Indian Forest Service - Profile and Recruitment Process

(Reproducing a feature that I wrote for the Employment News, published in its "30th May - 05th June 2015" issue)

Introduction to Service

Indian Forest Service (IFS) is one of the three All India Services (AIS), which works for conservation, protection and development of forests and wildlife, along with an aim to enhance livelihood opportunities of forest-dependent communities of rural and tribal areas. Thus, the mandate of IFS is a unique blend of environmental conservation and socio-economic development, which are essential components of the emerging sustainable development paradigm.

Introduction - Zara Hatke!

This is how I introduced myself to Microsoft Research India Lab through a broadcast email. Don't miss the surprise at the end.

______________________________________________________________

Hey all

I am Vikas Prajapati, an intern in Technology for Emerging Markets group. People find it convenient to call me VP. I have completed 3 years of my Undergrad studies at IIT Delhi in Department of Computer Sc. & Engg. I belong to a place called Rawatbhata (one of the nuclear power plants in India is located there).

I’m not great at hobbies like painting, music or other artistic stuff. But, I am a Volleyball player and currently a part of IIT Delhi team. I enjoy watching almost all sports (golf, motorsports excluded). So, count me in for all plans to watch the upcoming Footy world cup. I listen to different kinds of music ranging from Indian Classical, Bollywood, Oldies to Rock depending on the mood and atmosphere. I have been active with SPIC MACAY IIT Delhi Chapter with an aim to work towards promoting Indian culture. I am a foodie and can consume all kinds of food in large quantities provided it is vegetarian. So, feel free to invite me to anything that involves food! :P I am known for cracking lot of PJs. Feel lucky that you have been spared in this mail. I do a lot of social networking. Find me on gtalk, facebook and twitter as ‘vikaspraj’. I am a bit of computer gamer too who enjoys playing the classic games like AOE-II, CounterStrike, NFS-MW and FIFA. (Probably we can organize a tournament sometime :D)

I hope to spend my intern here to learn as much as possible from all the brilliant minds around me.

Cheers
Vikas Prajapati aka “VP”
(The Thing)

The following poem (yeah, it does rhyme! :P ) preceded the individual introductions. You just read one of them, but can't disclose the others (privacy issues :P ). So, here it goes:

(L to R: Abhinav Uppal, Jasy, Nitesh Mor, Me)

The fantastic four

Jasy, Vikas, Abhinav and Mor

Have just become a part of TEM core

Mor the machine-lover,

Jasy the reader-traveler,

And Abhinav the thinker, the silent composer.

Led by PJ-champ Vikas,

They’re all so smart, yet bindaas,

Such a fine fit to the group of the emerging class.

Vikas digs volleyball

Jasy talks of the Great Wall

Mor hacks code, and Abhinav sings songs for all

Their brains now sore

Of trying to rhyme more

Read on, as they introduce themselves in tradition… the fantastic four.

Hello World

Yes! Being a li'l bit associated with the field of Computers, those must be my first words after my birth in the world of blogging. This blog has been in dormancy for long now, as I created it long back in March 2009 after some really interesting reads on my friends' blogs. But all this time, I have given in to my laziness and a self-appeasing argument of no-first-blog-golden-idea. Also, I had always found some way to while away my time which I could have put in to write out my thoughts. So, what conspiracy on behalf of the universe did it take for me to start it finally.

Firstly, the issue of time! If you are a regular Facebook user and were a part of my Facebook friend list, you might have noticed this on your wall some day (31st May, Quit Facebook Day):

 " Quitting Facebook! Had become very addicting...almost like Smoking for some ppl. On No Tobacco Day today, bidding adieu (permanent or temporary, don't know) to Facebook! Lets find some new addiction! :) "

Now, after spending a week away from Facebook, I guess I'm over that addiction. This attempt at blogging is my first in direction of discovering that new addiction. An addiction - which can serve some purpose after all. Through this blog, one of my aims is to revamp some of my self-expressive skills through writing. Also, Facebook left a loose end which I could pick up in the blog and gave me a good enough idea for my first blog. Moreover, a lot had been cooking in my head lately, which I could not find a proper place to put after the demise (deactivation) of my Facebook profile. Hence, in my future posts, you can expect some pretty spontaneous ideas that sprout in my mind and this is probably the first place where I scribble them because of my high proximity to internet almost all the time.

So, by any chance if I have aroused your interest in my thoughts and personality, stay tuned! :P

Peace and love,

Vikas