Edukemy - Essays for UPSC

Shabbir’s Edukemy ! Message from Shabbir Sir... Hi ! Gals & Boyz. The PMAF (Policy Makers & Administrators of the Future). I am sure u all know about Harvard and Stanford and Oxford and MIT and INSEAD among others. These are dream destinations for education. Yes, there is an elitism around their reputation-that snobbish arrogance. Nevertheless, there is a huge aspirational aura that attracts students from all over the globe. There was a time when I got interested and did my bit of research. So I got to reading around what it takes to get into these. There was this thread on Harvard that summed up what they seek in their applicants-a list of what to do to get into Harvard distilled into one sentence….’ they are looking for young intellects and bright brains who can ‘’CHANGE THE WORLD’’!! ….simple!!! 😎 In India, we have something like Harvard or Stanford or the Yale!! The much coveted, much desired and a huge huge obsession. A dream destination for most middle class dreamers. The dream of being a bureaucrat. An IAS or an IPS or an IFS… I know there is a long long list of what to do. What to read; Which classes; Which newspaper; How to read; How to make notes…. It’s long, dreary, scary, intimidating and a formidable list. Almost seemingly impossible. But there is got to be some wisdom towards which all efforts should converge. What is UPSC seeking? What is it they are looking for when they are setting the syllabus, the standard of questions? What is it they seek in an aspirant? What’s the magic trait they want in a candidate?? Here is my thought. UPSC seeks young, bold, fearless and energetic aspirants who are thinkers and problem solvers with deep commitment to genuinely devote their lives to development of the country and society.  UPSC is seeking certain type of ‘personalities’. The young who are analytical and thoughtful in their approach while smart at improvising when hit against a dead wall. They are searching for youth who are can find solutions while upholding ethical and moral standards in governance and administration. The root idea is that there is a ‘personality type’ that UPSC wants to recruit. A personality type not trapped in bookish, mechanical studying; A personality type that’s can apply and refer to what is happening around; A personality type who is wise enough with different view points and knows how to communicate this in his/her conversations and answers. Towards this objective, the need is to expose oneself to a variety of reading, viewing and listening sources. You must read and listen beyond what’s covered in class, beyond what’s in recommended books. So here is helping u with some additional content. A slow exposure to some very very popular books, painting, movies, thinkers, philosophies etc. these content can be used in essays, interviews and in general, develop your personality. 😊😊. Presenting an incredible piece of literature. "The Old Man and the Sea. By E Hemingway." It’s a story of enduring faith, courage, kindness and humility. Remember the essays topic- ‘A Ship in Harbor is Safe, But That is Not What Ship is For’ A short video. Must watch. And make ur notes. Read more about the book if not the book itself. And make ur jottings. Remember, E Hemingway was a Nobel laureate. No small deal. 😊 Happy viewing. Happy exploring. Happy Education. The real way. Edukemy’s Beyond Syllabus. https://youtu.be/vPsIViYe9Oo?si=t1tbT3CpFkE68rgC See if u can forward this to ur friends too. I would love to reach out to more of you. Hoping such conversations will make us all better human beings. A better society with more sensitivity and courage. 😊😊