As the central government tried to open back channel negotiations with Anna Hazare, the man they turned to was not a high-profile minister, as had been the case with Baba Ramdev.
Probably having learnt their lesson with the Ramdev fiasco, the government went with Umesh Chandra Sarangi.
A low profile IAS officer, he works with a mission to change the system.
His association with Hazare is over two decades old and he has played the role of mediator between government and Hazare on several occasions.
Maharashtra additional chief secretary (home) Sarangi can best be described as someone whose heart always beats for the aam admi.
The doors of his chamber at Mantralaya always remain open for the man on the street even as Mumbai’s who’s-who walk in and out with their problems to a man whose round-the-clock job is primarily ensuring Maharashtra’s security.
Sarangi is an MSc (botany) gold medalist. He pursued his career in Indian Administrative Services with a single objective to be able to evolve policies that would benefit the poorest of the poor in the state.
An extremely competent but low profile officer he has left an ever lasting imprint in every socio-economic assignment that came his way beginning with collector, director, agriculture, principle secretary (CMO), NABARD chairman to current position of additional chief secretary home department.
Sarangi's association with corruption crusader Anna Hazare goes back to the times when he undertook an indefinite fast while protesting against corruption in the department of irrigation during the Shiv Sena-BJP rule (1995-1999).
The change of guard in the state that saw the return of the Congress-NCP also saw Sarangi playing the mediator's role when Hazare launched a campaign against four corrupt ministers in the NCP.
As the principle secretary to chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Sarangi dealt with Hazare during his frequent visits to the Mantralaya.
What makes Sarangi acceptable to Hazare is his uprightness and genuine concern for the anti-corruption issue which he is fighting. However, in his administrative career spanning for almost three decades Sarangi has always stayed away from the limelight and media glare.
He would often tell this correspondent, “I want you to write on policies and public issues which would contribute to the system. It is not important to give me publicity. I am just doing my duty.”
The highpoint of his career was the efficient manner in which he tackled the Latur Earthqauke. He has mastered the art of disaster management, which he displayed during the Mumbai floods.
He was also sent to tackle the Orissa cyclone and the Gujarat earthquake. His expertise in agriculture and cooperation is highly recognised. He has closely worked with former chief ministers SB Chavan, Sharad Pawar, Sudhakar Naik, Sushilkumar Shinde and Vilasrao Deshmukh.
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