EVERY month, approximately 15 to 20 civil servants superannuate but Ashok Lavasa knows how to make it memorable. Lavasa, a 1980-batch IAS officer of the Haryana cadre and former Secretary, Finance, superannuated on October 31, 2017. The soft-spoken officer had a wonderful spotless career and is known to be a passionate photographer (his photos have been published in gfiles). Lavasa sent an SMS to all his friends and well-wishers the day after superannuation. The SMS read as follows: “In life there’s always a time to ‘move on’. In government that time comes when it asks you to ‘stop’. That stop at sixty happened on 31st October 2017, which brought to close an innings that lasted 37 years and 46 days. The ‘first phase’ of life ended on 15th September 1980, when I joined the Indian Administrative Service and the ‘second phase’ when I superannuated as Finance Secretary of the country. In between there was Environment & Forest, Civil Aviation, Power, Home, Economic Affairs at the Centre and Industries, Tourism, Public Relations at the State. 21 years in the state of Haryana and 16 in GOI. Now for the ‘third phase’, the yet-to-be determined future that may be shaped by the evident and not-so-evident past. What continues, however, is the association one has formed with men and matters. It matters to me; hope it matters to you as well. I will continue to retain the same mobile number (as it is personal), the same residential address for 6 months (as it is the government’s), not the same official position but the same disposition. I do not wish to thank you for your support as I want it to continue, but I do feel grateful for your good wishes that brought me thus far. I hope to remain in touch.” His Twitter profile @AshokLavasa changed a bit but shows enthusiasm and spirit, “Traveller, Sportsperson, Author, Music lover, ex-Administrator, & still alive”. gfiles wishes him good luck.