Ruling out political innings, former Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada Sasikanth Senthil said although he has resigned, both the state and the union government are yet to give an official endorsement to his resignation.
He was speaking at a programme in Mangaluru city on Wednesday and this was his first public appearance after resigning. The former IAS officer said he had taken the right decision of resigning from the post.
“Like I said earlier, it was purely a personal decision. It was a very personal thing, it was a national thing, connected with national sentiment that made me to resign,” he said.
Speaking at a symposium on 'Baapu and Nationalism' at the 150th birth year celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi in the city, Senthil said that the present was a testing time for ordinary people where one is asked to prove his or her patriotism at every phase. “Why are some people forced by others to say ‘Bharath Matha Ki Jai?’ After 10 years of serving the Indian government, I have been called an anti-national for resigning from service,” he said
Citing the example of how Mahatma Gandhi withdrew the civil disobedience movement following the Chauri-Chaura incident, Senthil said it was such nationalism that was the need of the hour.
“In the present circumstances we are in need of the Gandhian way of ‘Nationalism’ that was based out of truth and ahimsa (non-violence). “Gandhi never propagated violence for a national movement or to promote nationalism. It is the same reason why, following the departure of the British, there was global endorsement to Indian Independence,” he said.
On being asked his take on Prime Minister Modi being hailed by the ‘father of the nation’ by a section of his supporters, Senthil said that although people talk a lot about Gandhi, he believed that given the sacrifices and struggle of Gandhi for humanity, not many have lived up to the status (standards) set by him.
Senthil said that personally he believed that the legacy set by Gandhiji was unparalleled. ”However, there are different people with different views on certain matters. What they think or whom they think (is the father of the nation) is left to them and they are entitled to their opinion,” he said.
He said given that he had a lot of time at his disposal and following his resignation, he is mulling on contributing to society in non-political way.
“I am meeting people, trying to understand the grass root-level issues and the people’s problems. When I was a DC, people used to maintain a distance from me. Now I am anonymous, in the ground. Being nobody and anonymous, I can learn a lot and understand things better. It will only enrich my experience,” he said.
He added that although he has submitted his resignation, the government is yet to accept the same. “I don’t know within what framework the process will be completed, accepting my resignation is left to the government,” he said.
He also said that given the fact he has stayed in Bengaluru for a long time, he will continue his domicile in Karnataka. “Of course, wherever the issues of people, I will be there. Now I am more equipped to do good work. I can write study and interact with people, express and influence the government,” he said.
While reiterating that there was no pressure on him during his tenure as the DC of Dakshina Kannada, he said that he stuck to every word that he had put in his resignation letter. He also added that the resignation was not forced on him, so there is nothing negative about my departure.
“It is just that I felt that I can be of better use for many things.”
But he added that he could not endorse the All India Service (AIS), with whatever is currently going on at the national level, on moral grounds. “Simply put, if someone is hurt on the road, it’s a moral obligation to help him – if you are unable or disallowed to help, then it’s up to oneself to make a choice. I think I have made the right choice. I am entering into a better space (post resignation),” he said.
Story by Story Infinity (Subs and Scribes Media Ventures LLP.)