Women of Influence: Ten Extraordinary IAS careers

by Rajni Sekhri Sibal

Women of Influence a compilation of the work of a few women who have walked that extra mile and made a difference despite major pressures in governance. Most of the books in the public space are autobiographies of men narrating how important they were and the important people they interacted with daily while in service. Rajni Sekhri Sibal narrates stories that have been untold - about the work of ten strong and effective women who left an impact.

Having worked in the civil services for thirty-seven years, Rajni has seen things at close quarters. This book is a collection of narratives that provide an insight into some episodes where the protagonist displayed immense courage and commitment.

These stories span different generations-the oldest is set at the Bikaner border during the Indo-Pak war and the latest about the UP sand mafia in 2015. The subjects and geographies are different, ranging from a panchayat election in Punjab during the height of militancy in the 80s to Naxal prone Chanderpur in Maharashtra to the Perumon tragedy in Kerala and right across to the orchid plantations in Arunachal.

Genres: India, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

Published April 15, 2022

Reviews

[Shreya Shree · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 2.5 stars.

[Dikshit Maheshwari · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a story of courage, conviction and wisdom displayed by 10 different women IAS officers at some point in their career, when they encountered situations that required just those precise traits. Loved some of the stories, and the bravery of those protagonists. The author could have expanded on some of the other stories. Overall, a decent read.