Thoughts & After-thoughts !

Whilst the outside temperature is chilling -10 degree Celsius, Satinder Sartaj playlist is playing in the cozy warmth of my room at Leh. As the song Ikko Mikke played, the following lyrics struck to my mind: Sab mitt gaye ne atak adike Dasso ji hunn ki likhiye haaye Hoye main te sajjan ikko mikke Dasso ji hunn ki likhiye... Intrigued about the meaning of the lyrics, I discussed them with my friend and colleague Mohit: all the obstacles on my way have vanished, tell me what do i write now; I and my lover have become one, tell me what do I write now, he explained. What a beautiful song I exclaimed; the philosophy of life is summarized melodiously !  What would our life be, if its not eventful, full of twists and turns, I thought ! What would one have with to write or tell  others about his/ her journey if the life is monotonous, isn't eventful ? Thank God, we have eventful lives, full of happiness, sorrows, anxious moments, heartbreaks, failure, success, accomplishments et...

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,...

Imagine, you have been pursuing a goal, a dream that doesn't let you sleep. What if you successfully accomplish your dream or reach your goal? What impact will it have on your life? How different your life will be after you have achieved what you aspired for? Will that be the end of the pursuit? Will that satiate your hunger forever? Arguably not! Let me share my perspective: During my childhood, I dreamt of representing India in Cricket (like most children in India who play cricket dream about). I was so much passionate about this dream, that day-in and day-out, I imagined myself in team-India jersey. When playing in local-tournaments in my town, the feel of National Anthem being played just before the start of the game would give me goose-bumps, and I took the feel of being a part of an international game. I would be thrilled imagining, how satisfying it will be when I would actually be a part of an international cricket competition. Unfortunately, this dream of mine experienced ...

About me: Hometown : Sunderbani, Distt. Rajouri, J&K. Education : B.Tech. ECE. Hobbies/Interests : Playing Cricket, Experimental Cooking, Attending Panel Discussuions. Optional : Public Administration. Board: Dr. TCA Anant (All male panel). Total 5 members. From entering the gates of UPSC (Dholpur Bhawan) till the verification of documents, I had this natural anxiety and nervousness. But, while interacting with fellow candidates, and waiting for my turn my anxiety gradually went away. At the time of being lead towards the Board room, I was somehow getting positive vibes about my Interview. While waiting outside the room for my turn, I had around 10 minutes to get myself prepared for the “final encounter” with the board members. I quickly scanned the surroundings around me, reading the room nos. in the corridors, name of office bearers etc. (perhaps preparing myself for those “unexpected questions” about situational awareness). I took a few deep breaths t...