आदमीं बन जाओ........…

भारत माता ने अपने घर में जन-कल्याण का जानदार आँगन बनाया. उसमें शिक्षा की शीतल हवा, स्वास्थ्य का निर्मल नीर, निर्भरता की उर्वर मिट्टी, उन्नति का आकाश, दृढ़ता के पर्वत, आस्था की सलिला, उदारता का समुद्र तथा आत्मीयता की अग्नि का स्पर्श पाकर जीवन के पौधे में प्रेम के पुष्प महक रहे थे.

सिर पर सफ़ेद टोपी लगाये एक बच्चा आया, रंग-बिरंगे पुष्प देखकर ललचाया. पुष्प पर सत्ता की तितली बैठी देखकर उसका मन ललचाया, तितली को पकड़ने के लिए हाथ बढाया, तितली उड़ गयी. बच्चा तितली के पीछे दौड़ा, गिरा, रोते हुए रह गया खडा.

कुछ देर बाद भगवा वस्त्रधारी दूसरा बच्चा खाकी पैंटवाले मित्र के साथ आया. सरोवर में खिला कमल का पुष्प उसके मन को भाया, मन ललचाया, बिना सोचे कदम बढाया, किनारे लगी काई पर पैर फिसला, गिरा, भीगा और सिर झुकाए वापिस लौट गया.

तभी चक्र घुमाता तीसरा बच्चा अनुशासन को तोड़ता, शोर मचाता घर में घुसा और हाथ में हँसिया-हथौडा थामे चौथा बच्चा उससे जा भिड़ा. दोनों टकराए, गिरे, कांटें चुभे और वे चोटें सहलाते सिसकने लगे.

हाथी की तरह मोटे, अक्ल के छोटे, कुछ बच्चे एक साथ धमाल मचाते आए, औरों की अनदेखी कर जहाँ मन हुआ वहीं जगह घेरकर हाथ-पैर फैलाये. धक्का-मुक्की में फूल ही नहीं पौधे भी उखाड़ लाये.

कुछ देर बाद भारत माता घर में आयीं, कमरे की दुर्दशा देखकर चुप नहीं रह पायीं, दुःख के साथ बोलीं- ‘ मत दो झूटी सफाई, मत कहो कि घर की यह दुर्दशा तुमने नहीं तितली ने बनाई. काश तुम तितली को भुला पाते, काँटों को समय रहते देख पाते, मिल-जुल कर रह पाते, ख़ुद अपने लिये लड़ने की जगह औरों के लिए कुछ कर पाते तो आदमी बन जाते.

