Rarely does a civil servant have such a wide variety of assignments over a period of fifty years, that include key posts offered, after retirement, by four different Prime Ministers. Even more rare is  to find an officer who has acted so independently and come out unscathed. This is the story of G.V. Ramakrishna, who held some of the sensitive and high profile jobs in the last twenty years of his service.Well known as the redoubtable Chairman of SEBI, he was a crusader for protecting the interests of the small investor. He took strong measures to ban badla.As the first Chairman of the Disinvestment Commission he charted the road map for successful disinvestments. He was the only one to have successfully thwarted Quattrochi in his efforts to grab a major project.Throughout his career G.V. Ramakrishna has upheld the best traditions of his service and has been acknowledged as the role model for others. 

In this book, Ramakrishna provides a first hand account of how Government functioned at high levels in the States and at the Centre. The subtle methods of utilizing Government institutions for unconstitutional, political and bureaucratic ends, have been brought out with modesty and sensitivity.In a rather unusual style, the book employs multiple elements of presentation. An easy-read narrative (born out of the autobiographical impulse of a senior bureaucrat turned author) is well supported by extensive references, relevant media clippings and other annexures. This is followed by a select set of articles on varied themes of general and current interest, where Ramakrishna does not hesitate to voice his views on some interesting and debatable issues. Plus, interspersed with the text are pictures, cartoons and photographs from the author’s personal collection — all of which contribute towards making the book truly worth possessing.Concerned citizens, civil servants, students and the faculties of institutions, will find this book of absorbing interest.

In this book G V Ramakrishna talks about : the scam of 1992, the HBJ pipeline, the Enron imbroglio, the Oman Gas pipeline, disinvestment issues, relations between politicians and civil servants, corruption, coalition governments and hung parliaments and much more ....

In this book, Ramakrishna provides a first hand account of how Gov-ernment functioned at high levels  in the States and at the Centre. The subtle methods of utilising Government institutions for unconstitutional, political and bureaucratic ends, have been brought out with modesty and sensitivity. “Intellectual Treat...”
— The Week

G.V.  Ramakrishna (b. 1930) started his career as a biochemist with the Rockefeller Foundation doing research in Haematology in the Bowring Hospital in Bangalore, his home town. He opted for the civil service and joined the IAS in 1952.

He did his quota of service in the state of Andhra Pradesh for nearly 13 years, ending up as Chief Secretary in 1983. At the Centre he held positions at every level, ranging from Under Secretary to Secretary.

Early in his career he went to Harvard University for his MPA (Master in Public Administration) that included a business policy course at the Business School. He studied Economics under Galbraith, Ed Mason and other notable economists of the late fifties.

In his diplomatic assignments, he was minister of econo-mic affairs at the Embassy in Washington in 1972 and was later India’s Ambassador to the European Economic Community (European Union) in 1989.

In his varied career he worked for ten years with the Finance Ministry. He also worked in the Ministries of Industry, Steel, Coal and Petroleum. He was Adviser in the Planning Commission in 1981 and Member in 1994. He was the first Chairman of SEBI and also of the Disinvestment Commission.