Farewell, J.B.D’Souza
He had an illustrious career, beginning in a newly independent India, working as a trainee civil servant during Partition and going on to work in important positions such as Municipal Commissioner, Bombay and Chief Secretary, Maharashtra. After retirement, in his matter-of-fact, unsanctimonious but very determined way, he spent even more time working for the things he believed in, giving a new meaning to citizenship and public service. Characteristically, his slim memoir of his civil service days, “No Trumpets or Bugles”, is written with humour and self-deprecation.
A fine mind is rare enough. J.B.D’Souza also had that rarest of qualities - integrity. For me, it is a special privilege to have met him and interacted with him, and to be able to write this tribute for such a person.
He will be missed.
My thoughts are with his wife Neela, their son and daughter-in-law - our dear friends - Dilip and V, and the rest of the family.
