IAS officer hits a four with his pen

CHENNAI: What happens when quintessential administrative skills and creativity meet? You get a whole lot of good books. Senior IAS officer Dr V Irai Anbu has released four books in Tamil and English with different themes, recently. These include topics as profound as linking the ancient Tirukural with the modern management concepts as well as narrating the struggle of the tribal masses, affected by dams constructed across the Narmada river. He has already penned 33 books, apart from the four that were released on Saturday. The event had a battery of top IAS and IPS officers in attendance.“The book titled On the Banks of the River will spark a curious question in the minds of readers on why one should bother about the welfare of tribal people,” Cartoonist Madan observed at a book release function here. He said, “The entire universe belongs to the tribal communities. If the forests are destroyed, it would have an adverse impact on the survival of human beings.” Earlier, Finance Secretary K Shanmugam elaborated on the application of messages from the ancient Thirukural in present day lifestyle. Quoting a few couplets, he said, “Thirukural has the essence of management, which must be included in books on human resource,” he added.In his address, popular Tamil Writer S Ramakrishnan underscored the need for revisiting our thoughts for leading a heavenly life. Journalist Maalan also spoke on the occasion. Later, Irai Anbu announced that the royalty from the books would be donated to a cancer institute in Chennai and night schools functioning in the neighbouring Kanchipuram district.