अभी भी समय है,, बड़े हो जाओ,,,
आदमीं बन जाओ ।

वन्दे मातरम

Source : An E-mail from Mr Sachin Khare

A must read article by all....Renewing the chase for excellence

The world has shifted from one axis to another. The Search for Excellence that once fired the imagination of the best and the most gifted among us has been edged out. What we now celebrate is the Search for Success, that amazing spirit which powers the dreams of soldiers of fortune, gold diggers and carpetbaggers. No, this is not about moral distinctions because soldiers of fortune have also made history, shaped human destiny. As Gordon Gekko says, Greed is good. It’s greed that sailed Columbus to India. He found America instead. It’s greed that brought the East India Company here, made us the nation we are today. It’s greed that drives modern China to such success that brings the world to Asia’s door. Yet, despite that, why does unabashed greed still make me squirm?
I guess it’s because we grew up with the Search for Excellence. Shops today are stacked with books that teach you only to win. Winning is not just everything, they warn you, winning is all. If you don’t win, everything is in vain. What you have learnt. What you practise. What you strive for. They add up to nothing unless you win. Winning is no more a process. It’s the goal, the only goal. You can lead a race all the way but if you don’t breast the tape before the rest, you don’t even count for a footnote. Excellence, on the other hand, is what you spend a lifetime seeking. It’s an art form, a faith. It teaches you to align yourself with the best. While success teaches you that you get only one shot at winning. Blow it, you’re gone.
The distinction between the two is clear. Yet we are all confused. Excellence and success are treated as synonyms today. We forget that the winner is not always excellent. We also forget that excellence doesn’t always ensure a win. I went to a school which taught me that there was no reason to fear defeat if I played the game well. But in those days, no sport was ever a gladiator sport, not even boxing. Our heroes were artistes of the game, not statistics hunters. Style defined the sportsman. Winning or losing was part of the game. In fact, we were even taught how to lose well. After all, there were always more people rooting for the losers. The underdog was the hero. The cocky winner, today’s role model, was everyone’s pet hate.
That’s changed now. The winner is a hero today. The only hero. The word loser is loaded with shame. It symbolises not someone shouldering the heroism of loss but the ignominy of defeat. A batsman returning to pavilion with 99 rarely gets a spirited applause. There’s only space for one team on the field after the game, the winners. Even if that victory is but by a whisker, the losers go out shamed. As if they have let everyone down. Even where a win is merely the outcome of a popular poll, in all probability fixed, the winner takes it all. There’s instant amnesia about the other participants. The winner too is only remembered till the next season when another winner steps in and grabs the limelight. We forget past winners so easily that they even forget they were once winners. Look at Deve Gowda. He is so badly behaved and abusive that no one believes he was once Prime Minister of India. While his successor, Gujral is so embarrassed he’s no longer in Race Course Road that he has slunk into a dark corner.
We are slowly forgetting that a world without losers can be dreadfully boring. Strutting, boastful winners are not easy to live with. Ask any journalist what it would be to live in a world full of Vidhu Vinod Chopras. That’s why the Search for Excellence is so crucial. It allows you the space, the bandwidth to accommodate other equally gifted people. Subodh Gupta is not the only artist around just because his works sell for the highest price. Aamir Khan is not the only star because he has given us 3 Idiots. Chetan Bhagat is not the only writer because his books sell in millions. Hits alone don’t define success. Or else Dan Brown would be a greater author than Dante. Damien Hirst a better painter than Gaugin, Himesh a greater singer than Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and James Cameron a better film maker than Satyajit Ray.
The Search for Success leaves the streets littered with corpses. Teen suicides, homicides, financial scams, white collar crimes, family break ups are the tragic consequences of the winner takes it all worldview. The pressures around us are too scary. No one’s allowed not to win. By making defeat so ignominious, we are forcing losers to lose sight of life. Courage, heroism, dignity in defeat, the power to learn from one’s mistakes are all yielding way to one thing: The Great Bootlick of Mammon.
Source: The Times of India..An Article by Mr Pritish Nandy, 17 January 2010, 07:46 PM IST published in Mumbai edition on 20th Jan 2010

Role of Age in Civil Services...Reply to Mr Sandeep

Hello Mr Sandeep, thanks for your visit on the blog...Regarding your query, of course, Age plays a major role in civil services for e.g. successful candidate of 21 year old will have the greater chances to become cabinet secretary depending on his/her performance....thus at the age of 27, you may not get the Chance to become foreign secretary of India [due to your choice of IFS]....In India, for promotion, seniority along with the service records are being considered....however, you should not worry much about it...every one has equal chances to serve the country and earn his/her name in his/her career as a diplomat...It depends on the level of motivation and consistent effort along with honesty and integrity....thus age factor is not a big hurdle for you...So good luck for CSE-2011.....Regarding the higher education in IAS, yes ,you can go for higher education on the sponsorship of government of India [Dopt] after the completion of 5 years of service...you can go to any foreign university...but you have to sign a bond with government of India for at least 3 years of service to the government after completion of the course....Thus the trend of higher education in the services [in all the services, not only in IAS] still continues...the procedure for this is very simple....Dopt [Department of personnel] comes out with various schemes for the diplomats and bureaucrats.They have to apply in a prescribed format. After due considerations, name are being finalised for the grant of study leave and scholarship. for more details,you can visit the website of Dopt [www.persmin.nic.in] ...further query is welcome...keep blogging...

Reply to Mr Raviraaj Paatil

Hello Mr Raviraaj Paatil, thanks for your visit on the blog...regarding your query, You should read NCERT thoroughly for CSE-2010....Though, UPSC, in recent times, is focusing on modern India but they can ask any number of questions at any point of time...so for proper preparation, you must read Modern,Medieval and Ancient History...You can follow old NCERT book for history..for Science, you can go through 10,11 and 12th NCERT along with TMH.....for Economy also, It is better to study from NCERT along with Pratiyogita Darpan special issue...good luck for CSE-2010....further query is welcome...keep blogging...

Reply to Miss/Mr Anonymous

Hello Miss/Mr Anonymous, thanks for your visit on the blog...regarding your query on class notes, the class notes are in hand written form and usually bulky in nature as they cover whole syllabus but they are shorter than printed notes...Besides, you can get the class notes of current batch but you need to update and enrich them from the latest examples and case studies...Usually class notes are available after the completion of a batch...So you need to put an extra effort to grab these latest notes available on zerox shops...However, class notes are not the panacea of all evils...you can clear the exam without reading Vaji Ram & Ravi notes by simply reading the books comprehensively according to syllabus and of course with great labour......further query is welcome...keep blogging...

