INDIAN CIVIL SERVICES (ICS) – CAREER FOR FUTURE LEADERS OF INDIA

I recently met my friend, who had selected his career in Civil Services like me and the experiences he shared with me was thought-provoking and motivating for young aspirants of Indian Civil Services.

After my friend chose career in Indian Civil Services (ICS), many of his well-wishers criticised the career with several accusations. The allegations they place before him are: “The ICS, specially, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is highly competitive and disturbing career. Where political interferences disturb your career prospects in the Civil Services,” “You won’t have peaceful time after you join IAS. You have to keep stake your family’s safety for your career,” “You have to synchronise your decisions will meaningless political decisions of uneducated leaders, where money-power, muscle-power and corruption are highly rooted. You should be a ‘Yes Man’ to their short-sighted decisions,” etc.

Though, the comments he received are from people who neither had a career in Civil Services nor could be considered as people with highly intellectual ability, their concern seem to driven, basically, from manipulated information gained through biased media, films, etc. Leaving aside their short sighted concern, he gave importance to his intellect and wisdom, and he gave answer to his critics which can be considered to have deep social concern and feeds moral strength to the aspiring civil service aspirant. My friend’s answer was impregnated in a small story as follows,

There was a forest-fire engulfing the complete area of a dense forest. All the animals in the forest were running away from the area to escape the fire. But, a small bird living in the forest alone was trying to douse the fire by collecting water from nearby stream through its small cone-like beak. And, it was doing it persistently and diligently. An elephant which was one of the animals running away from fire, looking at the silly action of the bird and criticised its action in humiliation. The bird replied magnanimously to the elephant with courage and maturity, "I knew my actions are silly and it will not succeed. Yet, it will show a way for my future generation to this burning problem."

The idea my friend tries to imply: The forest fire in the story implies problems the Indian Bureaucracy faces at present and we, the young citizens of India, as the small bird in the story, should be torch bearers and beacons to show a way to current flaring problem in our Indian society. This requires young leaders ready to sacrifice ourselves for the welfare of society. For this, we have to utilise our knowledge, character, creativity, initiative, etc, to develop into leaders to lead future generations towards bright future for our nation.

The implication of his answer is that we currently face a “Leadership Crisis” in Indian Governance. At present, there are millions of followers ready to follow a leader but we lack a single leader to lead them (leaving aside some great souls in other fields). In current India, there is an existence of “scarcity of leadership” like scarcity of water, proper air, food, etc. This scarcity can be resolved only through young people getting prepared at present to be future leaders of tomorrow. So, career in Civil Services is the one way towards enriching India with “Stalwart Leadership.”

GLOBAL FINANCIAL DOWNTURN – OPPORTUNITY IN DIFFICULTY

Global Financial crisis has crippled literally every sectors of the world ranging from Manufacturing to Media. It is considered as one of the severest economic crisis in the world in past 70 years after the Great Depression in 1929. The financial horror has its roots in the deregulation of United States financial system in 1970s with focus on achieving wild growth rate. Because of Globalization, the US financial downturn has spread over most of the major economies of the world. But, our prudent Reserve Bank of India (RBI) with its remarkable, regulated, centralised financial system has well insulated our Indian economy from the vicissitudes of the world economy. We took pride in stating about the less influence of the crisis on our growth. But, multilateral sectors like trade and export, automobile manufacturing, tourism have faced the slump. For instance, World Bank predicts that world trade is expected to decelerate to 2.9 percent in 2009. Also, Our Indian economy gross domestic product (GDP) fell to 6.7 percent compared to previous year’s achievement of 9 percent. These tremors further leave influence in other sectors too. Though, US Government had announced bailout package of $700 billion to replenish US economy from recession, the responsibility of India to recover from its downturn is vested on us. Yet, we don’t hold the responsibility of causing it.
The great theoretical physicist, Albert Einstein says, “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” With optimistic and growth-centred attitude, we can see economic crisis as an opportune time for India to recreate a perfect platform to bring its “Super-Power” dream into reality. With a dream of empowered India, we discuss various pivotal sectors which require special focus by striking it economically, technically, strategically and inclusively:

