There couldn't have been a more auspicious day, for the personality test, than the birth anniversary of the architect of our constitution, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. The year was 2003 and it was my second attempt at Civil Services Exam and the first call for interview i.e. the Personality Test, from the Union Public Service
Before setting out for Delhi, I had done only a couple of mock interviews and I felt grossly under prepared for this opportunity of a life time. I lacked direction and other than brushing up my communication skills and information about myself, I was clueless as to what to do. Hence, I enrolled for some mock interviews in Delhi, which I felt were not of much use, as their approach was driven by stereotypes of this whole interview affair. I found that they laid too much emphasis on cosmetic improvements. After all those mock interviews in Delhi, I was convinced that it’s best for me to be myself and very real.
Finally, the ‘I- day' arrived. I had dressed myself in khaki like trousers and a beige coloured shirt, in which I looked anything but smart ! At about 2.00 pm, I reached Dholpur House (where UPSC is housed). I remember in some of the mock interviews we did in Delhi, we were told to, as far as possible, put on a suit and I did see many of them in suit in the lobby of Dholpur House. For me, I found this whole idea of putting up a suit at 45 degrees quite ridiculous (though that was my personal preference).
I was to be interviewed by the panel chaired by Dr. S. R. Hashim, (the noted economist), which was considered to be good one (for allotting marks). I had decided to take the interview as it comes. At about 5.00 pm a gentleman called my name and escorted me to the interview panel's chamber.
I wished the interview board, as soon as I entered and waited for them to offer me a seat. Other than the chairman, Dr. Hashim, there were two members each on his side, one of them told me to take my seat.
The first thing to happen was Dr. Hashim, taking note my educational qualification that of an Ayurvedic Doctor. I guessed rightly, that the most common question, put to candidates having professional qualification was on my way, 'the reason for preferring civil service over the professional career. I had very much expected this question, but at the same time, I was well aware that this seemingly predictable and simple question could be the most difficult to answer, atleast to the satisfaction of the board members. I had, during my preparation, done some ground work for it, right from the time I decided to take the Civil Service Exam and the probable answer I thought of was something like this: 'As a doctor I would serve only a limited people, but as a civil servant I would be serving a much larger population. I would get a broader platform to serve the people and the nation'.
Dr. Hashim shot the expected question, " Why do you want to join the civil services, you are already a medico ". With a pause, I replied "I felt that I had taken a beaten path and now I want to do justice with my inclination". The one most surprised by that answer was myself ! I had, never in my entire civil service exam preparation, right from prelims to the interview, ever thought of anything like that. I didn't knew from where this most candid answer came. I thought that now Dr. Hashim and other honourable members would take me left and right for this. I had not even elaborated what I said. I thought that, I had at the very start itself, blown up the interview. Fortunately no one asked anything further on that.
The next question came form a lady who, I later learnt, was a professor of Sociology. She asked asked my opinion on a proposition that, ' In our epics, kingdoms were won and lost on the roll of the dice. What if, in the present situation, we contemplate to have a similar solution for the Kashmir problem, by having a cricket match between India and Pakistan, with the winner taking Kashmir?. I was a bit puzzled and wondered whether this was a question at all. I replied ''These kind of arrangements of settling important issues with gambling or sport, was a medieval mentality and totally out of tune with modern times and ideals''. She didn't grill me any further.
The next set of questions came from another gentleman, who asked about the American intervention in Iraq during that time. The questions were mostly those which required factual answers. Since I had political science as my second optional subject, it was not difficult for me to answer his questions. He, then, asked me about the utility of United Nations in such conflicts. I said what any student of political science would have said; “UN is effective only when its goals do not clash with the interests of the major powers”. He seemed to be visibly displeased with my answer.
Some important questions came from another gentleman in Safari suit, who I guess was a Maharashtrian, not only because of his accent, but also his questions. The fact, that I had spent six good years in Sawantwadi in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra for my BAMS, didn't escape his notice and he asked variety of question about Sawantwadi, right from its history, geography and culture to its importance as a famous centre for wooden toys.
