CS's contribution to the country's Green Revolution is well known. But his deep interest in the problems of farmers was not limited to the period when he was the minister for agriculture in the 1960s. This interest was more abiding. He set up the National Commission on Agriculture in 1970 and initiated work so that the longer-term problems could be analysed and tackled. He was a firm believer in what science and technology could do to improve Indian agriculture. This was a theme that he never tired of emphasising whether in a science summit or in public lectures. Even as his health started to fail, he spent much of the year 2000 in giving shape to a promotional organisation, The National Agro Foundation, in enlisting the services of experts in its work and in raising seed money.

One of the lesser-known interests that CS pursued throughout his illustrious public career was in education, particularly elementary education. I recall organising the School Improvement Conference in Katpadi near Vellore in 1960 when he was the minister of education and finance in the Kamaraj cabinet. He had brought the President ,Dr Rajendra Prasad, to inaugurate the conference.

CS's address on that occasion about the importance of universal elementary education, the need to reach out to families that were not used to formal schooling, to provide incentives in the form of free food, of the need to involve the local community in the effort was a classic. It is a pity that no record of this inspiring address has survived.

CS was an active (if one of the youngest) member of the Constituent Assembly that framed the country's Constitution. In the decades that followed he was a keen observer of how the provisions of the Constitution fared in the context of changing circumstances and requirements. When the announcement was made about a Reform Commission being set up, he was quick to jot down his ideas and make them available to the government.

He offered very concrete suggestions on issues such as the role of the President in the formation of a government when no single party has a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, Centre-state political and fiscal relations, reform of electoral laws, and setting up an effective Lok Pal mechanism, etc.

Another less-publicised initiative of CS relates to his work in promoting non-government, community-based voluntary initiative in addressing social problems. Increasingly he saw the limits to government efforts and recognised the scope for voluntary work. CS was a product of the freedom struggle. The passing of the years only brought him back to the concept of self-help and community endeavour that had found favour with Gandhiji. CS was the founder-president of the National Foundation for India, designed to finance voluntary action in socio-economic development.

Over-shadowed by the stern public figure that CS undoubtedly was, there were many endearing attributes and interests at a more personal level. He would wage a bitter battle with a political opponent on the floor of Parliament on a morning, and go to watch a cricket Test with that opponent in the afternoon. I have seen him do this with the communist MP, P Ramamurthy on more than on occasion. The battles with such personalities were political, not personal. CS was equally at home watching a tennis match in the company of Krishnan or Amritharaj. He would also find time to listen to Carnatic music and was ready to discuss its finer points. Spirituality was yet another yearning in him. His appetite to listen to or read lectures and writings from spiritual leaders of all faiths was truly voracious.

CS was by no means a great orator who could move the masses with his oratory. His forte was the much smaller gatherings where he could use his intellectual prowess and deep understanding of public policy issues to telling effect. He once spelt out the intricacies of development planning in a democratic country like India to then Premier of the USSR at the Kremlin.

I happened to accompany him to the meeting. I was later told that the Premier got so deeply engrossed in the ideas propounded by CS that he instructed his staff not to disturb him to keep other engagements till the discussion with CS was over, however long this might take! I saw something similar when CS called on Marshal Tito in Delhi when he touched on the perils of too-much State controls and how these might lead to public disenchantment in the same way that the public had felt about feudalism and monarchy earlier.

In one of my last meetings with CS I asked him how he saw the future of politics and government in India in the years to come. Looking around him, could he claim that what he saw was what the framers of the Indian Constitution had envisioned? I wondered whether he would betray a twinge of cynicism. But, no, he remained optimistic as ever. I enquired what would be the key for arresting the downward slide that was all too clear to see. He paused for a moment and replied `A Spirit of Trusteeship and Service' in everyone who claims to serve the country. Is this a far cry? Time alone will tell.

(The author served in the Tamil Nadu cadre of the IAS and retired as Secretary to the Government of India. He served Mr C Subramaniam as Special Assistant for five years - from 1970 to 1974 - in the Government of India)