T. N. Seshan
Encyclopedia
Tirunellai Narayana Iyer Seshan ( Malayalam
: ടി .എന് . ശേഷന് Tamil
: திருநெல்லை நாராயண ஐயர் சேஷன்) or T. N. Seshan was born in a Tamil
speaking Kerala Iyer family in Thirunellai
, Palakkad
district, Kerala
. He was the 10th Chief Election Commissioner
of India
from December 12, 1990 to December 11, 1996.
Brahmin on December 15, 1932. He studied at Basel Evangelical Mission Higher Secondary School
. Seshan graduated from the Madras Christian College
. He then went to study at Harvard University
on Edward S. Mason Fellowship where he earned a master’s degree in public administration (Class of 1968).
as he topped the examination of 1953. He wrote the civil service exam again and was accepted into the Indian Administrative Service
examination of 1954. In 1955 he joined the IAS as a trainee.
An officer of the Indian Administrative Service
, he also held the following posts;
He went on to occupy the post of Cabinet Secretary
, the senior most position in the Indian Civil Service hierarchy
, and Member, Planning Commission of India
, before being appointed the Chief Election Commissioner.
As the Chief Election Commissioner of India he made history by introducing innovative electoral reforms and making the Election Commission a powerful body. He may be rightfully termed as the most visible public figure who redefined the status and visibility of a C.E.C in India. His name became synonymous with transparency, efficiency and forward vision during his tenure as the C.E.C. He used this to hone his political ambitions by contesting for the post of President of India
in 1997 (though he lost to K.R. Narayanan). He came up with the vision of an election-card for every rightful voter in India, something that is regarded as the Indian equivalent of the U.S Social Security
card.
He is often known for his crisp one-liners, be it during his service to his superiors and ministers or while handling the media. He won the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award
for Government Service in 1996.
He was not without a controversy, however. In January 1994, he used a Reliance aircraft to attend a religious function in Kancheepuram (The Last rites of Sri La Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetadhipadhi ). This was the time when Mr. Seshan had cast himself as a man who was out to clean the corrupt stables of Indian politics. Caught in the glare of unhelpful public attention, he demonstratively wrote out a cheque for Rs. 95,000 (INR).
After retirement he founded the Deshbhakt Trust, an NGO forum for like minded citizens concerned with social reforms in India. He was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service in 1996.
In January 2008, he joined, as a permanent faculty, the Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai
and is in the advisory council of B-schools like National Management School, Chennai. He teaches courses on Leadership, Influence and Managing power and Business, Government and Society.
Malayalam language
Malayalam , is one of the four major Dravidian languages of southern India. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India with official language status in the state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry. It is spoken by 35.9 million people...
: ടി .എന് . ശേഷന് Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
: திருநெல்லை நாராயண ஐயர் சேஷன்) or T. N. Seshan was born in a Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
speaking Kerala Iyer family in Thirunellai
Thirunellai
The Thirunellayi Village or Thiruvilla kadavu village of Palakkad, Kerala in South India is a small Brahmin village located in the banks of the river Kannadi puzha . It is 4 km from Palakkad town...
, Palakkad
Palakkad
Palakkad , formerly known as Palghat, is a municipality and a town in the state of Kerala in southern India, spread over an area of 26.60 km2.The city is situated about north of state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...
district, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. He was the 10th Chief Election Commissioner
Chief Election Commissioner of India
The Chief Election Commissioner heads the Election Commission of India, a body constitutionally empowered to conduct free and fair elections to the national and state legislatures...
of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
from December 12, 1990 to December 11, 1996.
Childhood and education
T. N. Seshan was born into a family of HinduHindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Brahmin on December 15, 1932. He studied at Basel Evangelical Mission Higher Secondary School
Basel Evangelical Mission Higher Secondary School
BEM HSS, PALAKKAD - Basel Evangelical Mission Higher Secondary School is an aided school in Palakkad, Kerala, India. The school was established as an English School in May 1858 by Rev. J. Strobel, a Missionary of Basel Evangelical Mission.- History :...
