as topics like Freedom and Democracy.

Military

 * Samar Seva (War Service) Medal;
 * General Service Medal with Bar(Nagaland).

Civil

 * Loyola Alumni Lifetime Achiever’s Award(Platinum Jubilee-2010).
 * JP Achievement award(2019).