It’s all about Choices

I completed my graduation in 1998. In those days, every graduate was supposed to sit in civil service examination of state or union. Some did this for own ambitions, some to follow the suit and some to keep their folks happy. Co-study and Coaching culture had propped up in our small city. One fine day, I also found myself landed in such a coaching institute.

It was run by some “very experienced, Civil Service aspirers”. It means, and most of faculty also sits in same exam they were coaching for. And it was indeed a successful coaching center. Many of my seniors, junior and fellow student cracked various examinations. Some time even a faculty managed to cracked some and left institute, leaving us in dilemma whether to be happy with his happiness or feel sorrow for loss of a good faculty.

One good practice was that successful candidates were called upon to give a lecture, and inspire us with their success. When some would-be IAS, Deputy Collector, DSP, Sub inspector, Teashildar, Sells tax officer, Excise officer came. Atmosphere was electrifying during speech. All students come in assembly, and fix mesmerized eyes to successful man. I remember when one very respected senior came with all Police Inspector outfit embossing-“DESHBHAKTI- JANSEVA”. We Listened their voices, telling about successful methods, tales of hard work, long study hours. They all, dedicated success to teachers, friends and family. We all wanted to become like the person before us.

Fourteen years later, Arwind kejriwal hit headlines for his anticorruption movement with Anna Hazare. Mr kejriwal, would someday have celebrated his selection in Indian Revenue Services. This service gives opportunity to sit on very high positions. More comfortable then IAS, which has to take pains of law and order, development, people, politicians, and had to perform a fairly large variety of functions.

An IRS has power to twist anybody’s arm anytime he wants, and had to deal with people, only willing to compromise at ANY COST. Such a nice job, and he Quit. Why...? Instead, he chose a bumpy path to fight for RTI, Lokpal and people’s cause.

On other side, I heard disturbing stories of successful friends from coaching. One Deputy Collector got suspended more than once for wrong reasons, still unmarried, stories of his extracurricular activities are also in air. That "Deshbhakti-Janseva" Sub inspector suspended for taking bribe. One suspended for killing innocents in fake encounter for claiming promotion. One more lady who rose to become judge, was sacked for rampant corruption. One sell tax officer, had accepted bribe many times from my colleagues. even a lady tehsildar, trapped for taking bribe and now sitting ideally at home. When I read this in newspapers, tried to remember faces of these people, in old times. Then I wanted to be one like them. Today, I doubt if can I can say same thing...

My friends made their choices, and Mr kejriwal made his. Because it’s all about choices we make.

PS: Readers may have been thinking that I didn’t achieved anything in that coaching. Well, it’s not entirely true. I chose, chase and proposed my wife in that coaching. So, now happily married with two kids. Again, it’s all about choices we make!!!!

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By Manish Singh- ritumanishsingh@gmail.com