No More Confusion Please!

Recent few days have seen protests by a group of Civil Services aspirants, demanding change in the pattern of Civil Services examination, particularly scrapping of the Paper-2 (CSAT). Responding to these demands, the Central Government has urged the UPSC to postpone the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2014, which is scheduled to be held on 24^th August. In the meanwhile, a committee has been constituted to look into the concerns of the protestors. [1]

This news has brought fresh uncertainty in the minds of very many Civil Services aspirants. The notification for this year’s examination was released on May 31^th after a 15-day delay, presumably to take approval of the new Government. The forms have been filled up now, and the Prelims are only about 1 month away. The examination process which had begun after the Government’s approval is now being disrupted by the Government itself.

Moreover, the UPSC is an independent Constitutional body with a mandate to conduct these examinations. The ‘request’ by Government to postpone the examination looks like undue interference in the functioning of UPSC, and undermines its Constitutional independence.

However, the genuine concerns of the protestors need to be addressed to ensure fairness towards aspirants from all backgrounds. Given that any changes done once are likely to be institutionalized for at least a few more years, the pattern should be changed only after thorough analysis and due consultation. With the limited time available this year, this doesn’t seem possible and any proposed change is likely to be hasty.

The key demand of the protestors is the abolition of CSAT, which, they claim, is biased against the students of Humanities background because of its focus on analytical skills, reasoning and comprehension.[2] But wouldn’t removal of CSAT at this stage be unfair to those students, who have already diverted significant amount of their time and energy towards preparation of CSAT?

Reasoning and comprehension skills are tested in the recruitment process of even clerical jobs. The importance of such skills cannot be ignored in the selection process of the to-be policy makers of the country. The pattern and syllabus of an examination should be decided on the criteria of requirements of the future job profile, not on the basis of the candidates’ profile.

Introduction of CSAT was a part of the larger reform in the outdated recruitment process of Civil Services Officers. Setting the clock back on any such reform in haste may shut the doors on further reforms, as objections to any change in status quo will always arise.

The Government should, therefore, effect changes in the pattern only from the next year onwards and announce those changes well in advance. I hope that the Government will take care of not only the few hundred protestors, but also thousands of other aspirants who are going to be affected by any rushed decision in this matter. Hope better sense prevails!

One Evening at Raisina Hill

[Disclaimer: This is a detailed account of a personal experience, and may contain minute details uninteresting to you.]

After witnessing the outrage over Twitter against the heinous incident of rape and attempted murder in the capital city of India, I found myself to be in the same place for 4 days. I could not loose this opportunity to witness, participate, and engage in one of the largest spontaneous uprisings of young boys and girls that I can remember. So there I was, walking out of Central Secretriat Metro Stn at 6pm on Saturday, observing the various shades of Indian youth trying to assert themselves.

While I moved towards Rajpath, I saw one young agitated guy trying to damage an already fallen police barricade, and running came another one (his friend, possibly) stopping him furiously, and asking him whether he is here to damage public property or demand justice and safety of women. A smile appeared on my face, as I saw a small but significant example of self-correction and self-restraint. The barricade was lifted and put on side of the road, and I moved ahead.

As I walked towards Vijay Chowk, the centre of all action and attention, I saw many small groups of young boys and girls - the same ones, I guess, who you can see hanging out at CCDs and McDonald's - raising slogans at their own pitch and pace. What united them was the call for exemplary punishment to the rapists and a safer Delhi for its daughters and sisters. With time, more people trickled in and the small groups merged into a larger one - sitting peacefully on the cold surface - some had candles in their hands, some had banners, while some like me were empty-handed contributing just by voice and actions.

Moving further ahead towards the aisles of power that be (Rashtrapati Bhawan, North Block and South Block), I heard small circles of protesters giving heated statements to media personnel - some of which made sense to me, while some didn't. As I moved closer, I was stopped by a group of policemen. Showing that I was unarmed and meant no harm, I was allowed to walk around. And I was standing in front of the last barricade - separating the two Indias - young, energetic protesters on one side, and battalions of police and paramilitary forces with heavy bundobast of water canons, anti-riot brigades, tear shells & guns on other side protecting the seats of power. Shouts of "Sheila Dixt Haye Haye" were suppressed spontaneously, and were replaced with slogans of "We Want Justice".

Amid all this, everybody heard some sort of "Akashvani" - the summary of Home Minister's press conference was being read out by ACP Mr. D C Shrivastav, further asking that the protesters should end the protest since their demands have been listened to. A few girls also joined from top of police van, saying that they were randomly selected from the protesting crowd to meet the Home Minister, and were asked to convey his message to the public. The public lost its calm and asked aggressively why Home Minister could not come to address the public himself - genuine question in my opinion, "Why do our leaders and representatives need messengers to interact with aggrieved citizens, and expect us to feel satisfied with it?" They must be really afraid - I thought.

