T. N. Seshan – IAS officer and former Chief Election Commissioner of India

T. N. Seshan (1932 – 2019) was an Indian Administrative Officer from Palakkad, Kerala, who is best known for cleaning election process and bringing great reforms in elections which were innovative, during his term as 10th Chief Election Commissioner of India during the period, 1990–96. He was a recipient of Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1996 and many other honours. As a civil servant he handled various posts in the southern state of Tamil Nadu as well as central government and also served as 18th Cabinet Secretary of India in 1989, under Rajiv Gandhi. This powerful civil servant was feared by even politicians for his ruthless approach in the 1990s.

Tirunellai Narayana Iyer Seshan, shortly called T. N. Seshan was born in the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border town of Palakkad. His father was a lawyer in a district court, and he had 5 elder siblings. His school studies were completed at his hometown, and graduated from Madras Christian College in Physics, with honours. He briefly taught there in the early 1950s, and cleared police service exams, though he didn’t join. He cleared IAS exams in 1954 and joined Tamil Nadu cadre the following year. Initially he joined at Coimbatore as assistant collector, and later served in many positions as an administrative officer.

As an IAS officer, he rose to prominence after being appointed as 10th Chief Election Commissioner 12 December 1990. He served in this position for exactly 6 years. Through his strict and innovative reforms, he was able to block several malpractices in voting system by curbing bribing and supply of liquor, which earned him praises. He introduced election code of conduct – a set of guidelines for conduct of political parties and candidates during elections and also voter’s id. Certain restrictions were brought in for candidates’ expenditure also. He also made election commission a separate identity. An icon of Indian bureaucracy and a true legend, his immense contributions towards the field of election process will always be remembered.

T. N. Seshan – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. He was appointed by Prime Minister Chandrashekhar as the Chief Election Commissioner of India.

2. During the 1993 Indian general elections, 488 candidates were disqualified for three years for failing to submit their expenditure account. He reviewed more than 40,000 expenditure accounts and disqualified 14,000 candidates for providing false data.

3. He brought strict restrictions to posters and banners and also loud speakers during election time as well as election expenditure by each political candidate.

4. He introduced videography of polling procedures.

5. He banned election campaign at worship places and also to influence voters based on caste and religion.

6. In 1997 he contested for Indian presidential election with the support of Sivasena and lost to K. R. Narayan.

7. He was a polyglot who knew 8 languages.

8. During his college days, he used to travel in a bicycle from his village to college, and Metro Man E. Sreedharan used to sit behind him. Academician and orator M. N. Vijayan was also his close pal.

9. He was once transferred three times in a single day, when he was so much strict as an IAS officer. It also earned him the pet name, Alsatian or German Shepherd.

10. To explain the strict nature and persistence among Indian bureaucrats, a new term called ‘Sheshanism’ was also introduced in Indian context.

11. During his younger days, when Mahatma Gandhi and his wife visited Akathethara Ashram, it influenced him a lot.

12. On a Thiruvonam day, former PM Rajiv Gandhi visited Sheshan’s home at Palakkad along with his family, and also had Kerala Sadya. Rajiv loved Palakkad Sambar and its pleasant aroma most.

13. His wife Jayalakshmi Seshan passed away in 2018, 1.5 years before his death. The couple had no children.

14. He was ailing during his last few years.

15. He was so close to Ratholsavam of Kalpathi, since childhood days, and he passed away during one such season. He was so fond of Carnatic music too.

16. Though he has given immense contributions to his country as a strict IAS officer, he has never been honoured with Padma awards or any other civilian honour by government of India.