UPSC Interview By Dr. Satyavenkath

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After getting through one of the toughest papers in mains in the recent years , obviously my confidence was enhanced -- and I was aiming to get into service to give No-Nonsense Governance to the People (even if I'm eliminated after brief duration) ; there was no fear of the present nor the future , nor of death in the service to the Lord ; only One Vision -- Vision of Best Governance stood in front of me.

Thoughts maketh man ...and my very intrepid ideas Radiated a Powerful Energy and Glow around me .. this energy on that day was so Peaceful yet so Powerful that my batch mates, staff, support staff, every employee who was lucky enough to be present there in UPSC  ..were in awe looking at me ....!!!

This  in fact started from the entrance gate ! The security guards  gave me very warm alert salute -- they thought that I was an infact an Officer ! I went inside , my own batch-mates thought that I was an Officer and in fact after a while  I got used to these reactions .And when the supervisory staff  for the interviews each one saluted me as though I was top official from Govt. of India , on duty for the interviews -I started enjoying it !

Deep in my mind I know there are 2 possibilities from here -that I can lose if God hasn't  willed to take the risk of joining the services or if I cross this last hurdle , then I decided for myself then and there that no force in future can stop me until I improve  the system..,..

With this idea in my mind , and with a volcano of  tension inside me , I knocked the door , but was happy that My head was still cool above my shoulders...There was no panic nor fright , but just a flow with the moments ....It all happened very quick from then on one by one ...

First word from my mouth ---" Good Morning Madame... Good morning Sir".
they all look at me ...and are in awe for certain.
Chairman replies -- Please take your seat.
I thank him profusely and drag the chair , careful not to make any noise and sit quietly ..I wait for them to ask .
Bur they all are taken back by my Energy , Gait , steady head and CONFIDENCE !
They all shuffle in their seats , I noticed it ..
They pause for few seconds ...again they shuffle in their seats ...
They are shell shocked ! Seconds fly ....No voice still ( I can understand their dilemma ... A dove has entered into the area of the thugs
Finally one more empty second , I thought the Interview was mine , just then Chairman recoups all his strength and just barely blurts weakly --"tell me about yourself"?

Me ;Pause for a while .." Sir I'm an Mbbs Doctor, 5 yrs ago from scratch I aspired to be the top most Administrator for India , and so I'm here at the threshold of achieving my Life time goal , and this itself speaks about myself more than my words do
Madam nods her head with happiness, 2 other gentlemen also feel the same , I Notice this from my corner of my eyes...!

Chairman - He gets all the joy in the world (sarcastic joy )-- jumps in his seat and with more energy shouts with joy ---" Oh So you are a medical man !
Me - I nod my head -- yes sir !
Chairman-So do you know anything about another medical man --that appeared in today morning newspaper...
Me - yes sir ..the MCI chief was arrested for taking bribes in granting permissions to private medical colleges !
Chairman- was he arrested or chargesheeted !
Me-(Pause ) arrested sir ..
Suddenly Chairman becomes more aggressive , shouts with top of his voice , comes forward aggressively unto my face ...and shouts " why you want to come to the services --- are you not wasting money that Govt. has spend on you for your medical degree..
I was about to respond -- He stops me , mocks at me , laughs with all the other members - tries to insult me , says" if you and your family decision see is costing the govt. many lakhs ?!!
I was about to respond again --- he interrupts me again ..sarastically laughs ...turns to other memebers , as though they are having a group discussion, leaving me all alone !

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Here I do the Unthinkable ! really unthinkable ! he might not have seen such cool reaction in all his career !

I take stock of the whole situation , here is a guy , mean looking , corrupt looking , deriving sadistic pleasure of not giving the opp. to reply -- Is the interview fixed ? is there no single seat for real merit ? Should I leave the room , as there is no point sitting there without the right to reply ? I thought of my wife , my future ,is it gone? ...My gut feeling was its Gone ! having felt so i thought i would be going out with a good fight ... Thinking it the last day in my office !
I politely and my heart in my mouth ask him in the midst of his outbursts " Can I reply Sir "
He is shocked , stops! didn't expect such guts to stop him in between and poise a cool question ...he knows that If he gets more angry than this , I would surely walk away and that to morally victoriously... so he has no other choice -- hence hesitatingly says " yes go ahead" , "go ahead"---leans forward unto the table and says " go ahead".
Me - Sir 2ARC, 6 th PAY commission recommends specialization of generalist IAS officer and recommends Training in domain fields. I being already a specialist would fit more aptly into these roles...As far as wasting of money is concerned , I saved infact lot of it by not being part of the BRAIN DRAIN . I would still be serving the people of my country and the benefits i would bring for the next 25-30 yrs would far outweigh the costs borne by the Govt on my medical education.

Madame and one more gentleman laughs loud with happiness, chairman and other 2 are stunned by this gentle but laser precise rebuke !

Chairman is forced to agree ---" yes you are right , you have every right , you have right to be here !

he sincerely appreciates my bold answer ... cools his head off , and tries to see the highest merit in me !

From now on the tone mellows down drastically , it becomes soft , and pleading , they know that the person sitting opposite to them doesn't not come daily in their career but is a rare talent

Chairman hands over to the member ...he wants to recoup his thoughts I suppose !'
Ist member..." If you become an IAS officer in what 3 fields will you do outstandingly best .
Me -- pause for a while , want to get off the tension , I ask for a glass of water ...
they offer me paper and pen also ...
I reply after a deep pause ..." Sir , as I would be in-charge of many departments , and I would be doing justice if not outstandingly best in all the fields assigned to me - namely law and order , implement policies , coordinate different departments etc.
says very good ...
2nd member -- Do you know whats happening in Myanmar...
Me - pause for a while -- yes sir .
2nd member - go ahead.
me - (pauses) - sir in Myanmar pro Democratic forces led by Ms Suy ki is bringing in silent support for her cause in the international community and this is making the Military Junta rulers to think of releasing her from her house arrest , just to gain credibility .
2nd member -- very good thank you.

3rd member Lady- You said your hobbies are Meditation -- what is meditation ..
Me - According to Pathanjali -- meditation is Ashtanga raja yoga -- ie 8 step path --
lady member- can you name them ..
Me - yes madam-- very quickly 1- 8 names asna, pratyahara, dharna, dhyana, samadhi
lady member- very good
lady member- how will you motivate your employees-
Me - quick answer with minute pause--- " Integrated holistic approach " systems approach to motivation--- hold out carrots like pay , perks , allowances and also sticks like punishments, censors, reprimands , and also personally set an example and have personal interaction and easy accessibility with them !
lady member -- personal interaction ---?! how much time will you take for this ?
Me - bewildered by this cross - question ! take a deep breath and say madam I will take " reasonable" amount of time to meet the representatives of my staff depending on the size , nature of the organisation
lady member -- feels happy ...tones down her voice -- asks what books did I follow for Public administration ?
I though this question is for her personal purpose -- maybe to guide her own kids!
Me - madam its Nicolas Henry , mohit bhatachrya , mainly and all other std text books.

4th member- tell me about telengana ...
Me: sir it comprises of 10 districts , ruled by the nizam for 200 yrs and therefore were excluded from any devp that was seen in the British ruled neighboring areas of Andhra and rayalseema.
4th member- what do you think Smaller states should be formed.
me - pause Sir Sri Krishna Sir and his commission is going exactly into this issue holistically
4th member -- do you think telengana must be given.

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Courtesy : iasinheart.blogspot.in