I joined a group of young men talking to ACP D C Shrivastav about the status of investigation in this particular case - DNA tests, identification parade, medical reports - and that law would take its "due course". Everything looked calm and quiet, until a rogue element started hurling abuses at the ACP. The ACP called upon to catch hold of the person, which the police force took as a signal to jump the barricades and beat the protesters - even those peacefully sitting. I saw policemen hitting out at mediapersons' cameras and pulling out their wires as they captured their faces. I stood there amazed at what just happened in a matter of few seconds.

I was pushed away by 2-3 constables to go back home and not come back, as the protests are over. I started walking slowly, but the constables were not satisfied with my unafraid demeanor and I received a blow of the cane on my legs asking me to run away. I turned and shouted at them angrily. I was joined by some others, and within next few minutes, the police was back behind the barricades and the protesters were back to the same spot. We identified the policeman who beat me, and asked for his identity. The "fattu" man hung his head in shame and ran behind the wall of his fellow policemen not to be seen again. The crowd became agitated asking for the reasons of the sudden crackdown. The slogans turned from being anti-rape to anti-tyranny. Most policemen claimed innocence saying that their baton has not hit one single innocent person throughout the day. What chameleons - I thought!

With time, the protesters regrouped and situation became normal. With increasing cold at 10pm, only some highly determined ones held ground while others started moving back. The police contingents also started dispersing with orders to report back at 6am the next day. Things attained normalcy in some time and while I walked back to Metro Stn, agitated and tormented inside at the state of the nation, wondering what kind of crippled democracy India has become, whether this is just a low in the story of India and whether the Indian youth will fight back for a brighter future. Only time will tell.

Dharnas Undemocratic?

I find the terming of picketing of MPs houses and offices across the nation as undemocratic to be grossly misconceived. While the critics propose democratic process as the solution to this problem, they seem to have forgotten the basic premise of representative democracy. If our honuorable Members of Parliament, as representatives of the people, had reached out to the people of their respective constituency to recognise the popular view on this crucial issue of Lokpal, this act of 'dharnas' in front of MPs would have been unnecessary. Just because of the growing disconnect of the representatives from the people, such acts become necessary to ascertain the mood of people who they most proudly claim to represent. In general, the people's representatives must stop toeing the lines of party "high command" blindly and give voice to the people's will in their respective constituencies even if it doesn't conform to the party thinking, as is observed in other mature democracies like US.

Rang De Basanti

An epic movie with extra-ordinary direction, acting, songs, background music - simply everything. But technicalities apart, there are some unforgettable lines throughout the movie bursting with patriotic and nationalist feelings, which keep me pumped up. Recounting some of them here.

"अब भी जिसका खून न खौला, खून नहीं वो पानी है

जो देश के काम न आये, वो बेकार जवानी है."

"I always believed there were two kinds of men in this world, men who go to their deaths screaming, and men who go to their deaths in silence. Then I met a third kind."

"कोई भी देश perfect नहीं होता, उसे perfect बनाना पड़ता है. पुलिस में भर्ती होंगे, military join करेंगे, IAS बनेंगे, politics का हिस्सा बनकर इस देश की सरकार चलाएंगे. ये देश बदलेगा, हम बदलेंगे इसे."

"जिंदगी जीने के दो ही तरीके होते हैं. एक - जो हो रहा है, होने दो; बर्दाश्त करते जाओ. या फिर, ज़िम्मेदारी उठाओ उसे बदलने की."

So, in case someone has given up on India feeling that the future is dark, stop and think again; for each one of us can make a difference, and together we can do a lot more.

Signing off with a poem, every line of which is a quote in itself:

सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है
देखना है ज़ोर कितना बाज़ू-ए-क़ातिल में है।

ऐ वतन, करता नहीं क्यूँ दूसरी कुछ बातचीत,
देखता हूँ मैं जिसे वो चुप तेरी महफ़िल में है

ऐ शहीद-ए-मुल्क-ओ-मिल्लत, मैं तेरे ऊपर निसार,
अब तेरी हिम्मत का चरचा ग़ैर की महफ़िल में है

वक़्त आने पर बता देंगे तुझे, ए आसमान,
हम अभी से क्या बताएँ क्या हमारे दिल में है,

खेँच कर लाई है सब को क़त्ल होने की उमीद,
आशिकों का आज जमघट कूचा-ए-क़ातिल में है

है लिए हथियार दुश्मन ताक में बैठा उधर,
और हम तैयार हैं सीना लिए अपना इधर।

ख़ून से खेलेंगे होली अगर वतन मुश्क़िल में है
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है।

हाथ, जिनमें है जूनून, कटते नही तलवार से,
सर जो उठ जाते हैं वो झुकते नहीं ललकार से।

और भड़केगा जो शोला सा हमारे दिल में है,
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है।

हम तो निकले ही थे घर से बाँधकर सर पर कफ़न,
जाँ हथेली पर लिए लो बढ चले हैं ये कदम।

ज़िंदगी तो अपनी मॆहमाँ मौत की महफ़िल में है
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है।

यूँ खड़ा मक़्तल में क़ातिल कह रहा है बार-बार,
क्या तमन्ना-ए-शहादत भी किसी के दिल में है?