AGRICULTURE:
Agriculture and Agri-allied activities are life-line for most of the citizens of India. Nearly 65 - 70 percent of Indians depended on agriculture and related activities for their livelihood, but, it just contribute only 22 percent of GDP. India stands high in the parameters of irrigated land, but, its yield per hectare is at sub-standard level. To solve, the achievements of our Green Revolution during 1960s and 1970s have to be revived and we require another Green Revolution during current century to compete globally and to achieve the objectives of National Food Security Mission – to provide 25 kilograms of Rice or Wheat at Rs. 3 per kilogram for Below Poverty Line (BPL) citizens. We should make our Agriculturists and Researchers to learn the incredible achievements of Israel and Japan in farming industry. We have to show intense effort to introduce following measures in farming like SRI (System of Rice Intensification) technology, promotion of precision farming, micro-irrigation, restoration of soil health, supply of quality seeds to farmers, distribution of farm machineries, etc. for the betterment of farmers.

INDUSTRY:
Under current economical downturn situation, the industry has been affected the most, because of droop in trade and exports. Stimulus packages introduced by government should promote long-term investments along with the focus on short term goals. Long term activities include those like infrastructure development, training skilled workers, research and development, etc. Our investments in industry should strive to produce products which cause less strain on environment, biological friendly, recyclable etc. This has dual benefits: One, it helps in achievement of objectives placed by India before Copenhagen. Second, Eco-friendly products will enjoy less customs taxes in importing nations. Thus, it is helping in the blooming of trade and export of Indian state. Further, our government should follow special policies while importing bulk products from Industrial superpowers. Our import policy should insist the exporting foreign companies to procure at least 30 percent of their product’s components from native Indian companies. Such policies provide multinational partnership for lagging Indian industry sector and guides towards the birth of indigenous Indian technology.

SOCIAL SECTOR:
These are public goods to improve quality of life. The key social sector programmes needs to be concentrated are education, employment, urban poverty alleviation programme, rural health etc. Nearly 77% of Indian population are still vulnerable and deprived and our Human Development Indices are one of the lowest in the world. To eliminate poverty and satisfy vast social requirements, we require a sustained growth of at least 9 percent for next 25 years. If not dealt with urgency, the financial crisis turned economic crisis might lead to food crisis and cumulatively into security crisis. So, to recover and accomplish, we require shrewd planning of new policies in this humane sector which require vast investments, centralised control, accountability, and inclusiveness. Government over-conscious rural poverty elimination programme has failed to concentrate on urban poverty. The rise in urban poverty is fuelled by economic crisis compared to declining rural poverty. To rectify efficiently, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) requires new amendments to make it inclusive for urban region also, while retaining its success in rural areas.
Our policy towards education should be revamped with Dr. Abdul Kalam’s educational attitude which strives for transforming less-competent students into super technocrats, imbibe character to uplift Below Poverty Line (BPL) people, and realign their religious thoughts into a spiritual one to achieve social harmony.
National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) which provides health insurance to all families Below Poverty Line (BPL) can be implemented in a fast manner. Thus, Primary Health Centres (PHC) can get advanced medical facilities without financial disparities through public-private partnership (PPP). We should provide better sanitary conditions and an improved microenvironment in the habitat and workplace.
In an environment of slowdown, we should initiate our action through public spending on development of basic infrastructure such as roads, bridges, power, ports and airports for urban and rural development which also revive the construction and allied industries. This will help to achieve 12 Million new work opportunities per annum and to manage growing unemployment in India side by side.

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them," says Henry David Thoreau. Though, India’s past accomplishments may be without perfect foundations, but, we can utilise this opportunity to perfectly lay foundations below constructions as Thoreau says. Our current growth rate of 6.7 percent during 2008 – 09 has placed our economy at top notch in world ranking. While world super powers are crippling under crisis, India is rising against crisis. Our successes are being recognized, our accomplishments are being appreciated, our growth rate is viewed remarkable and world has created a gap to fill ourselves as super power India. To end, we imbibe in our thoughts and actions following words, “Strength of nation is in strength of people and strength of people breeds in his strength of mind. Bring the minds in unison to conquer the world with empowered India.”

