Saturday, 28 April 2012

THIS DAY...THAT YEAR

Let me recount my UPSC interview for CSE 2010,(28-4-11) ,only i was relaxed and everyone was either with his/her family or mugging some current affairs book....i, as usual kept talking all the time...entered hall at 1.15 p.m. and formalities started...to my surprise i was 1st to be called for interview...i simply said "maine to abhi chai bhi nhi pi hai" but call was call, and it has to be followed , i kept questioning peon...bhaiya, kis ka board hi...but he heard and kept it unheard, never answered and when i was near the interview hall, he emotionless-ly said nirbhay sharma saa'b ka board hi...on listening that i almost fainted, don't know why,but it happened and as i sat on chair outside(those who appeared in i'view must agree that it is most nervous moment)...and as i saw name plate...there was written AVSM,PVSM,VSM,... and  many more ...as peon bhaiya asked me to go inside in reaction to call bell...i remembered 1 song from film AVATAR...(remember rajesh khanna wali, not of james cameroon), chalo bulawa aaya hi.....so i got inside , sat down without thanking them (i thought that he must be having long mustache but instead he has very pleasant personality and youthfulness) and volley of questions started and i defended like a unskilled soldier in front of adept and trained colonel...the entire text is as:-
Chairman
Q.1- You were born in1984.tell me something about it?
A- Sir,it was year in which prime minister mrs. Indira Gandhi was assassinated.
Q- Something more?
A- It was year in which there was serious balance of payment crisis.
Q.- No,prior to that?
A- India won the cricket world cup in1983.
Q.-No, do you know about Bhopal gas tragedy?
A-Yes sir.
Q.- Tell something about it?
A- The incident occurred in Bhopal when at night methyl isocyanite gas leaked from plant owned by dow chemicals. in this many people were killed.
Q.- Was it accidental or deliberate?
A.- Sir, as recent media reports point out that due to cost cutting measures introduced by dow chemicals several safety features were compromised and many instruments were not working. So i think it was due to companies fault.
(Member 2)
Q.-Ok,mr. Anurag your name means love?
A.-Yes mam, it means eternal love.
Q.- You have worked in irrigation department, tell me whether we should prefer small dams or big dams?
A.- Prior to deciding about it we must study the feasibility report,  seismic activity in the area, the environmental damage, displacement caused. so if it is seismic stable zone we can opt for large projects while in active areas it can be small dams. So we can’t have any tailor made solution for it.

(Member 3)
Q.- What is consumer surplus?
Sir, i don’t know.
Q.-Tell me something about 42nd amendment act?
A.- It was done on recommendations of swarn singh committee. In this the main features  were amendment of preamble, introduction of fundamental duties, transfer of subjects from state list to concurrent list.
Q.-What is secularism?
A.- Secularism is an ideology in which there is no state religion  and people have freedom  to practice any religion at individual level.there is no discrimination on basis of religion.
Q.- Were we  not secular prior to 42nd amendment?
A.-We were secular country prior to independence but as preamble acts as lightpost for policy makers so by including it we made as our one of guiding principle.
Q.-What is behaviouralism in political science?
A.-I couldn’t recollect at the moment.
(Member 3)
Q.-Why was Mrs. Indira Gandhi assassinated?
A.-Due to ongoing separatist movement, there was turmoil and violence in Punjab. In such a situation golden temple was occupied by terrorists, so government ordered operation blue star. She was assassinated by her own bodyguards as resentment against it.
Q.-What was history of khalistan movement?
A.-The issue of Khalistan movement was based on basis of separate identity of Sikhs. It was started after independence by master tarachand and feru mann. Later demand was invigorated by bhindrawala and it became armed violent movement.
Q.-How was it controlled?
A.-It was subdued by iron fist approach and tough measures taken by government under leadership of Mr. K.p.s. gill and Julio reiberio.
  Q. -If  you are district magistrate, how would you implement domestic violence act?
A.-Sir, i would focus on 3 things- organise seminar and workshops for its awareness especially in rural areas, secondly a 24 hr. Dedicated toll-free helpline for timely action.thirdly , i would ensure proper female police presence in thana's.
(Member-4)
Q.-Have you ever visited Varanasi?
A.- Yes sir.
Q.-Why does river Ganga changes course from east to south and then again east?
A.-Sir, i don’t know.
(He replied that it is said that it turns south to pay homage to lord vishwanath.)
Q.-Have you watched ganga  aarti?
A.- Yes.
Q.-Don’t you think that Hindu religion has been complexed by excess rituals?
A.- sir, earlier in Hinduism every person can perform his own yajnas and offer prayers but slowly it got complexed into rituals and extravagant pujas.
Q.-Something more, your hobby is debating?
A.-Sir, this is what i’ve to add.
Q.-Tell me name of some famous tripathi?
A.-Former c.m. of U.P. mr. Kamla pati tripathi.
Q.-You are working   in NSSO, what is the role of it in planning commission?
A.- Nsso plays important role in p.c. it collects data on consumer expenditure which is useful in calculating poverty line. Apart from it, statistics on unemployment, service sector, non-agriculture enterprises is collected by nsso.
(Chairman)
Q.- Do you know about problem of north-east?
Yes sir.
Q.-What is problem of infiltration in Assam?
A.-There is large-scale migration of infiltration from Bangladesh in Assam in search of livelihood, which is becoming cause of concern
Q.-But it is natural for person to migrate in search of greener pasture?
A.-Sir, though it is natural human tendency to migrate for better livelihood but a country has primary responsibility towards its own citizens betterment and economic security.
Q.-What can be done to stop it?
A.-We can control it by firstly by setting more border posts on border, secondly- coordination mechanism by BSF-BDR ,  thirdly frequent patrol across the border.
Q.-These measures are already there. Tell me something new?
A.-Sir, we can help Bangladesh financially so that it can initiate small industries and other employment creation schemes so there is less incentive for infiltration.
Ok,
(I stood up, thanked all and came out.)

