A Highly Laudable Initiative in UP
Newspaper Reading Made Mandatory in UP Govt Schools
An Inspiring IAS Officer Who Made it a Reality!
On Shri Partha Sarathi Sen Sharma IAS
I was so happy to read this news article in today’s Times of India, Chennai Edition.
In an age and clime where deep reading is becoming a lost art, the decision by the Uttar Pradesh government to make newspaper reading mandatory in state-run schools is a laudable move that could prove to be a powerful ‘brain gym’ for the next generation of students in Uttar Pradesh.
The UP government (led by Additional Chief Secretary Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma) has directed all state-run basic and secondary schools to integrate a 10-minute newspaper reading slot into their daily morning assembly.
The government’s noble ideas behind making newspaper mandatory in schools, has a lot of advantages for the students.
As the notification observes –
The order specifically emphasizes ‘physical’ newspapers to help students regain focus and concentration that is often lost in the ‘scroll-and-click’ nature of digital content.
Moreover, by exposing students to diverse editorial perspectives, at a very young age, this noble initiative aims to help them distinguish between verified facts and the ‘fake news’ prevalent on social media.
Regular reading of the day’s newspaper naturally strengthens General Knowledge (GK) and vocabulary, which are critical for future competitive examinations like the UPSC, or banking exams.
Finally, reading about local public projects and social issues helps foster empathy and a sense of responsibility toward their immediate community, thus endowing the students with a heightened sense of civic awareness.
But wait, the icing on the cake is not yet done!
I was all admiration for Additional Chief Secretary of UP Shri Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma, who made this initiative a possibility.
Intrigued, I wanted to look up more on this gentleman.
It gave me amazing glimpses into this IAS Officer of the 1994 batch.
Shri Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma is a bureaucrat-writer with an amazing bilingual reach! He has been a regular diarist, a voracious reader, a columnist in prominent newspapers, and also a veteran novelist and travelogue-writer!
Woww!
I am so happy
that we have such people at the top levels in bureaucracy to run the state
machinery.
[On an aside,
in Tamil Nadu also, we had great luminaries like Mr. Irai Anbu as Chief
Secretary till a few years ago, who was again a diarist, and an accomplished
writer himself]
Coming back to Shri Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma IAS –
Beyond his career as a senior IAS officer, Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma is a prolific author who has successfully navigated both fiction and travel writing.
His writing career began with travel pieces for major publications like The Times of India and Hindustan Times, that eventually evolved into full-length books.
Travenovels
Sen Sharma’s bibliography covers various genres, often categorized into travelogues, novels, and ‘travenovels.’
In fact, Sen Sharma is credited with popularizing the “travenovel” genre - a hybrid genre that blends the factual observations of a travelogue with the character-driven narrative of a novel.
For example, in his ‘travenovel’ titled, Andamanush Nicobarese he writes about his stint as an Election Observer in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The book carefully avoids the ‘tourist’ perspective. Rather, it narrates the story of the Andaman Islands through the eyes of locals – mostly the refugees, the government staff, and indigenous tribes, even while weaving in the history of the 1857 Revolution and the Cellular Jail.
Some of his other writings are –
Lucknow Diaries: Of Love and Longing published in the year 2018 by Rupa. Described as a tribute to the city of Lucknow (where he lived for nearly two decades), this novel explores the lives of three characters - Feroze, Dinesh, and Rahul. It is noted for its ‘literary realism,’ capturing the physical and spiritual atmosphere of the city.
Love Side by Side (2015), is a contemporary romance novel set against the backdrop of India’s changing economic and religious landscape in the 1990s. It follows the journey of an engineering student and touches upon themes of rural life and personal growth.
A Passage Across Europe (2011) is his first full-length travelogue, which documents his journeys across Europe.
Every Mile a Memory is yet another travel-focused work that highlights his penchant for exploring and documenting diverse cultures and landscapes.
But wait! Sen Sharma has a catch for all of us here.
