Dear Sahaji Brothers / Sisters
Jai Shri Mataji
Here is the Citation, Award details and Sir CP's Acceptance Speech of the Award ceremony held at the President's House.
CITATION
‘O Thou, whose face looks everyway, bears us past foes as in a ship…. As in a ship, convey thou us for our advantage over the flood….’, these words
from the Rig Veda underlines the importance of maritime activities in ancient India, to which shipbuilding dock at Lothal, in Harappa, bore testimony. This tradition still
continues with India having the second largest number of seafarers in the world. Many persons have contributed to upholding this tradition, prominent amongst them is
Sir C.P.Srivastava,’a living legend’ of the maritime world.
Born on July 8, 1920, in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, Shri Srivastava had a brilliant academic record of obtaining 1st class Bachelor’s Master‘s and Law degrees
from the University of Lucknow. As an officer of the Indian Administrative Services, he had a distinguished career of being India’s highly successful civil servant. From
1946 to 1964 he held various positions with State and Central Government. During 1964-1966, he served as a close personal aide to India’s second Prime Minister, Shri
Lal Bahadur Shastri. He was with Shastri Ji until the last day of his life, in Tashkent.
During 1966-1973, Shri Srivastava was Chairman and Managing Director of the Shipping Corporation of India, which he built from a small national
enterprise to one of the world’s leading and profitable shipping companies.
In 1974 he was elected Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization, a post which he held for a record four terms for four years each.
During this period, the organization developed rapidly in terms of its membership, and also for the enhancement of maritime safety and prevention of marine pollution.
Subsequently, Shri Srivastava was designated as Secretary General Emeritus, the only Indian to have received such an honour from the United Nations. The World
Maritime University, a unique global institution for advanced post graduate education in maritime technology, administration and management, was conceived and
established by him in the year 1983. Since its establishment the University has brought about a wondrous transformation in the maritime world by developing expertise
in the International maritime practices. This has resulted in the present day global maritime scenario that is far more reassuring.
For his outstanding achievements, Shri Srivastava was awarded Padma Bhusan and many other honours and decorations including those from the Kings
of Sweden, Norway and Spain as well a Knighthood from the Queen of England.
The administrative acumen and exemplary value system of Shastriji had a deep impact on Shri Srivastava’s life. In the initial stage of his career he was
greatly influenced by Dr. Nagendra Singh, ICS, and an eminent jurist. His personal life has highly been influenced by his wife, Smt. Nirmala Devi, a profound source of
strength, encouragement and inspiration.
The biography ‘Lal Bahadur Shastri- A life of Truth in Politics’, authored by Shri Srivastava has been acclaimed as an outstanding work of scholarship.
This masterpiece has been translated into Hindi and Marathi languages. With his vast administrative experience he has written a volume entitled’ Corruption: India’s
enemy within’. His book, ‘World Maritime University –First 20 years ‘, published in two volumes during 2003, is a monumental piece of work on the spectacular success
of this University.
In recognition of his outstanding contribution to public service, to the development of Shipping industry in India, and to the global maritime community,
the sixth Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence in Public Administration, Academics and Management, for the year 2004, is being conferred on Shri Chandrika
Prasad Srivastava, an able administrator, a prolific writer, a visionary, and a great institution builder.
| LAL BAHADUR SHASTRI
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| OCTOBER 1, 2005
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INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT, DELHI
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AWARD
Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, a pragmatic and down to earth leader of the people of India, an exemplary statesman and able administrator, with the moral
and ethical attribute of a ‘Mahatma’ and a person of impeccable integrity, was a great soul dedicated to the welfare of the common man. He was deeply patriotic, having
dedicated his life to the service of the nation.
A firm believer in social responsibilities of business enterprises, he looked at the economic and social realities of India life with a clear vision, never
allowing his judgment to be influenced by doctrinaire or ideological preconceptions. In the administrative sphere, he had original ideas, and was an innovator with a
resolve to give effect to new ideas. Shastriji’s tireless dedication to the cause of improving the welfare of the Indian People, is an inspiration to all those who look to the
future with hope and confidence.
Shastriji felt the need for a responsive and agile administration during his tenure as Prime Minister of India. The appointment of an Administrative
Reforms Commission to streamline Public Administration was one among many steps he took to make Administration quick and responsive. He simultaneously felt the
importance of developing high quality institutions, which could provide a stream of administrators and managers for future. His vision was later translated into reality
when te Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration was set up in Mussourie and inaugurated by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
In order to uphold this vision of Shastriji, Lal Bahadur Shastri Educational Trust has set up the Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management (LBSIM) at
Delhi in 1995. Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management has instituted the Lal Bahadur Shastri Award for Excellence in Public Administration, Academics and
Management.
The award honours each year an individual , residing in India or abroad, who is exceptionally an outstanding public Administrator , a management
practitioner , educator or institution builder for his/her sustained individual contributions and achievements of high professional order and excellence. The honour
carries a cash award of Rs. One Lakh plus a Citation and a Plaque. The awardee’s name is inscribed on the Honours Roll of LBSIM and he /she is designated as Lal
Bahadur Shastri Fellow.