EYE FLOATERS - PSYCHOLOGICAL REMEDY

Eye floaters are specific physico-psychological problem, caused by the occurrence of slender, cell-like images in our vision. They are usually dead tissues floating in vitreous humor of eye ball. The vision being our important ingredient for our world interaction, the repeated occurrence of floaters hampers the eye’s efficiency. The frequent appearance of floaters and lack of proper medical treatments for eye floaters, make people psychologically and physiologically sick and lead a life which will be filled with tragedy and isolation. To find a solution to such problem, below is a story which inspires with following knowledge: “How mind can be propelled for the psychological treatment of eye-floaters.”

Born from an opulent family, he hasn’t lagged from anything in his life. But, after recurrent stomach ache, he was diagnosed for intestinal cancer at the age of middle forties. But, he had a deep desire for life, so, he tried every sphere to get back his health. But, he wasn’t able to find any improvement. Vexed about his failure, he moved to Buddhist monasteries in high mountains of Himalayas for final experimentation. Shivering with pain and expecting guidance, he spoke thus to a Buddhist monk, who was performing penance, “My life should not end short. I reached you to find solution to my problem. I want long life. Help me! I am eager to live long.” The monk emphatic about his condition, replied, “Son, your problem is simple and I have provided treatment to such sickness many times to my disciples.” Thus saying, he plucked leaves from specific vegetation and purified it by his prayers. The monk replied, “Eat them and I promise you, your health will reach its normalcy. Have a complete faith on it.” The man followed the recommendations strictly.

After some days, his doctors were astonished to find improvements in his health patterns. The doctors decided to understand the science behind the treatment. Reaching the abode of monk, the doctors expressed their appreciation for the treatment and enquired about the process of treatment. The monks laughed and replied, “His desire was deep and I actuated his desire by faith. And, that is the secret for his health.”

The Buddhist scriptures insist “mind to body” action rather than present medical world insist “body to mind” action. Thus, when desire is deep and intense it promote mind to control our body in right direction.

Disclosure: The content is sponsored by "EYE FLOATERS" website

INSPIRING WORDS

If we do what others are doing, we are just sighted,

If we do what others rarely do, we are praised, and

If we do what others couldn’t do, we are acclaimed.

 

Thinking of our past negativities is sometimes analogous to consuming liquor. Attraction towards liquor is due to uncontrolled senses, similarly, thinking about past negativities are due to uncontrolled thoughts.

 

Troubles are trainers; they train our mind to face future troubles, just like physical exercises train our physical muscles.

 

Karma Yoga of Bhagavat Gita: “Don’t focus on results of an action, focus with dedication only on action.”

 

Pain, Pain, Pain – words are painful to read,

Joy, Joy, Joy – words are joyful to read. 

ASHOKA – THE IDEAL LEADER

History identifies human who have turned the stone, which have been left unturned. So, let us take time to look at a personality, who changed the life of his people, although his society or environment or literature insist different behaviour.

Our imagniation has to shift to 273 BC to 232 BC, during the reign of Ashoka, the Great. Unlike contemporary rulers of his land, he is not acclaimed for his achievement in land acquisition, but, for his acquisition of hearts of his fellowmen. His philosophy or attitude or character had left a mark in the heart of his men during his time, to resonate his ideals along the time dimension. Samrat Ashoka, the emporer of Mauryan dynastry, started ruling like his contemporary rulers and had a bloodthirst objective of conquering lands. But, after famous Kalinga war, which led to vast destruction of human life, he shifted towards adoption of buddhism, where blood shed or desire for earthly pleasure is regarded as sin.

As a follower of Bhuddism, his objective changed completely and he utilised his authority for the welfare of his country. Ashoka’s totally new and inspiring ideal of kingship was found in one of his edict, which dictates his nature or attitude towards his fellowmen: “All men are my children”, “whatever exertion I make, I strive only to discharge the debt that I owe to all living creatures.”
Under his leadership, the Mauryan administration grown from country-centered nature to people-centered nature. He initiated numerous welfare measures for humans and beast. He promoted laws which uplift social and economic security. He propogated Bhuddism religion, not as a medium of self-expression, but for universal welfare. He discouraged social ceremonies, since, it entertained social rivalry. He destoryed Varna divison system of caste and implemented laws for abolishing superstitious beliefs.

Rightly, mighty Ashoka can be called as an Ideal Leader, whose ideals are to be inculcated in our life. “Many humans born and die, but, he who lives for others, never dies,” so explains the life of Ashoka.