Creative Space

Chandana Khan
IAS (AP:79), Writer, Painter
Commissioner of Inquiries, Andhra Pradesh

Already an author of four volumes of poems and two collections of short stories, Chandana Khan, Commissioner of Inquiries, Andhra Pradesh, is also a fabulous painter. Having showcased her painting exhibitions in and outside India, Chandana says, “It’s my interest and passion for this art that I am still sticking to it and the exhibitions around the world gave more exposure to my talent”.

Talking about her love for her paintings and writing, she says, “My painting is like meditation to me, I feel I am meditating when I spend time for this”. She further says that her writing gets her out of her loneliness. Khan adds, “It gives me a feeling of freedom by expressing my emotions into words”.

Chandana’s paintings mainly depict flora and fauna and human beings. She says the paintings are an amalgamation of her views. She also loves to illustrate nature mainly showing seasons and their beauty. Khan uses canvas, oil, acrylic and other mediums for her work.

CK Mathew
IAS (RJ: 77), Writer
Principal Secretary, Finance & Policy Planning, Rajasthan

There is a sense of solemnity in his demeanour, but the moment the Principal Secretary, Finance & Policy Planning, Rajasthan, CK Mathew, talks about his zest for writing, the spunk in his voice is hard to escape. That explains why this IAS officer from Rajasthan found a way straight into the reader’s heart through his two novels The Mustard Flower and The Best Is Yet To Come. As we chat with him, he says with a laugh, “Bureaucrats are often perceived as poker-faced and staid individuals, but I know so many of them who have an arty side.” Ask him about his sojourn of a writer and he enthuses, “Writing always fascinated me and I have been doing it ever since I was in school. I did my graduation in English Literature from Trivandrum University and during my college days, I even dabbled in poetry. After joining the Civil Services, one fine day I felt an urge to author a book and after much ifs and buts I started penning my debut novel, which revolved around child marriage. I was Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister then in 2003. My second novel The Best Is Yet To Come was published in 2007.” Ask him how he managed to find time from his demanding schedule and he says, “It was not that easy, but I managed to squeeze time to write.” Probably, that’s what we call passion! He adds, “Even my wife is into writing and it has come as a blessing for me.”

Nawin Sona
IAS (MH: 2000), Photographer
Additional Divisional Commissioner, Amravati, Govt of Maharashtra

It’s a world through an IAS officer’s eyes. Nawin Sona, Additional Divisional Commissioner, Amravati district, Maharashtra is into abstract photography and has eye for details for the most unnoticed things in our surroundings. “There are subjects that we think are not significant but they do affect our surroundings a lot. There are different ways of looking at what's real around us. The pictures have been categorised into four interpretations of real," he says.

Sona has been into imaging since he was 15 and thinks that his hobby has helped him a lot to develop sensitivity towards human issues that has helped him deal with administrative issues well. He reminisces, “I started with SLR camera at the age 15, it was my uncle, an IAS of Kerala cadre 1983 batch, because of whom I developed a taste towards it. While it helps me unwind from my professional stress, it also helps me empathise with human issues as well as draws me closer to the reality. It not only helps you look things in depth but also relate to them.”

Sona who has also shot in the interiors with the tribals in Madhya Pradesh, admires digital technology in photography but still loves the traditional beauty that a film camera imparts to a frame. “I think it adds more to the indigenous beauty of the landscape, says Sona.”

Barun Kumar Sahu,
IAS (MT:92), Writer
Director (Personnel), Police-II Division, Ministry of Home Affairs

In an age where Indian writers are jostling for space to unfurl their arty side, Barun Kumar Sahu, IAS (MT:1992), has etched a mark for himself and made his presence felt in the literary circuit. A computer engineer from IIT Kharagpur, Sahu created magic with his words and went on to pen down a slew of seven books after joining the civil services. “It was my job as an IAS officer which motivated me to pen a book. Earlier, I didn’t start writing with the idea of penning a book, but when I had finished half of it, I realised that it can take the shape of a book,” says Sahu. His first book Atop Jhum Hills, which was published in 1999, was a translation of folk songs of Tripura. “I was enamored by the nuances of art and so I decided to write them down,” he gushes. His other books like Unwritten Flaws of Indian Bureaucracy and Amusing Anecdotes on Indian Red Tape have received rave reviews.

The English ones apart, Sahu has two Hindi books related to computer to his credit. Ask about it and he enthuses, “Call it my love for languages or anything else, I love to write. The medium of writing doesn’t matter.” How does he manage to find time to write as his official work calls for a tight schedule? “Weekends are the best time to sit in a quiet place and write. My family has always supported me in my cause. Whenever I am travelling, I carry my electronic diary and writing becomes my favourite pastime.” He says in a poetic manner, ‘Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts’, quoted US author Rita Mae Brown once. And I believe my instincts.”