दिल में तूफ़ानों की टोली और नसों में इन्कलाब,
होश दुश्मन के उड़ा देंगे हमें रोको न आज।

दूर रह पाए जो हमसे दम कहाँ मंज़िल में है,
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है।

जिस्म वो क्या जिस्म है जिसमे न हो ख़ून-ए-जुनून
क्या लड़े तूफ़ान से जो कश्ती-ए-साहिल में है

सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है
देखना है ज़ोर कितना बाज़ू-ए-क़ातिल में है।

A Week of Victory and Hope

The last 7 days or so have been unprecedented. Never before in my life have I seen two different reasons for people to come out on the streets within a week. Last Saturday, the world witnessed the long-awaited world cup victory for Indian cricket team, which India celebrated with unseen fervour. If I believe hearsay (I missed it myself), about 50,000 persons gathered at the India Gate on the same night itself to celebrate the resurgence of India in the world of cricket. Right after, when everyone expected a week full of lull and boredom (IPL4 was still a week away), something happened which touched the Indian people from within. An almost unknown Anna Hazare pledged a fast unto death to demand a joint-committee to draft an almost forgotten Lokpal Bill. As all the euphoria that followed, some very remarkable and unparalleled things happened.

Firstly, Anna Hazare represented a beacon of hope in an otherwise helpless society who had given up in front of the rotten system and had accepted corruption as a way of life. Government’s acceptance of all demands of Anna gives people hope that a strongly determined will of the people can ring bells in ears of the deafest of regimes. A well-inspired movement can enforce participation in even the most insensitive of representative democracies. I am filled with optimism that it is still too early to give up on the Indian system. Indians are seeking a worthy leader and as and when they would find one, the support would be voluntary and overwhelming.

Secondly, this crusade was driven by the eagerness of the common man, even the silent middle class, to leave their comfort zones, to sacrifice their petty interests and come out in support of something they believe in. Being present at Jantar Mantar on both days when the fast began and the fast ended, I observed around me united support to fight the common cause of resentment, coming from across societal, geographic, economic and generational lines. Before this, the cynic in me thought that the only motive that connects every Indian is cricket and no other reason would be important enough to strike the chord in all of them. But, the cynicism had to make way for positivity.

With the official notification of a joint committee to draft a strong anti-corruption law, the struggle towards a better future has just begun. I hope with a bit of apprehension that the enthusiasm and oneness that people displayed during a short protest doesn’t get diffused in the long run, and the faith in power of united effort to change and improve the system is not lost. 

हो गई है पीर पर्वत-सी पिघलनी चाहिए,
इस हिमालय से कोई गंगा निकलनी चाहिए।

आज यह दीवार, परदों की तरह हिलने लगी,
शर्त लेकिन थी कि ये बुनियाद हिलनी चाहिए।

सिर्फ हंगामा खड़ा करना मेरा मकसद नहीं,
मेरी कोशिश है कि ये सूरत बदलनी चाहिए।

मेरे सीने में नहीं तो तेरे सीने में सही,
हो कहीं भी आग, लेकिन आग जलनी चाहिए।

 (by Dushyant Kumar)

My right in My IIT

A long time has passed, when the first thought to file an RTI in IIT Delhi crossed my mind. But, I assumed that it would be a clumsy affair and I would have to face similar unfavourable attitude in RTI cell as in some other offices (e.g. Accounts section) of IIT Delhi. So, the idea of an RTI was nipped in the bud itself by the pessimistic part of me.

But, some recent developments in my surroundings rekindled that thought and I convinced myself to actually do it this time. So, I collected all the required information essential to file an RTI - the Public Information Officer, the method  to submit the nominal fee (Rs. 10 only), some sample RTIs; and then proceeded to draft an application (which is nothing more than a list of questions on a plain sheet of paper) requesting for the information.

Next was the part which I was most reluctant about - dealing with a public office in IIT Delhi, being a victim of the inefficiencies of Accounts section on many occasions. But, it was a pleasant surprise when the lady responsible to register the RTI application greeted me with a smile, and politely cleared all my queries regarding the procedural details of RTI application. And thus, my first RTI applications (yes, there were two) were received and would hopefully be replied soon (not more than 30 days in any case).

Thus, in very short, the method to file RTIs in IIT Delhi is hassle-free, thanks to the supportive staff in RTI cell. Just draft your precise questions in plain english on a normal paper in a prescribed format addressed to the PIO of IIT Delhi. Submit the application in the RTI cell (opposite Diro's office) with the fee submitted through the usual challan forms. And you are guaranteed a response in maximum 30 days.

So, the next time you speculate about some information hidden from you in the IIT system, go ahead and file an RTI. Put an end to the rumours and get definitive answers. Let the age of 'information' prevail.

PS: I appreciate the support extended by young Nitesh Mor in filing the RTI by generously contributing the postal orders required.