About Parikipandla Narahari

Parikipandla Narahari is an Indian Administrative Services Officer of 2001 batch and a writer. According to Tehelka, Narahari, in his capacity as District Collector of Gwalior, was one of India's few civil servants who used websites like Twitter and Facebook to interact with citizenry to solve their problems.

The Better India recognized Narahari as “10 most inspiring IAS officers of the year 2017”. He made Gwalior District 95% barrier-free in two years to help persons with disabilities, senior citizens, women easily access public spaces. Thus making Gwalior an example for other cities in India as reported by Aamir Khan’s TV program Satyamev Jayate.

Narahari is one among of those rare professional officers to be credited as Publicity Advisor to three successive governments of different parties. Narahari is credited for not only establishing Social Media wing in the Public Relations Department of Government but also making it a vibrant tool for publicity of the government programs, policies and activities.

Narahari has written 12 books, Who Owns Mhow?, The Making of Ladli Laxmi Yojna, Singrauli’s Folk Songs (Collection of Songs), The Rise of Social Media in Madhya Pradesh Government, Betiyaan, The Great Tale of Hindusim, Swachh Indore, The Great Vedic Tales, Ram ka Rajyabhishek, The Pasmanda Muslims of Indian Sub-continent, The OBCs Uprising and Shakari (Vikramaditya). Ladli Laxmi Yojana, an initiative of the Government of Madhya Pradesh drafted by Narahari which later inspired Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana. This scheme has been copied by more than 15 states of the country in formulating their schemes.

Narahari also pens lyrics and gives concepts for songs on social issues and government programs. He wrote the song Ho Halla which was sung by Shaan that led to Indore becoming cleanest city in India from 2017 to 2025.

Narahari also writes articles on various issues pertaining to administration, governance, policy issues and social issues in various newspapers, news websites and social media.

Narahari served as Collectors of Districts Singrauli, Seoni, Gwalior, Indore. He also served as Secretary Revenue and as Commissioner & Secretary of Public Relations Department, Aviation, Urban Administration, Technical Education & Food/Drug Administration, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), Sports & Youth Welfare Department, Govt of Madhya Pradesh at Bhopal.

Presently he is posted as Principal Secretary, Department of Public Health & Engineering, Govt of Madhya Pradesh at Bhopal.

Narahari served two times (between 2019-20) as Vice Chancellor of Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, Bhopal.

Narahari as District Collector played a key role in massive peaceful land acquisition for coal blocks, power projects in Singrauli, galvanised the district and municipal administration in making Indore district Open Defecation Free and Indore the cleanest city in the country. As Collector Gwalior he worked for the making Gwalior Barrier free and took keen interest in curbing female feoticide. As Commissioner and Secretary of Urban Administration department, Narahari took keen interest in Swachhta Sarvekshan 2020 and ensured that more than 20 cities make it to the top 100 Clean cities in the country. His planned efforts made Madhya Pradesh 3rd Best State in 2020 in the implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission.

Narahari is recipient of more than 50 State, National and International awards by various governments, civil societies and independent reputed organisations. He is three times recipient of National Award for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities from Hon’ble President and Vice President of India. He is five times finalist for the most prestigious Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration.

Narahari is a keen reader of Books. His interests lie in reading Biographies and autobiographies. He takes out time to guide youngsters for Leadership development, Civil Services and Motivational activities.