Reply to Miss Shilpa

Hello Miss Shilpa, thanks for your visit on the blog....regarding your query, I am extremely sorry for not providing you an instant reply as my optionals were different...I will reply your query after consulting some successful candidates of your optional shortly...If you wish you can leave your e-mail id also on neutralviews@gmail.com ....further query is welcome....keep blogging..

Strategy for Public Ad & Geography for CSE-2010....Reply to Dr. Anonymous

Hello Dr. Anonymous, thanks for your visit on the blog and kind words about it...Regarding your query, It is really very difficult to expect from CSE-2009 owing to the drastic changes in the pattern of exam and back to back papers of Pub Ad and Geography.....but one should not loose patience....any thing can happen....I wish you a good luck for CSE-2010.
However,it is always prudent to prepare for CSE-2010 if situation permits....the candidates of these optionals [or similar] should make notes in point form so that whole syllabus can be revised just before the exam....It is also advised to focus on all the sundry topics which are not usually covered by candidates and also by coaching institutes.....Regarding the Pub ad Paper-1...as I have mentioned in my earlier blogs, you can follow book by Mr Sharma and Sadana according to syllabus....some topics can be covered from B.L. Fadia if you are not able to comprehend from Sharma and Sadana...after that you can read book by Mr Mohit Bhattacharya. For thinkers, you can refer book by Mr Prasad and Prasad....Since you have already appeared in CSE mains, you must have over all good knowledge of Pub Ad....Now, you can concentrated on finer points, live examples from India and other countries, case studies,etc...For this, you can read The Times of India and Hindustan Times along with the regular paper i.e. The Hindu [or what ever you follow]....The social coverage of Times and Hindustan Times[HT] is very good...lot of case studies are being published in it...you must purchase the 'crest edition' of Times of India [on every Saturday] for detail analysis of topics....you can make notes of one or two liners from the news papers.....Along with it, if you want to score high in Pub Ad, you can purchase one liner quotation book of 'Sanskrit slokas' which can be quoted according to the context.....Last but not the least, if you are not able to understand the basic concepts of Pub Ad Paper-1 at all then leave all things and study the printed material of Vaji Ram and Ravi.....further query is welcome...keep blogging....

What is the meaning of '60 RR' of IPS....Reply to Mr Abhishek

Hello Mr Abhishek, thanks for your visit on the blog....Regarding your query....the meaning of 'Mr Abhishek, IPS 2007 60(RR)' is that Mr Abhishek belongs to the 60th batch of "regular recruit" [RR] of Indian Police Service [IPS]....in other words, Mr Abhishek belongs to 2007 batch of IPS i.e. Mr Abhishek wrote CSE of the year 2006 and final result came in 2007....further query is welcome....keep blogging...

Reply to Mr/Miss Anonymous

Hello Mr/Miss Anonymous, thanks for your visit on the blog....regarding your query, The postal guidance program of Vaji Ram & Ravi located at New Delhi constitutes only the standard printed notes along with some updates. The class notes of the above coaching institute includes the dictated notes in the class rooms. Though both types of notes are relevant and qualitative in nature [Printed notes are more elaborative] however class notes are most updated and good. You can get these class notes from the zerox shops located near the above coaching institute in Old Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi......further query is welcome....keep blogging...

Who is Manmauji??..Reply to Miss Neha

Hello Miss Neha, thanks for your visit on the blog and kind words about it....Neutralviews express its sincere thanks for your keen interest in the blog....As I have already written in my previous blog, Neutrality and anonymity are the virtue of a civil servant...In fact, these are the basic principles one has to follow after entering in to civil service...In the practical world, there is always a fight for credit gain as evident from recently released '3-Idiots" between the maker of the film and Mr Chetan Bhagat....Had both of the parties concentrated on the ultimate goal of a enterprise i.e. healthy entertainment of the public, this controversy of credit sharing would not have been aroused...Thus, I feel, for peace and tranquility, it is better to give credit to Mr Manmauji and remain anonymous which will help in serving the CSE aspirants in better and efficient ways....further query is welcome....keep blogging....

About IAS...Reply to Mr Sashi

Hello Mr Sashi, thanks for your visit on the blog....I appreciate your keen interest about IAS...I have written many blogs on it...you can find several of your query answered there...still I will reply some of them....IAS official has to undergo 2 years training at LBSNAA which includes 1 year training in the field...All selected officials undergo FC[foundation course..read previous blog about it] for 4 months..after that other than IAS go to their respective academy e.g. IPS goes to NPA, Hyderabad,IRS to NACEN and NADT, IFS to Delhi,etc...FC is all fun but hectic in the sense that you have to do lot of activities with strict time schedule....after 2 years training, IAS joins as sub divisional magistrate...they get all the basic facilities e.g. vehicle,servants,decent house, etc....The starting salary of Group 'A' officials after 6th pay commission is Rs- 26000/-....I wish you a good luck for your BSC......further query is welcome...keep blogging...