now let me tell you my mistakes or omissions...
 1.the answer regarding world cup, may have led CM to believe that i was misleading him.
 2. Bhopal gas plant was owned by UNION CARBIDE and not DOW, it has purchased it recently.
 3.my answer of Hinduism as a comlexed religion was not convincing.
 4.some famous "tripathi" could have become very good if i had replied with surya kant tripathi"nirala" or mrs. shashi uban tripathi as it would have shown my presence of mind.
 5.i didn't thanked anyone when offered chair.
 6.putting "debating" as my hobby in summary form.
 7.in the whole process CM was unfazed,unaffected and untouched by my all answers.
apart from that what board thought of me, is their best judgement...i have improved things alot this year...results awaited whether thry've worked or not...

I LEARNED...


AND IT HELPS ALOT...

It is my personal belief that learning is a lifelong process, it starts from cradle and ends till we are laid to rest forever….in former stage it is just an imitation which transforms into philosophical learning at later stages…….even there are  times, in which we refuse to acknowledge that we need to learn from somebody or any creature…..then suddenly you feel a speed-breaker and when you hit it , you are torn apart and slowly try to recollect and re-integrate your belongings (in this case your experiences and outlook) and get ready for further action with that corrective experience at your disposal…..which at times proves very handy….
It has been exactly 366 days or 1 yr ago, when I was at most sought after venue for  lifetime for many civil service aspirants like me, ie. UPSC,DHOLPUR HOUSE,GATE NO.2,SHAHNAJAF ROAD,NEWDELHI…along with me I had my 3 friends who were there to cheer me in my life-decisive battle  namely anjaneesh, chandrashekhar and vineet aka goldi bhai… but CRPF personnel stopped them outside and conveyed message that here inside  everyone is his own cheerleader-cum-batsman… (one thing I couldn’t u/s is that what is need of CRPF there)…from there to the moment when I was in front of Lieutenant-general  Nirbhay Sharma, to the time when I was again in arms of my fellows is a different story which is itself a great learning experience and then relishing on food-chat and lassi outside UPSC and photographic session that followed thereafter….memorable….