. Seshan graduated from the Madras Christian College
Madras Christian College
The Madras Christian College, commonly known as MCC, is a liberal arts and sciences college in Madras , India. Founded in 1837, MCC is one of Asia's oldest extant colleges. Currently, the college is affiliated to the University of Madras, but functions as an autonomous institution from its campus...
. He then went to study at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
on Edward S. Mason Fellowship where he earned a master’s degree in public administration (Class of 1968).
Career
T. N. Seshan wanted to join the Indian Civil Service. He was accepted into the Indian Police ServiceIndian Police Service
The Indian Police Service , simply known as Indian Police or IPS, is one of the three All India Services of the Government of India...
as he topped the examination of 1953. He wrote the civil service exam again and was accepted into the Indian Administrative Service
Indian Administrative Service
The Indian Administrative Service is the administrative civil service of the Government of India. It is one of the three All India Services....
examination of 1954. In 1955 he joined the IAS as a trainee.
An officer of the Indian Administrative Service
Indian Administrative Service
The Indian Administrative Service is the administrative civil service of the Government of India. It is one of the three All India Services....
, he also held the following posts;
- Director, Ministry of Atomic Energy
- Joint secretary, Ministry of Space
- Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Government of Tamil Nadu
- Member (Personnel), Oil & Natural Gas Commission
- Additional Secretary, Ministry of Space
- Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Defence, and
- Secretary, Internal Security.
He went on to occupy the post of Cabinet Secretary
Cabinet Secretary
A Cabinet Secretary is almost always a senior official who provides services and advice to a Cabinet of Ministers. In many countries, the position can have considerably wider functions and powers, including general responsibility for the entire civil service...
, the senior most position in the Indian Civil Service hierarchy
Hierarchy
A hierarchy is an arrangement of items in which the items are represented as being "above," "below," or "at the same level as" one another...
, and Member, Planning Commission of India
Planning commission of India
The Planning Commission is an institution in the Government of India, which formulates India's Five-Year Plans, among other functions.-History:...
, before being appointed the Chief Election Commissioner.
As the Chief Election Commissioner of India he made history by introducing innovative electoral reforms and making the Election Commission a powerful body. He may be rightfully termed as the most visible public figure who redefined the status and visibility of a C.E.C in India. His name became synonymous with transparency, efficiency and forward vision during his tenure as the C.E.C. He used this to hone his political ambitions by contesting for the post of President of India
President of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
in 1997 (though he lost to K.R. Narayanan). He came up with the vision of an election-card for every rightful voter in India, something that is regarded as the Indian equivalent of the U.S Social Security
Social Security number
In the United States, a Social Security number is a nine-digit number issued to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents under section 205 of the Social Security Act, codified as . The number is issued to an individual by the Social Security Administration, an independent...
card.
He is often known for his crisp one-liners, be it during his service to his superiors and ministers or while handling the media. He won the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award
Ramon Magsaysay Award
The Ramon Magsaysay Award is an annual award established to perpetuate former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay's example of integrity in government, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society. The Ramon Magsaysay Award is often considered Asia's Nobel...
for Government Service in 1996.
He was not without a controversy, however. In January 1994, he used a Reliance aircraft to attend a religious function in Kancheepuram (The Last rites of Sri La Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetadhipadhi ). This was the time when Mr. Seshan had cast himself as a man who was out to clean the corrupt stables of Indian politics. Caught in the glare of unhelpful public attention, he demonstratively wrote out a cheque for Rs. 95,000 (INR).
After retirement he founded the Deshbhakt Trust, an NGO forum for like minded citizens concerned with social reforms in India. He was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service in 1996.
In January 2008, he joined, as a permanent faculty, the Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai
Great Lakes Institute of Management
Great Lakes Institute of Management is a business school located in the South Indian city of Chennai...
and is in the advisory council of B-schools like National Management School, Chennai. He teaches courses on Leadership, Influence and Managing power and Business, Government and Society.