The Time duration of current affairs for CSE-2010[Pre]...Reply to Mr Mayuresh

Hello Mr Mayuresh, thanks for your visit on the blog....regarding your query, the ideal duration for current affairs for CSE [pre] is one full year....to be specific, you can cover the current affairs from Oct-2009 to March 2010...but keeping in mind the recent trends in CSE and increasing level of difficulty of GS paper, it is always better to go through the current affairs from April 2009 onwards from diverse sources along with the focus on general knowledge part.....Good luck for CSE-2010...further query is welcome...keep blogging...

The jurisdiction of IAS Vs IRS...Reply to Mr Siddhartha

Hello Mr Siddhartha, thanks for your visit on the blog....The query regarding the previous blog post.....The clientele base means the kind of people and the subject one has to deal during one's career....IRS officers primarily deals with the revenue matter [taxation] of government of India and work under Ministry of Finance with least political interference..It does not have much interaction with people's common day to day problem.... .while IAS along with state revenue matter [in District as District collector] deals with common day to day problems of common people...doing this, he/she has to undergo tremendous political interference...He/she works in a particular state with some time at centre also....Regarding the jurisdiction, infact you can not compare it rationally as IAS as DM/DC works as a head of a District while IRS works as a Assistant commissioner [AC] for a division which may be larger than a district or shorter than a district as revenue divisions are quite different than genreal law and order civil administartion...for e.g. IRS[C&CE] officer as an AC sometime may have his/her jurisdictions on 3 to 4 district depending on the industry base..... further query is welcome...keep blogging...

Difference between IAS Vs DANICS Vs PCS and IPS Vs DANIPS Vs PPS.....Reply to Mr Dilip

Hello Mr Dilip, thanks for your visit on the blog....regarding your query :
[1] IAS and DANICS candidates are recruited by UPSC but IAS is in Group 'A" and DANICS in Group 'B'....PCS are recruited by state PSC and group 'B'.....same is the case with IPS,DANIPS and PPS.
[2] IAS and IPS are posted at the top hierarchy of the administration and other are subordinate to them.
[3] IAS and IPS belong to all India service while DANICS and DANIPS belongs to particular state and same is the case with PCS and PPS.
[4] The salary structure and other benefits are also different for IAS and IPS and rest of them.
I hope ,I have made the difference clear...further query is welcome...keep blogging...

IAS Vs IRS.....Reply to Mr Siddhartha

Hello Mr Siddhartha , thanks for your visit on the blog..I will reply your query one by one:
[1] There are no major differences of perks and benefits between IAS and IRS....The salary structure is same for both....but IAS gets two promotions more than IRS.
[2] Regarding the promotion, you are partially correct...IAS gets better chances for promotion as mentioned earlier....the number of years and other factors are taken in to considerations for the promotion e.g. integrity,honesty,service record, etc.
[3] The preference of services is quite individual centric...If someone prefers IRS over IAS, it may be due to better service conditions,less political interference, more stability of tenure, urban postings, family life, etc....but you can't equate or compare IAS and IRS as the clientele base and area of work are entirely different in two services. Thus it is more of individual decision.
[4] The social status of IAS and IRS is good...though in rural areas IAS gets more recognition and in urban areas you may find IRS at higher side...but it is a matter of relativity....The social recognition is a function of history,level of education, prosperity and awareness in the society.....further query is welcome...keep blogging...

CSE-2010 notification has come...Good Luck to the aspirants

Hello dear CSE aspirants….finally UPSC has come out with the notification for CSE-2010….It has appeared in the employment news of 2nd January….As such there are no changes in the pattern and overall scheme of the examination as predicted earlier… The number of seats are also huge….This must give enough motivation to the aspirants…Indeed, it is a new year gift to CSE aspirants…I wish all of them a very good luck…..do hard work…..keep blogging…

The documents required at the time of Interview of CSE....Reply to Mr Diptesh Mohanty

Hello Mr Diptesh Mohanty,thanks for your visit on the blog and kind words about it....regarding your query:
[1] At the time of interview, you need to carry only date of birth certificate,graduation certificate or PG certificate and caste certificate [as the case apply] if you have mentioned it.....no need of any other certificates of merit,awards ,etc
[2] You will get the interview call letter mentioned in your mains form probably...you may get it on the address mentioned on envelop too....you can write a application to UPSC indicating your change of address after the mains result....In case you don't get the call letter on the address, you can call UPSC, they will send the duplicate copy...so don't worry about these things.
I wish you a good luck for CSE-2010....further query is welcome....keep blogging...