On My Mind

Ever since he joined IIT Kanpur, Madhav wanted to attend the talks organized for the students. These talks are typically delivered by accomplished people. Madhav was quite fortunate. Only after two months of beginning college, he would listen to the inspirational Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, the only Indian citizen to travel in space. Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma inspired a generation of people to pursue their dream. He was all over the media. More importantly, it wasn’t just him who benefited from his work. The Indian Space program received a boost, and several kids wanted to become astronauts. ISRO also found itself receiving attention from talented scientists. This is the legacy of Rakesh Sharma! On the contrary, do you know Madhav, the listener? Have you heard of him? No?  That's the point. I don't remember him even though I studied with him. I don’t know where he is. I have absolutely no clue what's he doing with his life. Winners are speakers. Winners talk and share ...

"Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board." With this, Zora Neale Hurston begins her seminal book 'Their Eyes Were Watching God.' As one pursues a career wished for by many, Zora hits right in the feels. The ship of civil services has a charm, but it isn't without its demands of sacrifices. District Training forms an essential part of the IAS Professional Course. The objective is to help new inductees learn by seeing and doing before they are given independent responsibilities. Probationers are sent to a district in their cadres, where they get to see and become a part of the district administration. Basically, Robin to the Batman. I am doing my district training at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. This is my first experience working in the government. The hierarchy of the government and the nitty-gritty of protocol appeared to be daunting initially. To sir or not to sir was the question that bugged me. Having successfully mastered the art, I have better tr...

Former POTUS Barack Obama is a big fan of Jazz. He said, “There is something fearless and true about jazz.  This is truth-telling music.” And if you ask jazz musicians, it is the improvisation allowed in jazz that makes it fearless, letting each musician leave their own identity in the musical landscape. Bharat Darshan, also known as the Winter Study Tour of the IAS probationers, had no such room for improvisation. It was planned in great detail, with most places having 180 of us simultaneously. We moved like a giant mad elephant, leaving ruckus and chaos on our way. The schedule had little flexibility except for the few times we were in smaller groups of 15-20 people. We began our journey with full enthusiasm, at 4 AM on the 2nd of May. Little did we know morning fights were going to be the norm than the exception. The first attachment was with the army base somewhere in Tinsukia, Assam. We lived with the army for the next 1 week and learned their ways. It was here that I di...