Serendipity
"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