Achala Moulik joined the Indian Administrative Service after graduation. She has worked in various capacities like Education Secretary, Government of India when the national education program ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’ was formulated and as Director-General, Archaeological Survey of India.

She has published books on international relations, political and cultural history, along with biographies on Tagore and Tolstoy, four acclaimed novels, and a collection of poetry. Her play Pushkin’s Last Poem was staged in Moscow and Petersburg to a standing ovation. For her contribution to Russian history and literature, Achala received the Sergei Yesenin Prize and the prestigious Pushkin Medal from the Russian President.

Her latest book is Rogues Among The Ruins. The Kolkata Mail correspondent Priyanka Dutta caught up with the author in an exclusive chat. Excerpts…

How has your work in the Indian Administrative Service helped you to write this book on the workings of the Indian civil service machinery?

Achala Moulik– Serving in the IAS provides one with a panoramic view of the government machinery. As civil servants, we were involved in the task of nation building, poverty alleviation programs, food distribution, education, preservation of forests, drought, and flood relief. These are the development schemes and programs that have taken India forward to becoming a modern and prosperous state within a democratic framework. We could have done better had we adopted the China way – but no thank you. One politician said on TV that until now poverty has been redistributed and Indians did not progress. This displays abysmal ignorance.

The book has an interesting name- Rogues Among the Ruins. Can you throw some light on why you named the book like this?

Achala Moulik- Rogues Among the Ruins is rather a sad title and reluctantly given. Within this administrative scaffolding inherited from the British, there have been men and women of dedication and efficiency who have taken Indian society forward. There have also been officers who have displayed cynicism, corruption and callousness. I have narrated such tales. They have pursued their own interests, acquisition of wealth, advancement of their progeny through patronage, and of course that dread disease, the pursuit of post retirement benefits.

You have been a Director General of Archaeological Survey of India. Have you faced any similar incidents during your tenure that you have mentioned in the book?

Achala Moulik- Yes, as DG ASI I have seen the monumental works performed by Archaeologists of British India as well as the early years of Indian independence. Great restoration works and excavation projects had been achieved. I learned of legendary figures and saw their dedication to the task of preserving India’s magnificent physical heritage. A British military engineer Sir Alexander Cunningham, Sir John Marshal, A Ghosh,   Rakhaldas Banerjee. Many of my colleagues in the ASI were gifted scholars. The ASI undertook a seven-year project of restoring the great temple complex at Angkor Wat. Unfortunately, there are also those who have assisted in the smuggling of antiquities and using conservation funds for their own use. I have seen archaeologists acquire wealth.

How difficult is it to write a satire in India?

Achala Moulik- The British, Italians, and French appreciate satire. So do Indians provided they are not pompous and filled with a sense of self-importance.

How did you become interested in Russian literature and Russian history?

Achala Moulik- My fascination for Russia – her history and literature, the courage and generosity of her people –   began when as a seven-year-old my parents gifted me Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s famous “Letters from Russia.” Russian is a very structured language and its grammar is similar to Sanskrit. There are many words of common origin. And it is euphonius.

Tell us something about your next book.

Achala Moulik- My next book, already with a publisher is on the Indo-Russian relationship. And the next one is a novel – very different from Rogues.

What advice will you give to aspiring new writers?

Achala Moulik- The advice I would give to aspiring writers is – if you want to have short time success write what sells. If you want to leave something worthwhile behind, write what Ernest Hemmingway said – write one true sentence. The choice is for the writer.

Rogues Among The Ruins is a perfect fiction/thriller book to keep you thoroughly engaged.