Cheque Mate

When Time magazine selected Gautam Goswami as an Asian Hero in September 2004, it was news in Bihar. That ‘‘Goswami is helping to ...

When Time magazine selected Gautam Goswami as an Asian Hero in September 2004, it was news in Bihar. That ‘‘Goswami is helping to save’’ Bihar, which is a ‘‘basket case beyond redemption,’’ was something few knew in Bihar; that ‘‘in 1999 and 2004, with Goswami as the overseer, Patna had the two fairest elections it had seen in years,’’ was a Time exclusive. And his ‘‘reputation for upholding the law,’’ had bypassed all channels to reach the American newsmagazine directly.

Much before the rest of the country became acquainted with Goswami via the flood relief scandal, Bihar knew him as a glib officer. More than willing to please just about anyone, Goswami, 38, a doctor-turned bureaucrat, had conquered all ego long ago. He once allegedly reached the house of a journalist close to a former Union minister, seeking a posting as PA.

A teetotaler and non-smoker, Goswami, an MD from Banaras Hindu University, has never been seen angry or shouting. He preferred to cajole his subordinates and rarely commanded them. Always loyal to positions than persons, no politician needed to ask him for favours. Though he stood outside the venue of Laloo-Rabri’s daughter’s wedding and played host, he did not identify himself with the RJD. He did not discriminate between RJD and BJP, business houses and NGOs, peon and professor. Everybody was equal before this committed practitioner of the marketplace that is public service.

He also believed in people’s right to self-defence — during his tenures issuing gun licences seemed the most important job of DM. In his tenure as Patna DM, in nine months, 450 licences were issued.

FEW among his IAS fraternity remember his administrative skills — though he was among the top 10 in the 1991 civil services batch. They might remember many other things from his very first posting as a probationer much before the entire state had become ‘‘jealous’’ of his international achievements. Later on, he became famous, after ‘‘distributing’’ sweets worth lakhs on Republic Day. Every Sinha, Yadav and Paswan in places in Bihar where he served has a story to tell about Goswami and most of them have not heard of his award, much less be envious of it.

Still, he always got plum postings. Most of his 13 year career has been spent as DM. Before Patna, he was removed as DM Munger after a severe goof-up that caused major riots against Biharis in Assam.

A crowd gathered at Jamalpur — 20 minutes drive away from his house — stopped Northeast bound trains and ran a riot for six hours. Goswami did not budge. Even after the news reached Patna and people began calling him, Goswami had no knowledge about it. The issue flared, resulting in massive anti-Bihari riots in Assam. He was removed by the Rabri government, only to be posted as DM Patna soon after.

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It was in Patna that he stopped L.K. Advani on the dais during an election rally in his eagerness to go by the book on meeting deadlines; but months later he put the entire machinery of the government under the RJD command for its rally, which the Election Commission intervened and stopped.

Then, in January 2005, he resigned and joined the Sahara Group. After the flood relief scandal, the Sahara job is hardly a solace. Goswami finds himself in a desert.