The award is presented by the Hon’ble President of India at a ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhawan.
The award process begins in January each year with the nomination of an eight member jury by the Chairman of LBSIM, who is the ex-officio convener
of the jury.
An announcement is made in the media in February for nominations for the award. Those nominating have to provide details and copies of the work of
nominees. One person can nominate only one name.
The convenor, with the approval of the jury, writes to leading personalities and Institutions all over the world for nomination for the award. The last
date for receiving nomination is the last day of April. The Convenor of the jury processes and organizes all the nominations and presents the same to the jury in its first
meeting. Thereafter, the jury meets a few times to finalize the award. The jury chooses the awardee latest by the end of August and the convenor of the jury announces
the award soon thereafter.
Recipients of the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award
1999: Prof. CK Prahlad
2000: Shri Sam Pitroda
2001: Shri N.R. Narayana Murthy
2002: Dr. R A Mashelkar
2003: Smt. Ela Ramesh Bhatt
2004: Sir. C.P. Srivastava
The Institute
The Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management (LBSIM), established by the Lal Bahadur Shastri Educational Trust, Delhi, is a premier and dynamic
Institute in Management and Information Technology education. The Institute conducts AICTE recognized two year Full time Post Graduate Programme in management
and a three year Post Graduate evening Programme for the working Executives. It also conducts a three year Programme in Master of Computer Application recognized
by Guru Govind Singh Indraprashtha University, Delhi. The Institute aims at developing a center for excellence in management and IT education, training, research and
consultancy and to create a new class of managers in tune with the needs of today’s highly competitive global environment. Over the years, it has emerged as one of the
premier Institutes in the country imparting value based management education. Besides, management and IT education, it is actively involved in conducting research,
training and consultancy. It has widespread support of the corporate world both at national and International levels. The ethics, values and principles of Shastriji have
been the constant guiding light that have given direction to us. Developing professional with humane and pragmatic approach, the essence of which lies in team work, is
the constant endeavor of the Institute.
Acceptance Speech: Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award
Sir CP Srivastava, IAS (Retd)
Most Venerated President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam,
Most Respected Prime Minister of India, Dr. Man Mohan Singh,
Honourable Chairperson UPA, Shrimati Sonia Gandhi
Honourable Ministers,
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On this momentous occasion when the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award has been conferred upon me before this distinguished assembly by the President of India , who
like Shastri Ji is a visionary and globally renowned for his ethics, integrity and righteousness, I bow down to him in deep reverence and with feelings of abiding gratitude
. For me this will be the most memorable moment of my entire public service career.
I wish to pay my respectful tribute to the Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management and to its board of Governors for having instituted the award. And
I am profoundly grateful to the Honourable Chairman and Members of the Jury who found me worthy of this award.
I have had the good fortune of being given opportunities to serve my country in the districts, in the Secretariat, and in a large public sector enterprise.
And I have also had the privilege of serving the United Nations System. Of all these, the most elevating was the opportunity to serve Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Ji when he
was Cabinet Minister for Transport and Communication as and later for Commerce and Industry in Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s Government. And I had the privilege of
serving Shri Shastri Ji when he became the Prime Minister of India. I worked on both occasion as his personal aide and advisor.
For Shastri Ji, the old adage, “Work is Workshop”, was literally true. He listened sincerely to every point of view with humility and with a desire to
reconcile differences. But he always made up his own mind on the basis of his eternal values. Any person working with him had to follow the same principles. He was
prepared to overlook to forgive errors provided no lack of integrity was involved.
I was with him until the last day of his life in Tashkent. His premature demise constituted a mighty blow to India.
In my assignment since, whether in India or abroad, I have endeavored to follow his percepts with utmost care. In the Shipping Corporation of India, of
which I was appointed Chairman and Managing Director, all employees worked together devotedly as members of a family. There was not even one incident of any
malfeasance; not even an hour was lost because of strife. When the Shipping Corporation of India became the first Indian Shipping Company to cross the million tons
mark, the then Prime Minister Shrimati Indira Gandhi, very kindly applauded the functioning of the Shipping Corporation of India by saying the following: “The
functioning of the Shipping Corporation of India makes the concept of Public Sector more acceptable to the people of India”.
At the United Nations, all members States of the International Maritime Organization, developing and developed, gave me full support. These included
Pakistan and China, both of whom invited me for official visit.
During four successive terms lasting 16 years, of my services to the Organization, I endeavored to emulate Shri Shastriji’s determination to reconcile
different points of view and to find a commonly acceptable solution. As a result, all management and policy decision, by unanimity among Member States in accordance
with a unique spirit of cooperation. This was a very elevating experience at the global level.
All of this I owe to Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri.
Before concluding, I seek your permission to acknowledge the enormous debt of gratitude which I owe to my wife, Nirmala, without whose mighty
support all these 58 years that we have been married, and without the loving care of our daughters, Kalpana and Sadhna, I could not have been standing here before you
today. I am now 85 years old and whatever still remains of my life is being devoted to working with Nirmala who has , over the preceding 35 years , worked ceaselessly
for the creation of a new society based on the essential unity of all religions and who upholds the same ethical and moral values that Shastri Ji steadfastly stood for.
