P C Alexander

Padinjarethalakal Cherian Alexander, Known as a man for all seasons, made a mark as the political adviser, conscience keeper, and administrative trouble-shooter to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who heavily relied on him to tackle tricky situations. Alexander, who served as Gandhi’s principal secretary after her return to power in 1980, combined dexterously his personal equation with the prime minister and good rapport with key ministers and top secretaries to ensure quick and effective implementation of government policies. Respected as a bureaucrat with a difference, Alexander served as governor of Maharashtra from 1993 to 2002 and of Tamil Nadu from 1988 to 1990. He served as a faculty of the economics department at S N College Kollam during his initial years. Alexander has authored several books, articles, and research papers including “My Years with Indira Gandhi, The Perils of Democracy and India in the New Mill”