Dr Daniel Babu Paul (Malayalam: ഡാനിയേൽ ബാബു പോൾ; 11 April 1941 – 12 April 2019) was an Indian civil servant, writer, member of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) All-India rank 7 from the Batch of 1964 and member Ombudsman for local self-government institutions of Kerala during 2000–2001. He was the Former Finance Secretary, Government of Kerala. He retired in the rank of Chief Secretary.[1]
The State Government of Kerala has decided to establish a Research Centre to perpetuate the memory of Late Dr D. Babu Paul, who has served the state in various capacities. Further, it would also rename the Civil Service Academy after him.
D. Babu Paul was born to Fr. Paulose Cheerothottam Kor Episcopa, a Jacobite priest and headmaster, and Mary Paul, a teacher on 11 April 1941.[3] His brother is K. Roy Paul IAS, a former member of UPSC. He was a rank holder in class X (10th grade) and completed his Pre-degree from Union Christian College, Aluva.[4] After his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from College of Engineering, Trivandrum. He secured 7th rank (All India) in the Civil Service Examination and 1st rank in South India.[5]
He died on 12 April 2019, at the age of 78.[6] His death came a day after his 78th birthday.
His wife Anna Nirmala Babu Paul (1943–2000), was the former president of YWCA Trivandrum and secretary of The Trivandrum's Women Club. She was also a member of the Censor Board of Film Certification. He is survived by children Cherian Paul and Mariam Joseph.
The most notable period of his career was the initial years in the service. Following the special directive of then chief minister C Achutha Menon, he had overseen the work of the Idukki reservoir, considered Asia's biggest arch dam. The diligence with which he oversaw the project had won him accolades.[7]
Babu Paul held the following offices:
Additional Chief Secretary, in the rank of Chief Secretary of State [1998–2000]
First Member, Board of Revenue, and Principal Secretary to Government, Tourism, Information and Cultural Affairs, in the rank of Chief Secretary
Principal Secretary to Govt, Tourism, Information & Cultural Affairs [1996–1998]
Second Member, Board of Revenue, in charge of Land Revenue and Transport Commissioner Secretary to Government, General Education [1988–96]
Chairman, Cochin Port Trust [1984–88]
Finance Secretary, Kerala State [1982–84]
Secretary to Government, Transport, Fisheries and Ports [1980–82]
Expenditure Secretary, Kerala State [1979–80]
Chief Executive, State Road Transport Corporation [1977–79]
Managing Director, Travancore Titanium [1975–77]
Project Coordinator, Idukki Hydel Project & District Collector [1971–75]
District Collector, Palakkad [1970–71]
Managing Director, Handloom Development Corporation [1968–70]
Sub Collector Assistant Collector [Under Training]
He continued to maintain good relationships with Chief Ministers of Kerala including Pinrayi Vijayan and Oommen Chandy. “Only a handful of civil servants had made a mark in the administrative circle. Among them, only a few had excelled both as an administrator and literary figure. Babu Paul was one of them. His hallmark was that he approached everything with an inquisitive mind. He never behaved as though he knew everything under the sun. For aspiring civil servants and those who are in service now, his life is worthy of emulation" Pinrayi stated during a commemoration function.[8]
Babu Paul published his first book at the age of 19. The book Oru Yathrayude Ormakal was written in memory of his trip to Europe to participate in the International Students' Conference. His Autobiographical Service story "Katha Ithuvare" was published in 2001. He is the writer of the first Malayalam Bible Dictionary Veda Sabda Rathnakaran. He also wrote - A Queen's Story: Five Centuries of Cochin Port.[9] He has written various other English and Malayalam books.[10][11]
Babu Paul received numerous awards for his Bible dictionary, Veda Shabda Ratnakaram. They are as follows: Honorary Doctorate from Damascus St. Efraim Unity; Gundert Award presented by International School of Dravidian Languages for the best dictionary in Dravidian language; Guruvayoor Nair Samajam Award; Alexander Marthoma Award; N V Sahitya Puraskaram; Samskara Deepam Award by Indian Institution of Christian Studies, and a fellowship conferred by the same; Christian Literary Award,[12] Kerala History Association Award for Queen's Story which is the history of Cochin port; Sophia Award for the total contribution in the field of culture; MAGA Award from the Malayali Association for his contributions to the cultural development of Kerala; M. K. K. Nair Award for exhibiting interest in temple arts; Bar Eto briro Award (The highest a lay man can aspire for in the Syrian Orthodox Church, the only recipient in India); Rajiv Gandhi Award for his excellence in Civil Service.
A man with deep knowledge in theology, Paul was bestowed the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award for ‘Veda Sabda Ratnakaram’, a comprehensive Biblical lexicon in . He was a motivating force behind the State Civil Service Academy, constituted for providing coaching classes to civil service aspirants.[7]
