'an accidental career'

Here is another episode in Gopi's life as narrated to me by Mr. Vinod Dubey, Gopi's contemporary and friend in the Allahabad University, and a former director in the World Bank. Gopi had a passion for scholarly pursuits and his choice for a civil service career was accidental. This was brought out in sharp relief when he reluctantly decided to appear for the Administrative Service examination because his rightful claim for the lecturer's post in the history department for which he was recommended by the faculty members on the basis of his stellar performance in the examination was turned down by the professor of the history department. The reason was simple: the professor wanted to have a dynastic rule with his nincompoop son to occupy the post.In those days when good jobs were few and far between, Gopi's willingness to forsake the lucrative and power-laden civil service was indeed remarkable.

D Khatkhate