The Inspiring Story Of IAS Kamal Taori Who Fought 29 Years For Respect
Despite having a great officer level rank and VIP culture but still, Kamal Taori is believing in the concept of simple living and high thinking. In the country where when someone wears good and expensive clothes, people praises and say, 'Babu Lag Rahe Ho' means looks like an officer or a gentleman.
What does it mean to become an IAS officer? For this officer, it was about his simplicity and not so much the post itself. Even after retirement, he has not given it up. We are talking about retired IAS Officer Kamal Taori.
Despite his rank, Kamal Taori is believes in the concept of simple living and high thinking.
Who is Kamal Taori?
Kamal Taori was born on August 1, 1946 in Wardha, Maharashtra. Since childhood, Kamal Taori had the passion to do something different and this spirit always gave him the courage to turn the impossible into the possible. Kamal Taori served in the army for six years before joining the civil services.
Some people work as doctors, engineers, officers and some as shopkeepers. Similarly, every person has their unique identity, but when it comes to an IAS officer from Uttar Pradesh cadre of the 1968 batch, Kamal Taori was not just an IAS officer.
He also worked as Collector, Commissioner and Union Secretary in many departments besides leading the Council for Advancement of People¡¯s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART), a nodal agency for catalysing and coordinating the partnership between voluntary organisations and the government for sustainable development of rural areas.
Simplicity and honesty
Till 2006, apart from being the collector of many districts and the commissioner of many places, he has been the secretary of many important departments in the state and central government. Now even after retiring, he has retained the work of serving the country, just now the way is different. At this time they are making youth aware to attack unemployment. They motivate the youth for self-employment and teach people the skills to lead a stress-free life.
Serving the nation even after retirement
He held the rank of colonel during his service to the Indian Army and then became an IAS officer in 1968. After retirement from his officer rank job, Kamal Taori continued to serve people in departments like rural development and village industries.
His upfront nature has put him in trouble at times but the man knows how to find opportunity in adversity. In December 1985, he did some plain speaking on the Babri Masjid issue in the capacity of Commissioner of Faizabad (now known as Ayodhya), as a result of which he was transferred to the Khadi and Village Industries Commission. Besides all of these, he is also part of various national institutions including the Union Home Ministry and NITI Aayog.
Now even after retiring, he has retained the work of serving the country, just now the way is different. At this time Kamal Taori moves around the country interacting with youth as part of his mission to set up what he calls Rural Business hubs where local talent can be pooled and made marketable. He motivates the youth for self-employment and teaches people the skills to lead a stress-free life.
Working in different fields in various locations, Kamal Taori gathered so much experience and using that he has written over 40 books so far. In addition to having an LLB, he has also obtained a doctorate degree in economics.
In the auditorium of the Rural Development Commissioner in Jawahar Bhawan, Lucknow, Kamal Tawari took a pledge that he would now wear Khadi clothes.
29 year-long fight for respect
Kamal Taori didn¡¯t operate from behind the 'power' his post afforded him. Go earn some respect back, he took the help of the judicial system. Kamal Taori went to court in this matter and fought a legal battle for years.
On June 2, 1983, IAS officer Taori and IPS officer Naseem, both aged 68 now, had chased an off-route UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) bus suspected to be involved in unauthorised operations patronised by a local politician.
After a 15-km chase, they managed to stop the bus at Atraulia in Azamgarh district. But the two accused, Amarnath Pandey and Parasnath Tiwari brutally assaulted the officers. Then Kamal Taori lodged a police complaint against the attackers.
After a lot of discussions, this case reached the court but a few years later the file of this case was lost. And then Taori reached the Allahabad court with his case, it was ordered from there that the matter should be investigated continuously. Finally, 29 years later, on 26 March 2012, the verdict of this case came and both the accused were imprisoned for three years.
Inspiring the youth for a better future
Today, Mr Taori is making village youth aware about the cons of unemployment and encouraging them in every way. In the truest sense, Kamal Taori has shown what it means to be an 'officer,' and never could a more inspiring man be found in these lands.