An interview with Kaushikii Kashyap, Rank 103, Bihar PCS 2023

NC (Nava Cetana’) Namaskar, let’s begin with your introduction.

I am Kaushiki Kashyap from Jamalpur, which is also birth place of Baba, hence, I find myself fortunate to be born here. My primary education took place here in a government school, and before that I also went to Ananda Marg primary school, then I took my senior education from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Munger. For my graduation and post-graduation studies I joined Delhi University. I had been preparing for civil services exam simultaneously and cleared the PCS exam in second attempt with 103 rank.

NC Congratulations! Young margins are doing well. Are you Anand margi by birth.

Yes my parents and my grandmother are Ananda margi.

NC When did you start to feel that you would go into the civil service and why?

Immediately after class 12 I decided the above. Though till class 12 my subjects were physics, chemistry, mathematics but I took history, my subject for graduation and post graduation. history helped me to understand society and its roots, later it also helped me in my PCS exams.

I grew up in a margi family, and was always taught that, I have to serve the society and have to work for its development,  these values suggested me to go for this service.

NC  You studied from government school, Many consider Government schools are inferior to private schools, did you face any problem in Delhi University, while sitting with students, who came from leading private schools?

I am from Government school and I find that, in schools there is a uniform, students in uniform look alike, no discrimination of rich and poor. Whereas in colleges, students from different economic status joins, their outlook is totally different. I got affected by that, in the first year of my education at Delhi University I found myself lonely because I was not able to speak fluent English and my clothes were not so expensive. This complex made me feel that I will not be able to excel in education here. I strongly felt marginalized there.

NC What was your medium of studies in examination?

English

NC What difference did you find in culture and education in the places you studied, Delhi and Bihar.

I found Bihar culture is too good, there is warmth even in the formal relations. it connects everyone to its roots. A person in Bihar is known by his father’s name, by grandparent’s name, by his place name. But in Delhi I found “the warmth” missing, here a person is known by his flat number.

Education system in Delhi is far  better than Bihar, here school students get a very good exposure to higher studies. Though there are few good schools also in Bihar, but majority of the schools in Bihar lacs that kind of education and infrastructure.

NC Do you think that the education system should be more practical training oriented?

Yes, I agree with it, practical education is most important, but in schools even the Science students don’t get enough exposure to practical classes. History subject can be taught in a more interesting mode. Students who cannot go for higher studies should be taught the vocational courses at school level.

Due to lack of practical training, when issues arise on ground level during their job, the newly selected candidates panic, as they have little or no knowledge about society, implementation of new policies in society also becomes a challenge for them.

NC When did you decide to become a Civil Servant and why?

After class 12^th, I decided my future plan to go for civil services.

In Navodaya Vidyalaya, I found there were many students who had talents but were financially poor, so they could not avail the opportunity to go for higher studies, rather they were bound to stop their studies after 12^th class, I thought if I come in administration and get a chance I can provide opportunities to those type of students who have talent but no money, I personally feel that a small decision of mine or of any Civil Servant can change the lives of many.

NC What subject you had taken in post graduation and what was your optional subject in PCS?

In my graduation and post graduation I took history, because it gives Holistic understanding of a society, it’s culture, architecture, quality of life earlier etc. Also, it was an optional subject in my PCS exam.

NC Ananda Marga is a way of life, how it helped to achieve your goal.

Anand Marg has a biggest role in this journey. Firstly it provided me an aim to join civil services Anand marga way of life helped me in maintaining consistency throughout. A habit of waking up at 5:00 am morning for Panchjanya, provided me a valuable time slot 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. for my studies.

Meditation became my strongest pillar especially when there was a pressure to handle, it helped me to remain calm and peaceful, I do Sadhana morning and evening.

In Anand Marg we extensively discuss Chakras and Ashtang yoga, I knew a little about it and also read book to prepare on the same, because in Hobby column I wrote Meditation as my hobby while appearing for an interview.

NC What changes would you like to bring about for a woman once you take your position in government service.

Interestingly, the same question was asked in my interview, and I replied below answer, all members of the interview committee look satisfied and Chairman sir said “very good very good”.

I find women issues are at two levels:

Women of upper status- these are very rich women, may or may not be working, also they get respect in their family and Society, they take small decisions for their family but they are deprived of taking bigger decisions, in fact many are not even aware of the actual condition of their family business.

Women of lower status- these are poor women, working to help their family hence, they actively take part in decision making. But here patriarchy system overshadows them, they don’t have any choice in reproduction.

I would make rich women aware of the fact, that money is not going to empower them until they have stake in major decision making. Similarly I would also make poor women aware that they are no less than men so the patriarchy system cannot hinder their growth, would also tell them many schemes related to the betterment of their lives.

NC What was your mantra to handle failure in first attempt, did you make any plan B in the event of failure and why?

My mother has had given me one Mantra which I always remember

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भुर्मा ते संगोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥

It means I should do my best, I should give 100% of my efforts, leave the result to the almighty.

I also did the same, gave my 100% so that in future I have nothing to regret.

But these exams are very unpredictable, so it is important to have a plan B. I qualified post graduation and then NET to join as lecturer in the event of failure in the exam.

NC Are you satisfied with the examination procedure of civil services?

Government says about these exam – these exams are not Employment generation exams, objective of these exams is to select those people who want to serve the society. For the sake of Employment, one may undergo other service examinations.

It is disheartening to see students who prepare for this exam and fail in all attempts, sometimes that leads to suicide, or they get too exhausted to do something else.

In the current examination procedure UPSC has had introduced a paper on Ethics since 2013 which is very helpful to all post selection, but there are some sections of the exam that can be omitted.

Many committee suggest that this is not the right way of selection, one committee further advocates, “let the senior officers first work for at least 10 years on the ground, should then be called for an interview, followed by one month training and then select the suitable candidates out of them”.

In my opinion, consider the present procedure plus committee recommendation and find out a Mid-way for the selection of civil servants.

NC Where do you see yourself 10 years down the line?

My aim is to serve humanity, hence after 10 years I would be serving the society at a senior level.

NC Are you aware of PROUT?

I have had a basic information about Prout and Neo Humanism. Prout magazine also comes at my home, but due to my studies I didn’t get time to read any book or magazine on this topic.

Now I am free, I have also bought some books from DMS like Awakening Of Women to read. I would also like to become member of GPIF to know more about Prout and contribute my services.

NC Thanks a lot for giving us your precious time, you have made us proud through your achievement. Welcome to GPIF family, looking forward to work together for the establishment of Prout.

Thanks to Meetu didi, Prabha Agrawal didi, Supriya didi, Bharti Raj didi, Poonam didi and Meera didi for giving me an opportunity to express myself.