In a 2021 conversation at the Metaphor Literary Event, he shares a key piece of advice for all of us who want to write -
“If you want to become a writer, you need to be an avid reader first... reading helps in building a point of view and provides the ability to introspect.”
He uses his travel time and “waiting periods” (that is quite common in a bureaucrat’s life) to read voraciously in English, Hindi, and Bengali. This constant intake of literature keeps his writing skills sharp!
I also chanced upon a YouTube Video titled, Day in the Life of an IAS Officer in India | IAS Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma | Officers On Duty E138, where he speaks about his daily routine.
Me thought of giving it here below for us, to inspire us. Looks like, in his typical day, Sen Sharma follows a rigorous schedule that allows him to carve out time for himself a rewarding day ahead, every single day!
Here goes –
5:30 AM - Rise and Shine
The day begins
early for IAS Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma, as the alarm clock rings at 5:30 AM.
Rising before the sun, he starts his day with a sense of purpose and dedication
to his role in public service.
6:00 AM - Morning Rituals
After a quick
shower, Partha Sarthi engages in his morning rituals. This includes reading the
newspaper, catching up on current affairs, and checking emails to stay informed
about important developments.
7:00 AM - Physical Fitness
Recognizing the
importance of maintaining physical and mental health, he dedicates an hour to
physical fitness. Whether it’s a brisk walk, a session at the gym, or yoga,
staying fit is an integral part of his daily routine.
8:00 AM - Office Hours Begin
As he arrives at his office, Partha Sarthi’s day officially starts. His office is a dynamic space where he meets with government officials, reviews policy documents, and strategizes on various administrative matters. He also handles the day-to-day affairs of the district under his jurisdiction.
11:00 AM - Field Visits
IAS officers
often need to be on the ground to understand the challenges faced by their
constituents. Partha Sarthi embarks on field visits to inspect development
projects, assess the needs of the local population, and address any issues that
require immediate attention.
1:00 PM - Lunch
A quick lunch
break allows Partha Sarthi to recharge before diving back into his busy
schedule.
2:00 PM - Meetings and Administrative Duties
Afternoons are
typically filled with meetings with other government officials, stakeholders,
and community leaders. These interactions are crucial for decision-making,
policy implementation, and maintaining good governance.
4:00 PM - Public Grievance Redressal
IAS officers
often hold open houses or public grievance redressal sessions to listen to the
concerns and grievances of the people they serve. Partha Sarthi dedicates time
to these sessions, ensuring that the voice of the public is heard.
6:00 PM - Evening Review
As the workday comes to a close, Partha Sarthi reviews the day’s accomplishments and charts out plans for the following day. This reflection helps in setting priorities and ensuring that tasks are executed efficiently.
7:00 PM - Dinner and Family Time
A well-deserved
dinner is followed by some quality time with family. Despite the demanding
nature of his job, Partha Sarthi cherishes these moments to maintain work-life
balance.
9:00 PM - Prep for the Next Day
Before retiring
for the night, Partha Sarthi checks emails, makes notes, and plans for the
challenges that the new day may bring.
10:00 PM - Lights Out
With a sense of accomplishment and the knowledge that he’s making a difference, Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma calls it a day, ready to face another day in the life of an IAS officer in India.
Well, a day in the life of IAS Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma provides insight into the dedication, hard work, and commitment required of such vibrant civil servants as they work tirelessly to contribute to the betterment of civil society in their own noble ways!
To sum up then, Sen Sharma is an amazing role-model for all of us in academia - a ‘Bureaucrat-Observer,’ a ‘Voracious Reader,’ and an ‘Accomplished Writer,’ who uses writing as a tool for ‘mental de-stressing’ and as a way to process the vast amount of human stories he encounters every day!
May his tribe increase!
Sources
YouTube Link titled, A Day in the Life of an IAS Officer in INDIA, HERE.
http://bureaucrats.in/ias-partha-sarthi-sensharma-an-inspiration-to-young-officers-202409070125
Times of India, Chennai Edition, dt 26th December 2025
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