Ranchi, Dec. 29: It may be easy to find those who live for themselves. But rare are those who live for others. Former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) official Abhash Kumar Chatterjee was one who dedicated his life to serve the poor.

A gathering here was an occasion for his associates and admirers to pay tributes to the bureaucrat-turned-social worker, who died on December 14 after suffering from cerebral malaria.

They unanimously upheld the move to create an institute in his memory.

A bureaucrat with a difference, Chatterjee had been a topper throughout his academic life. He topped the Bihar School Board Examinations in 1957. He graduated from Patna College and secured first position in both IA and BA.

Afterwards, he earned first position for his Masters from Delhi School of Economics, New Delhi.

Chatterjee again proved his mettle when he secured all India first rank in the Union Public Service Commission’s civil services examination.

An Ispat hospital doctor Dhanakar Thakur admired his honesty, simplicity and humility. “Being honest did cost him. He was continuously harassed by powers that be. However, he never compromised with his ideals. The ailing Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC) started running in profits, after he joined as the general manager,” he said.

Besides being involved in weavers’ welfare, Chatterjee also worked for eradication of malaria in the region.

However, it was malaria that took a toll on his life.