Also, he brought to the notice of the Chairman that I had mentioned that one of my hobby was, 'learning different languages and scripts'. I was asked by Dr. Hashim, which languages I can speak, read and write. I did really had this knack of learning languages. In Sawantwadi, I had learned some rudimentary Kannada from a friend from Belgaum, who used to stay with us. This helped me to interact with the construction wrokers of the Lamani community from Belgaum region. Also after having stayed, since childhood, in Ghatkopar in Mumbai, which has a sizable Gujarati population, I could speak some Gujarati.
I had deliberately planted this in the mains form (which also acts as our bio-data for interview), with an intention to impress the board and I felt that my ploy had worked. To my utter disappointment the board didn't ask anything more on that and I felt the opportunity of making an impression in the interview was lost.
Since that day was 14th April, the gentleman from Maharashtra asked me to name as many books and writings of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar as possible, which for me was a child's play. The next important question from him was about the 'Namantar' dispute regarding the renaming of Marathwada university. He asked me about the genesis of that issue, the trends of the movement, its implication on the Maharashtra, socially as well as politically. He also asked my opinion on the solution that was worked out.
My answer was something like this: “the genesis of the issue was in the proposal for renaming the Marathwada university, after Babasaheb Ambedkar and the consequent clash of interests (asmita) of the Dalits and the dominant community after whom the region is named, as there was resentment among the latter against any such move'.
Regarding the implications, I replied that “it caused extreme social and political polarization” and that '' the viability of any solution, in matters such as these, which affect the future of major sections of the society, depends on its outcome. Since the solution of including both the names (in the university's nomenclature) brought lasting peace and settled the issue once and for all, there couldn't have been any better solution for that dispute”. I thought that my answer was very simplistic, but at that time I couldn't think of anything better.
By that time, I felt my prospects of an outstanding performance were over. My body language started showing it all and suddenly I casually started shaking my right leg, which couldn’t escape the notice of the fifth board member, from whom came, what was to be my final question. He asked me about my services preferences, in the order I had mentioned in the mains form. I replied, '' IAS, IFS, IPS, IRS” and very casually said “ thereafter I don't remember”. Just as I said that, I got a feeling, that I had put the final nail on my own coffin, a belief which was further strengthened by Dr. Hashim's words “ Thank You, Mr. Jawale”. I couldn't believe that my interview was over. Perplexed, I stuck to my seat. I got up only when Dr. Hashim repeated, “ Thank you, Mr. Jawale. You can go”. I got up, thanked them all and left.
It was 5.05 pm when I entered and when I got out it was 5.20 pm. I couldn't believe that, for all the hard work and expectations, I was disposed off in 15 minutes. Most of my answers were little more than one liners. I was pretty upset with my performance. I had heard anecdotes of some successful candidates, who, we were told, had dominated the proceedings in their interview, in such a way that the board members were mightily impressed. In my case, I was sure, that exactly the opposite had happened. I felt that I was unceremoniously shown the doors. I was all through repenting as to why I didn't go beyond my one liners and analyse things in detail, when I was given ample opportunity to do so. I thought that I had been too naive and vainly simplistic with my approach of being 'very real' at the interview. It was general belief among the aspirants, that if your interview ends quickly its either been too good or gone too bad. I my case, I believed every thing pointed to the latter. Terribly dejected, I left Dholpur house and started walking towards Maharashtra Bhawan. It must have been the longest time anybody had taken to walk a mile !
After reaching Bhawan and before other aspirants could notice and inquire about my interview, I left for another unplanned walk and heading aimlessly towards Connaught palace, all the way cursing myself for being a damn fool !
A few days later, insult to injury or I must say injury to insult, came from the authorities in Guru Teg Bahadur hospital, Shahadra, where my medical exam part 1 was scheduled. The doctor doing the honours there, insisted that I would have to get my marginally carious tooth extracted, without which they would not give me the 'medical fitness certificate' !!!
The medical examination is compulsory for every candidate appearing for interview and even if one is successful in the exam, the appointment to the services is withheld, till one is declared ‘medically fit’. However, even with the wildest stretch of imagination, I could not find any justification for denying a medical fitness certificate to anyone, because of a carious tooth. My protests and pleadings went in vain and I was told to come back for the medical examination, any time within a week after having my tooth extracted. I was surprised and pained, that I had to go through such an unpleasant ordeal, even in the penultimate stage of the recruitment of the most elite services.
