( I was in the afternoon session, and last person to be interviewed. Although I was so cool and busy catching my batchmates and making new friends in the UPSC waiting hall, once they made me sit in a chair , at the entrance, I could feel my heart beat.. every minute took longer time than normal.. some mysterious reaction started in my stomach..Its pace increased when my previous one got out of the room.. I had to wait 5 min… at 4.30 pm , finally bell rang.. peon opened the door.. shown me the way in .. )
Me : Excuse me ! May I come in Sir !
VS ( Vijay Singh ): Yes
Me: Good Afternoon Madam ! Goodafternoon Sir……. .. .. ( as I wished everyone ..)
VS : Please Sit down . So .. ( He was taking my mains appln & summary sheet. Everybody else was busy reading my summary sheet.. silence for a minute.. I was just gazing at them)
National academy of… what is …is it some attachment in Mumbai ?
Me : Sir ! Since last yr IRS ( C & CE ) is big batch , they have bifurcated it sir ! I am undergoing my probationer training in Mumbai…
VS : Oh see ! I didn’t know that..k.. How s ur training going on ?
Me: Its interesting Sir! I am learning new acts, procedures.. various dept. in my service and overall working of govt. Sir ?
VS :U r already in IRS ( C & CE) which is very good one.. gives wide variety with professionalism..why do want to come to IAS ?
Me: No doubt , It’s a very good service Sir ! But being an IAS , I can work directly with the people, bring in changes in the social dimension.. co ordinating various depts… ….
VS: yes true.. but here u ll have lot political interference, …. ( He was telling about disadvantages of IAS .. I just gave a broad smile.. then signed to next member … A lady .. later , after Interview ,I found that She is Smt. Jayanthi IAS )
M1 : Ur from Cuddalore Dist.. k.. Do u know about Fort St. David ?
Me: It’s a fort in cuddalore built by Robert Clive. Its one of the earliest british settlements in India mam.
M1 : Cuddalore was earlier in South Arcot dist right ?
Me : Yes mam .
M1 : Is Ulundurpet still in south arcot ( SA ) dist . ?
Me : No mam . When SA was bifurcated , it has gone to villupuram dist. mam.
( VS interrupted and said that when he was highways secretary , T R Baalu used to mention laying highway to ulundurpet.. mam said , it was important junction through which national highway passes through …)
( M1 has not yet finished going through my summary sheet, she was about to ask something about reading books.. then stopped )
M1: how is NREGA working in Tamilnadu ?
Me : ( I started with usual intro..) nrega is good scheme which has protected livelihoods of many poor people especially during recession , when monsoons failed…
M1: oh.. That’s all k.. I m talking about ground reality.. I heard that there is lack of farm labour due to NREGA?
ME: Yes mam ! That problem is there mam. Not only in farmlands , but also in carpentry , mason and infrastructural works also mam !
M1: What should we do ?
Me : We have to strategically modify NREGA such that some skillful employment is done.. ( I could have answered this qn in a still better way ..)
M1: Is there some corruption practices in NREGA?
ME: there are many proxy beneficiaries and middleman allow it get commission
M1: As a administrator, How will u prevent it ?
Me : I will regularly check the muster rolls, then with the help of respected people in the area, will monitor the correct implementation and prevent spurious names in the register. . will try to deposit money to the beneficiaries through post offices or banks so that middlemen are avoided.
M1 : Ananth ! Tell me what is the future of Tamilnadu ?
Me : ( really confused.. whether its related to political.. economical.. ) Mam , I like to see tmailnadu as a developed state mam . We are nearly developed, but still there is 22 % poverty rate.. that should be addressed.
M1: Since Its development reached everyone, there is less or no naxalism in TN right ?
Me : yes mam ! that is the major reason mam . employment opportunities are more here . Another reason , I heard that Police had taken very strict actions to curb naxalism in early years mam. Those naxal cadres were also successfully rehabilitated to some useful jobs.
M1 : Can U name the police officer , who was instrumental in these operations ?
Me : Yes mam ! Mr. Walter Devaram
M1: ( she smiled .. ) can u say , what districts were earlier affected by naxalism ?
Me : mam , krishnagiri dist..
M1; ( interrupted ..) No those areas had bandit problem , it was north arcot dist.
Me: sorry .. thanks mam .
M1: Have u read more sangam literature ?
Me: I have read only few in syllabus mam.
( She nodded to chairman.. then VS sighed next member )
M2: U r a technology man right ? ( I nodded with smile .. ) U have done some B.E. then B.tech ..govt spent more money.. fees.. infrastructure.. then u simply discarded it, and entered civil services ?
Me : My engineering knowledge will be useful in civil service sir ..
M2 : ( Ignoring my answer … ) lets be practical… u take that u discarded ur engineering degree , once u entered civil service .
Me : I had ambition to enter civil service since childhood. As I got good marks and….
M1 : ur parents told to do engg. Education..
Me : yes sir. So once I completed my degree , I have appeared for CS exam, same yr and entered got IRS Sir !
M1 : U have given ur hobby as reading books. What is the latest book u have read ?
Me : Sir ! I have read “India after Gandhi “ by ramachandra guha
VS : (interrupted )have u read that fatty book fully ?
