Thoughts & After-thoughts !

 On a chilly morning, while traveling to Leh from Kargil, I noticed a few labourers of the Border Roads Organization (BRO) at the heights of Photu la and Namik la. The temperature was -16 degree Celsius and those workers were on to their daily duties of road maintenance. Among those, I observed one lady (perhaps from the Central India) who was busy with her routine duties. Carrying a broom in her hand she was cleaning the road, of the debris that falls on the road as shooting stones and slides. Apart from the broom, she was also carrying a bundle of firewood tied to her back, perhaps to light a fire by the roadside for keeping herself and her companions warm amidst the chilly weather. I was awestruck and a sense of gratitude took over me ! What conditions would have compelled her and her fellow workers to travel thousands of miles to the harsh conditions of Ladakh to make a living, I thought. Certainly, it wouldn't be a choice she made out of her sheer will ! Our lives are similar...

Life is a journey rich with daily lessons, new experiences, and evolving relationships. It isn’t meant to be static; rather, it’s a blend of stability and fluidity, shaped by each moment's joys and challenges. Just as stagnant water turns stale and breeds decay, a life that resists change can lose its vitality, becoming a source of stress and dissatisfaction. There’s a subtle yet powerful difference between being stable and being static. Stability brings inner strength and resilience, allowing us to navigate the changing currents of life with a steady hand. Staticness, on the other hand, can trap us in routines and limitations, making us immune to growth and evolution. Life, in essence, is about maintaining balance—grounded yet adaptable to the winds of change.   While stability in our purpose is essential, we should remain open to the flow of change. The scriptures emphasize that life is a play of opposites, and one must neither cling to joys nor despair over sorrows. Stability is...

The results of JKPSC CCE (JKAS) Mains have been declared yesterday. Have been receiving quite a few queries regarding how to prepare for Personality Test (PT) for JKAS. So, sharing this piece: ( My Perspective)    First of all, congratulations to all those who have qualified for the PT stage. You are one step closer to your goal. But, for those who unfortunately couldn't qualify, Don't lose heart. Its natural to feel bad/low or dejected at this stage. But you must also realise that its just another competitive exam. If you are planning to appear again, then relax for sometime, take a short break to rejuvenate yourself, then continue with preparations. But, in case you don't have chances left or don't want to continue with this exam, then its equally fine. Look for other opportunities. You will find many (which are even better than this).  First Thing First: My PT Score: 1. 173 in UPSC CSE 2019;  2. 183.75 in JKPSC CCE 2020. As mostly said, Interview (PT) is not the t...

  So, in the UT of J&K, amidst the dipping temperature, the recently declared results (by JKPSC) of the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) prelims 2021 aka JKAS /KAS have been warming up the temperatures for the aspirants. After this " very difficult " prelims paper, many anxious minds were unsure about their fate despite tremendous hard-work they had put in. As per initial trends, the cut-off  seem to be around 60s for General Category, much lower than (already low) 77-82 predicted by me and my colleague Vivek. Anyways, heartiest congratulations to all those who qualified the prelims. You should start focusing on Mains Preparation full-throttle in case you couldn't do so after prelims till now, and naturally so. For all those who unfortunately couldn't make it to the second stage, don't lose heart. It is definitely not the end of the world for you. I am saying this with full conviction as I have also faced similar situations in my journey. Take your time,...