On returning to Raebareli a different story has unfolded in my personal life which even shook me to the bottom of heart…rarely in my life i was so frightened and even in my worst phases of life I didn’t felt so ruined and eroded that my heart kept on sinking and sleep which erstwhile was my best companion was not even nearby…I‘ve quite often heard that  बुरे समय में साया भी साथ छओठ देता है  but that sleep also leaves was my own addition in this list…somehow I gathered strength, visited Ramkrishna math…and left to everything to god….
But as even god is very busy nowadays so he didn’t gave appointment and another  disaster followed for which, I must truly say, I was totally unprepared….a phone came and I heard that IAS ka result agaya hi, tumne dekha and got then disconnected… I along anju and my superfast 3G(?) beetel, searched and to god’s benevolence ,even after 3-4 times searching whole list, ANURAG TRIPATHI,434256 was missing….we both have no words and avoided seeing each other’s faces…I informed at home and switched off mobile…..thereafter tributaries of ganga-Yamuna swept me…. A big question was AB KYA…..12 june was near so that was best option…..pre cleared, shifted to delhi for mains…met upendra sir, ali, bharat and strict discipline at my ashram enforced by anju and shekhar helped to tackle deviance…..everything well going…then again terror striked on 28 october(why all these happen on 28), this time it was my health…though I was not very comfortable in day  and till midnight my only prayer to all gods was “plz let me appear for tomorrow’s exam”….and it worked but I had to pay for almost 60 marks which I couldn’t answer even after knowing due to lethargic feeling….after before exams finished PCS mains was waiting to get welcomed….
As far as lessons learned are concerned, in last 1 yr I saw people changing within few hrs. just as they got info. That I wasn’t going to become IAS that year(including many of my colleagues and companions), which in turn made me more hard-working and determined, and more faith in my inner strength and self-conscience, to be slightly diplomatic rather than straight talk and little more flexible…..and how to take care of health….(most imp…on witty side, even van heusen, Louis phillipe and shehnaaz massage will not help you from thrashing in interview)….it was me who earlier used to say that sleeping 8-9 hrs is must and it was also me who was just sleeping for 5 hrs a day and was also making life of his fellow-men’s (ali,anju,bharat,shekhar) difficult by giving lectures un-interrupted on every possible topic...thanks for listening “painfully”….sorry… I correct… its “patiently”….and in personal life, only caring dear ones is not sufficient, importantly you also have to tell them with voice loud….and last but not the least ‘never to enter in a debate with anyone’……its worth-less….
Will learn more from comments of you all…..

Thursday, 26 April 2012

ray of hope


AS I WRITE MY  FIRST BLOG TODAY, LET ME GIVE THIS CREDIT TO FEW CHIRPY AND NAUGHTY STUDENTS OF A SCHOOL WHO MET ME TODAY...

i was waiting for a bus to return, a bus halted as it brakes screeched, suddenly a conductor leaned out of opened gate and asked whether i would board it, seeing the YELLOW colour with name of a prominent school, i boarded and sat on front seat beside him. Last  i boarded a school bus, it was almost 10 yrs ago.
 The students mainly of 8-12 age group were chatting...out of my curiosity i started interacting with them...they were so cheerful in responding, even calling me "UNCLE"... i consoled myself and remembered  that my few hairs have become grey and they may be considering it as a good reference...they were playing some game called "STONE, PAPER, SCISSOR" which they attributed to some cartoon show, though i tried to learn it but failed,perhaps mind entangled in worldly things has become so complicated that it can't get easy things in a lucid manner. Their tension-free faces, their sparkling eyes in which "shaitani"  was filled to brim, their simplicity and laughing out loudly( after passing comments on me, the topic of which they kept secret among themselves)......in between they keep tickling conductor,as he was chewing a famous RAJSHREE, the cheerful souls said that "toffee khane se daant sad jaenge", apparently referring to a toothpaste ad of PEPSODENT... but he played safe by not responding to them...when  i tried to ask few question, they unanimously uproared that they are bored of studying during school time and i should forgive them...
As the destinations came, few alighted,with their naughty smile on faces and saying GOOD BYE UNCLE JI...when my stop came, i could not realise how time elapsed and how lighter i felt, just like a refreshed soul...remembering my MODI days when we followed rally of buses and waved hands out of window, run to get window seats or throw bags from windows to reserve a seat...old days-good days...future uncertain...
all hope on those anonymous, untiring, honest faces whom we call our children...our son...our daughter...
YES....THERE IS A HOPE...

BANARAS : A Civilisational City

This is Manickarnika, where death is auspicious,  where life is fruitful, where one grazes the pastures of heaven.  There is no tirtha like ...