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After I cleared the UPSC examination in 1963 our friendship
grew to greater heights.He periodically kept meeting me be it in
Mysore Chennai Mumbai or Kalpakkam where my postings in
the Indian Postal Service took me.His visits to Mysore where I
worked as Senior Superintendent of Post Offices occurred more
frequently. and he cultivated friendship with my mother, wife and
brothers Whenever we met in Chennai I used to get closer to his
another side to life, that of stoicism and forberance.Of his 3 sons
the youngest was afflicted with rectum cancer and the elder boy

was mentally affected by some psychological problems which
even required him to stay aloof in a bachelor accomodation and
needed frequent visits by the father amidst his touring work !

I got selected by the Atomic Energy Commission to work on
deputation from Postal Service as Deputy Secretary in the Head
Quarter Office in Old Yacht Club, Bombay in 1976.I learned to
my surprise the very selection personally made by the Chairman
of AEC was the result of happy combination of
circumstances.When Confidential dossier Records of potential
candidates were put up for perusal by the Chairman of AEC who
was also Chairman of Selection committee he was struck by my
experience in the Atomic Minerals Division i which unit I had
served as Assistant Geologist from 1959 to 1963 before I got
selected by the UPSC for selection to the Class I Central
Services.So the Chairman thought here was a candidate who was
familiar with technical side of administration as well as its
administrative side comprising knowledge of rules and
procedures of governance.This resulted in my selection as
Deputy Secretary in the Head Quarters office as conveyed to me
by my Joint Secretary to whom I reported in my duties as Deputy
Secretary.

My selection to the Central Services was not to the liking of my
superiors in the Atomic Minerals Division who having invested in
time and resources in training me for a prospecting job now had to
spare my services to another government department.The news of

my leaving for postal service soon came to the knowledge of my
friend Mr.Yegnanarayanan who was working in Delhi.I tink in

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