Me : yes Sir ! but almost took me 3 months to read it sir !
VS : it took almost same time for me . But its worth a read.. We can cherish that book for ever.
( signed to m2 )
M2 : have u read any tamil book recently ?
Me: yes sir ! A novel called “ rubber “ by jeyamohan
M2: Do u know someone called subramaniya bharathi ?
Me: He is called national poet of tamilnadu .. His poems have instilled nationalism , patriotism..
M2 : ( interrupted .. ) Don’t say generally.. say me particularly issues he fought for ?
Me : he fought for casteism, women issues..
M2: for casteism ?
Me : sorry sir .. against casteism, feminism… ( I said it in a flow ..)
M2: was the word “ feminism “ existed during his times?
Me : Sorry sir ! I used it in wrong way sir .
M2: Its ok .. but tell me what s the difference between womanism and feminism?
Me :sorry sir ! I donno the exact difference sir ! Can I guess sir ?
M2: K.. U should make a intelligent guess .
Me: Womanism deals with issues regarding woman rights, liberty.. mostly said in a male perspective. As opposed to it, feminism is what woman thinks or asks what she wants… its said from women’s perspective…
VS: interesting answer… mam.. a man could just be a womanist never a feminist .. right ?( Everyone was having a loud laugh. I gave a broad smile.. then signed M3)
M3: Do u really want MNCs to open their centres in india ? Because they dictate terms, and always the exit door is open.?
Me: We are at the crossroads sir. It depends on how we proceed further sir. We need huge investment for infrastructure and development . But at the same time , govt. should not compromise on certain basic regulations such as environment laws, labour laws etc.
M3: “ middle class is the backbone of the economy” what do u think about it?
Me: yes truly sir. Because, its they, who has need and aspiration to develop. They are the carriers of change sir
M3: in regard to previous issue, don’t you think coming of MNCs will make middle class poorer and lead to unequal development?
Me: true sir. Its govt responsibility to avoid such things and come with policy and programmes to have equitable development and also implement many poverty alleviation programmes. One such example is health insurance scheme which helps bpl families to get good healthcare.
M3: U r from technology background. What do u think about software security?
Me: Software security is very much need of the hour . Because as many technologies such as mobile banking brings service to doorstep, without security ,whole concept of development is lost sir,
M3: Sir ( he turned to VS ) I asking him because, three software students have hacked the pentagon sir .
Me: Its unfortunate sir. We should cultivate young brains to aid in development rather than doing evil sir.
( VS signed M4 )
M4: Recently , our home minister have opened integrated checkpost in one state. Can u name it?
( I took some time.. thinking .. 30 – 40 sec )
M4: Its bihar. OK.. tell me , what is it about? Regarding ur customs only.
Me: Thanks sir. Its should be about land customs sir. Sorry sir! I am totally unaware of this issue sir.
M4: Bihar is asking for some special status. Is there any other state that enjoys special staus?
Me: J & k enjoys special status in some constitutional position due to historical reasons.
M4: k.. What is this special status about?
Me: This is regarding the developmental issues
M4: yes. Its about the funding . tell me about the 1 advantage and disadvantage of this status ?
Me: Advantage is that more funding will ensure more development in infrastructure and facilities. It will lead to more employment. Now there is lot of migration from bihar to other states which creates more problem. With development , this will be reduced sir. Regarding the disadvantage, there will be strain on the fiscal federalism.
M4: tell me honestly .. Is it possible to have zero tolerance for corruption?
Me: Yes sir ! sure it is possible sir .
M4: Is India a democratic country ?
Me : certainly sir !
M4: I say that , Corruption is the fifth pillar of the democracy. Whats ur view?
Me: I beg to differ from u sir ! Corruption cannot go with the democracy . When there is corruption, people makes shortcut to achieve something , hence real aspirations of common people are lost.Hence, It cant be the pillar of the democracy sir.
( m3 interrupted..)
M3: Sir, With Chairman’s pemission , I want make one point here. Even in bigger democracies like US, there are lobbyist trying to influence. Though , they may not do corruption in infra, drugs and health. Corruption in all democracy sir .
Me: It s sad thing sir. In any case , we should try to eliminate corruption. Then only real democracy can exist sir.
M4 : “ delayed justice is justice undone” what do u think about it?
Me: I take justice in a broad perspective sir. When development reaches late or never reaches, this will have wider..
M4: ( interrupted..) I just saying with respect to corruption. Take for instance, A public servant is caught for corrupt practices, trail goes on for years, he gets promotions and all that stuff… see it doesn’t serve any purpose. what should be done to avoid this ?
Me: The law should be made stringent enough..
M4: ( interrupted) already strict.
Me: Every law is made only on general basis , not for specific purpose Sir. So people make use of ambiguity in the law to bribe and do corruption. We shuld regularly monitor it and plug the loopholes .
Secondly, many trails goes on longer for lack of evidences. We should use modern technologies like installing cctv, electronic records, scientific auditing so that, even If one escapes one , he is caught in the other. Third, judiciary strength should be increased , so that speedy justice is done.
Vs: Nice ananth ! Your interview is over
Me: Thank you sir… … ( thanked everyone ) time was 5.00 pm
