J. M. LyngdohFormer CEC's metier is his frankness
Former CEC J. M. Lyngdoh has not confined himself to the armchair following his retirement. Wherever there is a fight against corruption in India, his name finds a mention at one point or the other.
A 1961-batch IAS officer belonging to the Khasi tribe in Meghalaya, Lyngdoh is known for his honesty, integrity and brutal frankness. Lyngdoh is the son of a district judge.
A post-graduate from the Delhi School of Economics, 72-year-old Lyngdoh joined the IAS at the age of 22. Because of his toughness and upright character, he made several enemies among the politicians and satraps, as a result of which he could never continue in one post for more than a couple of years.
A Magsaysay Award winner, Lyngdoh had once famously described politicians as the "cancer of the society" and corruption as "a symptom of a greater disease". His advice to fellow bureaucrats was a terse oneliner: "Keep away from politicians as they may spread cancer." The string of scams that has been exposed over the years has only deepened his suspicion of the political class. "The people have lost faith in the State. The government's only function seems to be to help the private sector," he laments.
After retiring on February 7, 2004, Lyngdoh settled down at a desolate place called Pragati Resorts, 50 km from Hyderabad. "This is my longest posting," he smiles.
Former CEC J. M. Lyngdoh has not confined himself to the armchair following his retirement. Wherever there is a fight against corruption in India, his name finds a mention at one point or the other.
A 1961-batch IAS officer belonging to the Khasi tribe in Meghalaya, Lyngdoh is known for his honesty, integrity and brutal frankness. Lyngdoh is the son of a district judge.
A post-graduate from the Delhi School of Economics, 72-year-old Lyngdoh joined the IAS at the age of 22. Because of his toughness and upright character, he made several enemies among the politicians and satraps, as a result of which he could never continue in one post for more than a couple of years.
A Magsaysay Award winner, Lyngdoh had once famously described politicians as the "cancer of the society" and corruption as "a symptom of a greater disease". His advice to fellow bureaucrats was a terse oneliner: "Keep away from politicians as they may spread cancer." The string of scams that has been exposed over the years has only deepened his suspicion of the political class. "The people have lost faith in the State. The government's only function seems to be to help the private sector," he laments.
After retiring on February 7, 2004, Lyngdoh settled down at a desolate place called Pragati Resorts, 50 km from Hyderabad. "This is my longest posting," he smiles.
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