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 42^nd 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 42^nd 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...