I now conclude by reiterating my abiding gratitude to the Honourable President of India. I thank you all, Excellencies ladies and Gentlemen, for your
gracious presence.
‘President KALAM’S Integrity, Honesty & Sincerity reminds me of Shastriji
Sir CP Srivastava, IAS (Retd)
“Shastri Ji was probably born with ethics and integrity inside him to the core of his heart”
“He believed in Institutional control of Power. Not only did Shastri Ji have a vision for India, he also knew how to implement it.”
“He was so dedicated to rooting out corruption that he even took action against two Chief Ministers.”,/p>
“President Kalam reminds me very much of Shastri Ji- He is so humble, so honest and so sincere,” said Sir C.P.Srivastava, adding,” He has the same
integrity and high learning – a wonderful combination.” Padma Bhusan, Sir. C.P. Srivastava was delivering a lecture on “Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s vision and
its relevance to India today”, before a packed house at the Kamani Auditorium recently. Also present on the occasion were Dr. P.C. Alexander, Member Parliament and
Former Governor of Maharashtra, Shri. Anil Shastri, Shastri ji’s son & Chairman- Board of Governors ,LIBSM and the most reverent spiritual leader and Sir CP
Srivastava’s wife , Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi among many other key dignitaries.
Sir Srivastava Secretary General of United Nations’ International Maritime Organization &Founder Chancellor of World Maritime University , Sweden, was felicitated by
the President of India the 6th Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence in Public Administration , Academics and Management for the year 2004, at a function in
the Rashtrapati Bhavan earlier this month(October 1,2005).
In a speech that lasted over an hour , Sir Srivastava , who was the Personal Aide to Shastri Ji and was with him in Tashkent , spoke of his close personal experiences
with the then Prime Minister . “My family was accepted in Shastri Ji’s family as a part of a larger group. It was the greatest privilege of my life,” he said adding,
“Shastri Ji had great regards for (my wife) Nirmala Devi.” Reminiscing on Shastri Ji’s qualities, he said, “He was probably born with ethics and integrity inside him. He
was not visibly tall but he was the tallest person I know of. On his demise, the- then US President said – the world is smaller without him.” Emphasizing on Shastri Ji’s
decisiveness and sense of proportion, Dr. Srivastava said, “He would never exaggerate things, and would take into consideration everyone’s view before pronouncing a
view that would be acceptable to all”.
Throwing light on Shastri Ji’s professional aspect, Dr. Srivastava said, “He believed in Institutional Control of Power. In his regime, there was no question of by-passing
anyone’s authority, nor could any influence from extraneous pressure interfere with his working. Not did Shastri Ji have a vision for India, he also knew how to
implement it. In order to have good governance he appointed a Commission for Administration Reforms under Morarji Desai.” He was so dedicated to rooting out
corruption that he even took action against the two Chief Ministers, said Dr. Srivastava,” He looked humble and meek, but was bold and very decisive. When on
September 1, 1965, Gen. Ayub Khan, the then President of Pakistan, ordered attack on Kashmir, Shastri Ji said, ‘ab tau Kuchh karma padega’(now we need to take some
strong action). The military chief and Cabinet Ministers asked him to re- consider his decision of an all-out invasive retaliatory attack, fearing world opinion and United
Nations may go against India, it being bigger country. But Shastriji did not budge under pressure and did what was in the best interest of his country’s security. Indian
Forces reached inside of Sialkot. Shastriji also had the wisdom and clarity to immediately send letters to all premiers of the world, explaining India’s position. The whole
world agreed with India’s point and later, even the Security Council Resolution declared Pakistan as the aggressor”.
Reflecting on the moments of Shastri Ji’s demise in Tashkent, Dr. Srivastava said,” The Tashkent treaty was one of the biggest Treaty of Friendship. Where President
Ayub Khan did not even wish to shake hands with our Prime Minister, it was Shastri Ji’s sheer sincerity of purpose and persuasiveness that made them both so close
friends that General Khan invited him to visit Pakistan.” Flouting speculations that it was any depression that led to Shastri Ji’s massive and fatal heart attack he said,”
the moment of the Tashkent Treaty was one of the jubilation for India. Shastri Ji was very happy and jolly even at 10 PM in the night. When I went to see him in night,
he asked me where I was off to, and asked his chauffeur to drop me at the press meet I was scheduled to be at. That was the last I saw of Shastri Ji. The sad news came
to me the next morning,” The hitherto-calm and composed Dr. Srivastava broke into tears and took a momentary pause before he continued any further.
In his vote of thanks to Sir Srivastava, Dr. GL Sharma of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management said,” President Kalam broke a protocol for the first time.
Whereas generally the awardees go to the President to receive the award, this time, Dr. Kalam came over to give the Shastri award to Sir CP Srivastava as a mark of
reverence.”
(Based on the first hand notes at the lecture @Kamani Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi on 03/10/05)