Without wasting anytime, I barged into the dental department of the hospital and requested the dentist there to do the needful. He was of my age and cordially co operative, much unlike his colleagues. He got my tooth extracted the next day. Finally I was declared 'medically fit' !!!
I had earlier decided, that it was to be my last dedicated attempt for civil services exams, as I was under tremendous pressure to settle down, not much from my family, but because of age and the example of my peers from medical field. Most of them, even my juniors, had by that time settled down well. Many of them didn't understand what I was up to and some of them even mocked at me behind my back, 'This Jawale ,you know, is an intelligent guy, but....... (uselessly vain)' !
I returned to Mumbai and started preparing for the next prelims, all the while running calculations (in my mind) as to how much marks I could secure . According to those calculations, the most optimist I could think for myself was a group B service.
Finally the day of result dawned and it too was a historic one, 1st May, Maharashtra Day. It came as a big surprise to me, that I had succeeded in the Civil Services Exam and my all India rank was 56. I was sure to be in the IAS. That was the happiest day of my life. Later, when we could get to know the break up of our marks, I was astonished to see that I had secured 205 in the interview out of 300. That total was certainly not the best, but for me it was much more than what I had expected, considering my limited preparation.
Now, when I look back at those events, I feel that my approach for the interview was not wrong ! My interview was far from being a model one. But, I feel the it is not important to see the what questions were asked and what answers were given. It is more important to see how the questions were tackled. However, just because it worked for me, in a certain situation and in front of a certain interview board, doesn't mean that it will work for anybody and everybody. By narrating my experience, I just want give an aspirant an idea of the environment during the personality test and the turbulence inside the mind of a candidate before, during and after the interview. So that people can learn what to do and more importantly, what not to.
However there are some things that I feel, every civil services aspirant should essentially know. The first and the basic thing is that the interview or the personality test, as it is officially called, is not a quiz show. That, if you answer 8 questions out of 10, you stand to win. Though there are lot of factual questions asked, it is not necessary that you should know the answers to all. Even if you are not able to answer most of the factual questions, there is no need to panic. This is a test of your personality, that you have built up right from your childhood. It has defined your character, your traits and your way and depth of thinking. It is something you cannot radically change in matter of months and any institute which claims to do it for you,may be actually fooling you.
As a part of preparation for interview, one has to start preparing for it right from the day your mains ends, brush up the knowledge about yourself and everything related to you. Work on improving your communication and presentation skills. This is really a very important aspect, which should not be ignored at any cost. There cannot be anything worse than fumbling or getting blank during your interview.
If anything goes wrong at the very start of your interview, like if you have wished the board good morning or good evening at 1.00 pm, do not panic. There is still lot of scope to end up with a good interview.
As of dressing and body language, all I can say is gone are those days, when the alumni of a few elite institutions formed bulk of the recruitment. After the doors of Civil Services Exam were opened for vernacular languages, young minds with humble backgrounds made it into the civil services, changing it's elitist nature. So not putting up a suit for the interview, I believe, no way affects your performance.
Dressing may be perhaps the last thing the interview panel would be bothered about, unless you are wearing something unpleasantly flashy ! The crux of the matter is, that one should be properly dressed for the occasion, neither extravagantly flashy nor pathetically gaudy.
As of body language one has to be calm and composed. Not too much artificiality of expressions or gestures or excessive hand movements. I learnt from experience, that even casually shaking your leg for a moment can cost you a good 10-15 marks. One should sound humble but not submissive. I am sure that anybody who reaches this level, knows the difference between being firm and being adamant.
Whatever that I can make up from my interview and that of experiences of others is that candidates are judged on in the following important aspects:
- Clarity and depth of thought and not just the volume of your knowledge.
- The way you observe and analyse the world around you.
- Your morality and values you have so far inculcated .
- Your self confidence and sense of self esteem and above all your integrity.
Right from the prelims to the final selection, everything is very dicey, but nowhere does luck play such as major role, as it does in the personality test. We have also seen some of the brightest candidates having a bad day and losing out.
In this situation there is an old English saying, which I feel a civil service aspirant should always remember, “ The harder I work , the luckier I get”.
- Dr. Nitin. B. Jawale,IAS, 2003
nitinbhanudasjawale@gmail.com
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