Harvard University has invited retired IAS officer of 1980 batch Dr Anup K Pujari to teach mid-career courses of public administration. Pujari, a post-graduate from the University of Boston and doctorate in economics, had earlier taught in Harvard for short durations while taking sabbatical from IAS. Pujari who retired as union secretary of the ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) in January this year, shifted his base to Bengaluru soon after his retirement. Pujari originally hailing from Sambalpur, Odisha, belonged Karnataka cadre IAS. His current teaching assignment will be for about two months, and he is returning to India in August. He will teach in Harvard University’s Kennedy School. Pujari’s understanding of economics, his ability to teach like a top-rated university professor and his taking up of short-duration teaching assignments in the past made BoI to give the following headline — “Prof” Pujari is India’s new DGFT” in an article dated September 2010 when the then appointments committee of the cabinet (ACC) cleared his name as director general of foreign trade (DGFT). The DGFT is a post for a union additional secretary-ranked officer. Earlier, Pujari had worked as joint secretary in the ministry of finance.
He is also an LLB, and holds a second post-graduate degree on defence studies. He also served as union secretary of mines.
As a secretary, he used to call up each and every employee including the one at the rank of a peon on the day of her retirement. He wished each of the retiring employees very best and enquired whether there was any administrative hurdle in getting post-retirement benefits.
His wife and 1980 batch IDES officer Sundari Subramaniam Pujari who retired from the service last month has also accompanied Pujari to Harvard.
