Delhi Belly : Delhi Babus On Their Toes

Leave alone booking a table, six months ago, it was difficult to even get parking space for your car during the lunch break at the India International Centre in Lutyens’ Delhi, a favourite hangout of bureaucrats. The place used to be packed with top politicians, civil servants, middle-men and journalists gossiping over the state of affairs during their grand, leisurely lunches over a drink or two.

Other such places like the nearby India Habitat Centre, the India Islamic Centre, the Delhi Gymkhana Club or the Delhi Golf Club also looked similar.

Today, these hangouts look remarkably quiet during the lunch hours. Thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the winds of change blowing over the corridors of power at the North and South blocks on the Raisina Hills have changed the grammar of governance for most civil servants.

With Modi himself starting his day quite early, after an intense yoga session, and ending it well past midnight, even senior ministers can be seen entering offices before 9 am. The Principal Secretary to the PM, Nripendra Mishra, also keeps the secretaries busy with meetings starting right from 9.15 am!

By Pradeep Mathur