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  • If Others Can Do It Why Cannot You?-An Interview For WBCS Aspirants
    Posted on November 29th, 2017 in Motivation & Inspiration.
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    If Others Can Do It Why Cannot You?-An Interview For WBCS Aspirants

    There is nothing that can compensate merit, confidence and honesty of astudent when it comes to cracking examinations. Kashmiri youth have alot of talent. All they need is aproper guidance and exposure. It is time we stand up and tell the world that we can make it to elite civil services. Dr Shah Faesal ,the young Kashmiri doctor to have topped the IAS examination this year, talks about his journey to Civil Services, motivating factors, suggestions for the JK youth, and much more in an interview with Greater Kashmir correspondent, Faheem Aslam.Continue Reading If Others Can Do It Why Cannot You?-An Interview For WBCS Aspirants.

    What does topping in IAS mean to Dr Faesal?

    [ Smiles ]. It means joy. Contentment. And of course, a bit of nervousness.

    How did an MBBS graduate topper think of Civil Services?

    Before going for the MBBS, I would think that the Medical Science is the best field, and that the Combined Entrance Test ( CET) is the end. That time my vision about other fields was not that broadened.

    But once I completed my MBBS, I could realize that I can take up the challenge of appearing in the civil services examination and qualify it. I didnt think what will be in store for me. All I focussed on was the fact that I have to get through come what may.

    Anything specific that motivated you to go for IAS?

    As I said, I had not much vision about Civil Services earlier. But yes, the motivating factors were many, particularly the fact that many of the youth in Kashmir dont go for Civil Services. And then we dont have institutions which can properly guide us to take up the field. Another motivating factor was the Deputy Inspector General, CID, Abdul Gani Mir, who once called me to his office and said I should take up civil services as my career. I followed the advice. At the end, what I realize is that I was in MBBS by an accident, and I am in Civil Services by choice and chance.

    What was in your mind before you sat in the IAS Prelims?

    Before I went for the examination, all that was in my mind was that I have to get into IAS even if it takes me five attempts. I was just crazy about IAS, irrespective of the perception that it is difficult to qualify the examination and that there is a certain degree of discrimination meted out to students.

    And what were your thoughts before sitting in the interview?

    When I went for the interview, I thought I have done well in the Mains, and now I have to work hard and qualify it somehow. I concentrated more on being confident and honest. Confidence and honesty is the key to success. You just cannot play tricks with the panel of interviewers.

    They happen to be the reputable scholars, who cant be fooled by beating about the bush when it comes to answering questions.

    Can you share with us some of the questions they asked you?

    Actually it is not one question, but a barrage of questions.

    Or to be precise, it is a diverse basket of questions. asked me about the peace in South Asia, the Google controversy in China, the Censorship laws in China, the education and health sectors in India, about the Right to Information Act, and of course, the Jammu and Kashmir Problem.

    Your father has been a victim of turmoil in J& K. Has that story anything to do with your success, given certain media reports linking merit and violence?

    It is simple. It is the Union Public Service Commission where merit is the only consideration.

    Nothing more, nothing less. They ( examiners, evaluators, panellists) dont know anything about the whereabouts of a candidate— his name, address, parentage. I dont know if they give any consideration for anything other than merit even at the interview level. All I can say is that interview can never bring you to the top.

    Then what can?

    It is just your excellent performance. You have to be a topper in the Mains. You have to work hard. Be confident, positive and take up the challenge honestly.

    How do you look at your topping the merit list?

    I take it as an opportunity to serve my people around in whatever the way I can. And I hope I will be able to live up to the expectations of those, who have expectations from me, and my getting into IAS.

    Whom do you give credit for you ultimate success?

    the credit goes to my mother who has been a pivot in encouraging me whenever it came to my academics. And then of course, my well wishers, who prayed for me, and motivated me to be confident. I thank all of them from the core of my heart.

    What is your message for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir?

    I always believe that there are different and better ways of living lives. The youth in Kashmir, I believe, are in search of a life to live. May be the ways and means to achieve the goal differ. But I wish they move from the enterprise of violence, which has been imposed on them, to a constituency of peace. It is time we break the stereotype that we dont know anything except violence. And I think my getting into IAS has broken that to a great extent. I believe it has also sent across a message that all the perceptions or misconceptions about Kashmiris dont necessarily hold true.

    And if they aspire for IAS, what would be your suggestions?

    My simple message would be that they got to exert their creativity. They are not looking for anything, but knowledge of diverse subjects. I think they must do a lot of reading, particularly that of English Literature.

    Why did you choose Public Administration and Urdu Literature as your subjects?

    that is because they were relevant to the job that I was to looking for. And then I am emotionally attached to Allama Iqbal ( RA) and Faiz Ahmad Faiz. I keep reading Faiz continuously.

    You have been writing regularly for Greater Kashmir . Did your writings help you anywhere?

    Whenever somebody asks me about the mantra for my success, I tell them it is my writing for Greater Kashmir.

    In the Mains, we had to write an essay on Globalization versus Nationalism.

    Long back I had written an article titled “ An ideal world order” in GK. It was connected to the issue. So my writing for GK has been instrumental in getting me to the place where I am today.

    How do we see Dr Faesal 10 years down the line?

    I think there is a vision that I have for my people around. Having familiarity with the situation around, I think I should be able to contribute substantially at the personal and official levels.

    The youth in Kashmir, I believe, are in search of a life to live. May be the ways and means to achieve the goal differ. But I wish they move from the enterprise of violence, which has been imposed on them, to a constituency of peace. It is time we break the stereotype that we dont know anything except violence

    Whenever somebody asks me about the mantra for my success, I tell them it is writing for Greater Kashmir. In the Mains, we had to write an essay on Globalization versus Nationalism. Long back I had written an article titled “ An ideal world order” in GK. It was connected to the issue. So my writing for GK has been instrumental in getting me to the place where I am today.

     

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