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Garry Saxena's in the hot seat again!

Former Research and Analysis Wing chief Girish Chandra Saxena has been given a hot seat once again -- as governor to the sensitive border state of Jammu and Kashmir.

During his first stint from 1990 to 1993, 'Garry', as he is known, was instrumental in reviving the government machinery when militancy was at its peak.

Born in 1928, Saxena did his masters in history before appearing at the All Indian Combined Services Examination in 1949. It was his family background that motivated him to sit for the exam.

The following year, after training in Mount Abu and the Police Training College, Moradabad, Saxena assumed his first charge as an Indian Police Service officer in the rank of assistant superintendent of police, Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh. He rose to the rank of RAW chief in March 1983.

Hardly had he completed one year in RAW, when India saw itself rescuing Bengalis in east Pakistan, now Bangladesh.

Dealing with the international aspects of security and their fallout on the country's internal security besides monitoring secessionism in Kashmir, Punjab and the North-East and its links with the neighbouring countries, Saxena in his RAW years gained first-hand knowledge of these problems.

After his retirement in 1986 as RAW chief, he was appointed security advisor to then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. Thus he served in very sensitive positions under two prime ministers -- as the RAW chief under Indira Gandhi and as security advisor to Rajiv Gandhi.

After leading a retired life for less than two years, he was back in the post of advisor to then prime minister V P Singh, in May 1990. And the same year, he was in Srinagar assuming charge as governor when the state was facing tough times.

Despite his accessibility and 'good relations' with the media, Garry is publicity shy. During his tenure, many top militants, including those belonging to the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, the Muslim Janbaz Force and the Hizbullah were arrested. But he did not make any attempt to capture the headlines.

Hardcore militants were also set free during his tenure for securing the release of hostages such as Naheed Imtiaz, daughter of Saifuddin Soz and Indian Oil Corporation executive director Doraiswamy.

Saxena's wife is a Kashmiri. His brother Naresh Chandra is India's ambassador to the US.

UNI

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