In every walk of life esp. in the public arena, there are quite a few groups that devote their life and work for the service of common man - be it politicians, advocates, teachers, N.G.Os, administrators and the like. Even among these groups not all of their members are committed and devoted to pure and simple public welfare. Many an individual in these groups are totally selfish and manipulative to the core to achieve their own personal goals and reach the very top of their organisations through hard work in a calculated way.
Politicians become popular heroes over a period of time depending on their work and rhetoric. They occupy public posts on the basis of election or selection. Very few politicians are prepared to sacrifice personal life and comforts for the sake of common man. Many a time they invest very little of their wealth and incomes but mainly join politics to earn money and seize public office at others cost. M.K. Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad, C. Rajagopalachary, K.Kamaraj, Deendayal Upadyaya, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Ram Manohar Lohia, Jaya Prakash Narain, C.N. Annadurai were the stalwarts in Indian politics and a few like M.K.Gandhi sacrificed their family life totally without any expectations from the state or its agencies neither for themselves nor for their family members, a rare quality befitting sainthood in the days to come.
Among the advocates who had been or have been practicing for a century and a half in India very few only could be categorised as social activists or reformers in India. Or it is possible that many have not recorded or publicised their work like some intelligent beings. The society certainly needs the selfless services of hundreds of lawyers for the poor and the needy. Legal aid by a group of advocates at least selectively without sacrificing their own welfare totally would go a long way in helping the poor to get justice at no cost or at least at the least cost.
Teachers like Chanakya, Aristotle, Plato, Archimedes, in ancient times did a yeoman service by teaching men and women the various facets of human life and kindling their interest and spirit for tackling the contemporary issues and events having potential provocation for the posterity without fail. Thoughts and discoveries of eminent teachers and scholars have made the human life in general worth living. Great discoverers and scientists too come under this category. Human beings who have occupied this green and blue planet, namely, earth in the solar system of the Milky Way for ages and yugas would feel grateful for such extraordinary men for millenniums to come.
Philanthropists did exist in all the periods of human civilisation. They had realised the importance of giving something to others when they are in need. Individuals or groups of individuals have tried their best to consolidate the gains and gifts to the deserving people from time to time. They feel they are repaying their debt at the end of the day to the society they are living in and where from they derived such immense amount of goodwill and wealth. Nowadays the corporate czars are trying to plough back a portion of their wealth and income in the service of community as Corporate Social Responsibility mandated by the Company Law. N.G.Os of the day are getting donations and contributions from various sources to take care of one or multiple causes rightly, effectively or inefficiently depending on the integrity of individuals concerned.
Administrators are a different lot altogether although they represent the varied nature of the sections of the society they come from more or less proportionately. Commitment or dedication of an individual is born with the man invariably. It is possible it might get diluted as the one passes through various stages of life but the core desire and mindset remains strong till the end. Whether it was Indian Civil Service or its later version Indian Administrative Service, it has had its eminent and enthusiastic youngsters joining in their early twenties with a lot of interest and devotion to serve the public under their charge. Of late one is not sure about the percentage of such selfless and totally service-oriented souls joining this premier administrative service. ICS had more authority and freedom of action unlike IAS of modern days. The initiative and enterprise of the young and bold administrators is mellowed and conditioned by the politicians at the local levels and later on at the top level.
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