An Inborn Poet and Administrator

SRI S. Sundararajan, a shining star in the administrative and literary firmament of Odisha, has demitted his physical form on 21 May 2025.

- DR.TARADATT

It will not be an exaggeration to recall that he excelled in every field he stepped into, leaving indelible marks in multiple ways. A Graduate in Chemistry from the Madras Presidency College, he joined the 1958 batch of the Indian Administrative Service and superannuated after rendering stellar service for 35 years from the post of Member, Board of Revenue, Odisha. He has the distinction of being the first person to hold the post of Banking Ombudsman in Bhubaneshwar, a quasi-judicial authority set up for resolving complaints related to banking services, post-his retirement. On a sartorial note, I must say, that he was distinctively stylish and always well-groomed.

It is difficult to find officers to match his administrative acumen and thoroughness, particularly in matters concerning land laws and revenue administration of Odisha. His expertise in the field of survey and settlement was legendary. I remember having gone through the numerous old tour notes written when he was Director, Land Records Survey & Settlement, which demystified the complexities of applicable laws and technicalities rules. These were found so valuable by the State Government that they were printed and circulated among field officers for guidance on their work. Young administrators also benefitted immensely from his words of wisdom, a reality uniformly acknowledged by one and all.