MG Devasahayam
Psychiatrist and author
MG Devasahayam, a former Army and Indian Administrative Service officer, is an
economist and administrator, with a distinguished a career spanning over five
decades and direct and first-hand experience in the working and ethos of the Indian
Army, the IAS, the public and private sectors, the political system, and
non-government organisations.
Devasahayam holds an MA degree in Economics from Loyola College, Madras, and taught
there for one year. He was commissioned in the Indian Army in 1964. He participated
in Aid to Civil Authority in Tamil Nadu (1965), the Indo-Pak War (1965), and
Counter-Insurgency operations in Nagaland (1967-68).
He moved to IAS in 1968 (Haryana cadre) and worked in several senior positions in
government including District Collector/Magistrate of two Districts, Divisional
Commissioner, Head of Departments (Transport, Urban Development, Excise & Taxation),
Chairman, Electricity Board, and Secretary to Government.
Devasahayam is a prolific writer, contributing Op-Eds, lead articles, articles and
columns to many newspapers and magazines on a range of topics including Governance,
Civil Services, Urban Development, Environment, and Politics.
He is author of books like India's Second Freedom - An Untold Saga; JP in Jail-An
Uncensored Account; JP Movement, Emergency and India's Second Freedom, and A Drop of
Love-Memoir of Saint Teresa.
He was closely associated with the leader of the Anti-Emergency movement, the late
Jayaprakash Narayan (JP), and Mother (now Saint) Teresa. As District Magistrate,
Chandigarh, he was JP's custodian during his Emergency imprisonment (1975). By
keeping JP safe and alive during detention he had played a small part in restoring
India to democracy in 1977.
Devasahayam is presently settled in Nagercoil and is Convener, Forum for Electoral
Integrity, Chairman of the Pan-India People's Parliament for Unity & Development,
and Chairman of Naam Kumari Makkal, mentoring the ReBuild Kanyakumari Movement. He
is the recipient of several awards including Amar Seva (War Service) Star; General
Service Medal with Bar and Loyola Alumni Lifetime Achiever Award.