“Plight For The Blue Beacon Light”

Why Civil Services are called“India’snational hobby ”…

Slogging through books in exasperating midnight hours, entrapped in a fortress of notes, books and question papers, every UPSC aspirant toils to breathe life into his ambition of sitting in a government vehicle with the blue beacon light ( R.I.P. laal batti). “Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.”- this statement by Muhammad Ali reverberates in the aspirant’s mind as he impedes with perennial force onto the dreamy road to the famous LBSNAA. To them, LBSNAA is their Hajj, the government car is their Pushpak Vimaan and the UPSC preparation books are their Bible. Uniting in Diverse indeed!!!

Every child securing a good score in school, gets his future career prospect of I.A.S stamped on his head. Every parent wishes to hear their children thank them in their speech given to the media after selection in the UPSC.

In India, a Civil servant is like a mythological figure. For friends and family, they are like a genie who can magically get everything accomplished. Senior citizens initially glance at them with the same disdainful contempt with which they view every youngster with. But then, suddenly remember your designation and all of a sudden, you become an inspiration to their children and a marital prospect for their eligible daughters/sons. Social media platforms get allured by your presence for a motivational speech to raise the Josh in the future aspirants.

But “Rome was not built in a day.” A civil servant’s chair is supported on the mounds of his study notes and books, the neeli batti seems less glorious than the table lamp which literally enlightened his hard toils in the struggling midnight hours.

Every year UPSC exam board receives 10 lakh applications out of which only 200-300 get selected. Hence, statistically every aspirant’s chance for success is a disheartening 0.001%. This minute speckle of hope is the object of dreams for which lakhs of Indians break apart from functions and parties, enclosed in their shell of study; make coaching institutes rich like anything and literally stake their entire career prospects on it.

After this tumultuous and excruciating journey, the luster of the prestigious office slowly seems to dim. Brilliant and qualified people who cleared what is touted to be one of the world’s toughest exams, have to take scoldings from a 7th fail minister or M.P. The tumultuous working hours get harrowingly excruciating. Daily news reports often recount tales of civil servants thrashed or mobbed for various reasons.

Yet, India’s love for UPSC does not wither. The prestige of acquiring a position where you can actually make a change in the larger scheme of things rather than blaming the government surpasses any fiery package given by some private company. Being revered by citizens for the just fulfillment of your duties outshines any red or blue beacon light. With a resurgence of the new generation onto the right path is what gives us a promise that India will once again fly as a golden bird.