Shikha Surendran, S Anjali, and S Sameera (From L to R)A few young women from Kerala attained fairly high ranks in the Civil Service Examination, 2017, as per the results announced by the Union Public Service Commission recently. Onmanorama Women presents the three women who secured higher ranks. They took different routes to the civil service but their determination and hard work put them in the same league.
1. Shikha Surendran - Rank 16
Setting the goal: My father diverted my attention to civil service when I was in class 6. I knew I was on the right track when I received a prize from the district collector, Dr M Beena, when I was in class 9.
Education: Government Higher Secondary School, Kadayiruppu; St Peter’s, Kolencheri (Plus 2); and M A College, Kothamangalam (B Tech)
The preparation: I would start studies from 4 am. The coaching was from 8 am to 5 pm. I would hit the bed after 9 pm. I would manage an afternoon nap when I am home. Still I could meet my daily targets.
Reading, social media: I have been going to the public library at Vadayambadi since childhood. The librarians would even ask me which book they should buy for the library. I do not chat on social media. I hardly put up any posts.
The optional subject: My optional subject was Malayalam. I was into Malayalam literature since I was small. I was inspired when I scored full marks for Malayalam in my plus-two exam.
The slippery question: “When you read more, you realise you are more ignorant,” I was asked by the interview board to evaluate this statement. I told them that I realised the limits of my knowledge while I was preparing for the civil service exam. Talking to people made you more knowledgeable than reading books. The interview board chairman summed up the interview by saying that I might not know all that he knew and he might not know all that I knew.
Fav cadre: IAS, Kerala cadre
2. S Anjali - Rank 26
Setting the goal: I was working with Deloitte in Bengaluru when I realised that civil service was my calling. My teachers encouraged me.
Education: Venerini Higher Secondary School, Kozhikode; Providence, Kozhikode (Plus 2); and NIT, Calicut (B Tech)
The preparation: I would study from midnight up to 4 am. Then I would sleep until 11 am. Office hours went up to 9.30 pm. I would reach home by 10 pm and rest for two hours. I would roam around or go to the movies on Saturdays and Sundays.
Reading, social media: I read anything I could find, including Harry Potter. You do not need to be a voracious reader to crack the civil service exam. There are books specifically designed for the purpose. You can do with them.
The optional subject: English. I could not manage the stress of studying along with the stress of work. So I wanted studies to be enjoyable. English literature was my choice.
The slippery question: The interview was on a Thursday. The interviewers wanted to know my reaction if they were to tell me that was a Saturday! I told them I could show then the calendar. The calendar could go wrong, they said. When I tried to elaborate on the Gregorian calendar, another interviewer asked if I still thought it was a Thursday. Finally I withdrew. I still do not know what was the answer supposed to be.
Fav cadre: IFS. I would go to any country
3. S Sameera - Rank 28
Sameera and her familySetting the goal: I was a research assistant in Germany. I started thinking about the civil service when I returned to India at the age of 28. My family and teachers backed me.
Education: Mount Carmel, Kottayam; Girideepam, Kottayam (Plus 2); Stella Maris College, Chennai (B Sc); and IIT Dhanbad
The preparation: I would wake up a little after 6 am and spend the next two hours going through the papers and preparing notes. I would study from 9 am. After lunch and a little rest, I would study again from 5 pm to 9 pm. Overall, I used to study for about nine hours.
Reading, social media: I have a library at home. I had secured a second prize in a book appreciation event at the state level when I was in class 7. I am active on social media.
The optional subject: Malayalam. I had studied in Malayalam medium up to class 10. I had already read several books that were on the syllabus.
The slippery question: When I told the interview board that I had done research in astronomy, they asked me to explain the field to them. That was really exciting. The interview was in the form of a class. They asked me how the sages studied time and planets in the ancient times. I had never thought about that. I told them that the people who lived in the 14th and 15th centuries had some knowledge about mathematics and planetary positions.
Fav cadre: IAS, Kerala cadre.
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