1965-66 was a time of severe drought in Kachchh, Gujarat when Chandramouli was the Collector. During droughts, the state typically creates relief works like digging tanks, laying roads to keep the farmers and agricultural workers employed. 

As Collector, Chandramouli had to approve relief projects, which he did purely on merit. Two powerful politicians of the area would show up to meetings regularly, to bully Chandramouli with aggressive and virulent attacks in order to get their pet projects approved.

But Chandramouli refused to bend, and paid the price. One of those politicians became a minister in the state cabinet after the next election, and transferred him to a minor role in the Revenue department.

This is the story of R.V. Chandramouli, an IAS officer who was born into a poor family in the village of Rajamadam in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. 

In 1943, at the age of 11 in IV form, Chandramouli was admitted to the Ramakrishna Mission Students’ Home in Madras. It was Ramakrishna Mission’s financial generosity that enabled him to not only matriculate from high school, but to also graduate from Vivekananda College with B.A. Hons in Mathematics in 1952.

The faculty role models inculcated in young Chandramouli classic values like strong values of service, honesty, integrity and the strength to resist temptations.

In 1955, at age 22, Chandramouli qualified for the IAS. After a year-long training, he started his career as the Supernumerary Assistant Collector in Dhandhuka, a municipality in Ahmedabad district in the old Bombay State.

In 1960, the old Bombay state was split into Maharashtra and Gujarat. At age 27, he became the Secretary to the first Chief Minister of Gujarat - the stalwart Dr. Jivrajbhai Mehta. As a young officer he not only got a bird's eye view of the entire machinery of government, but also a good grasp of the breadth of governance, working for a seasoned administrator like Jivrajbhai.

During the Emergency, Chandramouli was Home Secretary of Gujarat in 1975. The Government of India would send lists of politicians, leaders and others to detain without giving reason under a newly enacted Section 16A of Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA ). 

Chandramouli believed this to be unfair and antithetical to democracy. His courageous and principled response as the Home Secretary for freedom and fairness during Emergency, enhanced his standing as a civil servant with classic values. He had inspired many young district magistrates, IAS officers and other officers to show courage of conviction during their careers. 

In the ensuing years, he displayed his skills as a versatile administrator by taking on different roles in the State government. As Education Secretary, he oversaw the massive implementation of the 10+2+3 secondary and higher secondary education. He was made Finance Secretary and Home Secretary again under Madhavsinh Solanki for his fairness.

He was the longest running Chief Election Officer in Gujarat from 1973 to 1985, a nod to his integrity and political neutrality. 

On July 9, 1985, Chandramouli was appointed the 12th Chief Secretary to the Gujarat Government. As Chief Secretary, he brought focus back to the departments, managing by objectives, streamlining processes for efficiencies and reducing wastage, and leading initiatives to combat the worst water scarcity in Gujarat.

Over the years, Chandramouli built a reputation of being a stern and tough boss at work. 

One of his colleagues and his wife were to visit Chandramouli and his wife at their home. The colleague prepared his wife for the meeting, describing Chandramouli as a gruff, tough and a serious person.

When they met with the Chandramoulis, the colleague’s wife found Chandramouli to be warm and welcoming. She called the Chandramoulis “genuine people so hard to find these days”. And she admonished her husband for lying to her.

This warm, welcoming, and honest man from Rajamadam shows today’s youth that good guys can win!