Civil service Quote by Shashi Tharoor
““Jawaharlal Nehru put it sharply: the Indian Civil Service, he said, was ‘neither Indian, nor civil, nor a service’.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Indian Civil Service Remarks, 2005
Critiques the Indian Civil Service as lacking clear national identity or purpose.
In simple terms: ICS is ambiguous in identity and role.
Key Takeaway
Seek clarity and relevance in public institutions.
Themes
bureaucracy
identity
colonial legacy
reform
service
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- policy reform
- academic debate
- government training
- public discourse
Key Concepts
institutional critique
postcolonial analysis
public administration
Questions to Reflect On
- How does identity affect bureaucratic effectiveness?
- What reforms could align service with national needs?
A Different Perspective
May ignore practical contributions of the service.
