IAS officer Ira Singhal, the topper of UPSC 2014, had an exclusive conversation with OneIndia. Despite clearing the Civil Services Exam three times, she was initially rejected due to her physical disability. Speaking to OneIndia, Ira Singhal revealed that her passion for public service led her to challenge the system in court. Eventually, the verdict was in her favor, not just for her but also for other aspirants facing similar challenges, paving the way for their entry into the Civil Services.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Now, the world was not ready to accept women in leadership positions.
00:10All the services that were available, they rejected me saying that we don't accept
00:15such a person with a disability.
00:17I had a habit that if someone was doing something wrong, I didn't care what they would think
00:22about me.
00:23I would check them.
00:24Most of the challenges in my life came from being a woman in this world.
00:28It is bad to insult a girl when she grows up.
00:34Don't teach your daughter what will happen to you in the future.
00:38One thing I would say to both boys and girls, don't do anything that will make your parents
00:44feel ashamed of you.
00:48I am a huge storm.
00:50I am the light of the sun.
00:52I am bright.
00:53I am a crown.
00:54I am a torch of power.
00:55I am a woman of today.
00:58From the ground to the sky, I am fighting.
01:02I am not a bat anymore.
01:04I am the Bayar of the past.
01:06I am a woman of today.
01:08You must have understood from the line of my poem that I am going to talk about a very
01:12powerful woman.
01:14She is a woman who had to go to the system.
01:19Before going to that system, she faced that system.
01:25She stood in front of that system like a front-end warrior.
01:30I think you must have understood who I am going to talk about from this introduction.
01:36We can call her the queen of Jhansi of this era.
01:40Without further ado, let me tell you that I am talking about Ira Singhal ma'am,
01:44who is a UPSC 2015 topper and an IAS.
01:48Ma'am is with us today.
01:50Ma'am, welcome to OneIndia.
01:52I have already given you an introduction.
01:55I would like you to talk about the context in which I gave you the introduction.
02:01What exactly happened?
02:03Did you fight with them?
02:05Which system did you have to go to?
02:07First of all, thank you for having me.
02:09What you are talking about is that I am a person with a disability.
02:15The exam that we are talking about is the UPSC Civil Services exam.
02:21There are two things at the entrance when you apply for a civil service job in India.
02:29One is the recruiting body.
02:32Many departments send us vacancies to recruit us in Canada.
02:39Apart from that, the exam is done by the Department of Personnel.
02:47The person who collates all the vacancies decides how many people will be recruited.
02:53The exam is done by the UPSC.
02:57The exam is called the Civil Services exam.
03:00I have passed the civil services exam three times.
03:06But all the services rejected me saying that we will not take a person with a disability.
03:15Now, what is the problem in the case of a person with a disability?
03:23Departments say that the person should have this ability.
03:29Apart from that, there is another list in which they will accept the disability.
03:35Normally, you will think that the ability and disability lists should be the same.
03:41There should be a correlation.
03:43If you say that you will take a person with one leg,
03:48then your requirement of job on the ability part should be such that a person without one leg can do it.
03:56Here, in my case, the problem was that I fulfilled the ability requirement of every job.
04:04But the disability that they were accepting did not include my disability.
04:11Basically, they were saying that we do not like your disability.
04:18By chance, every time I cleared the exam, I was eligible for the civil service exam.
04:26And that's where the problem was.
04:29So, I went to court because it didn't make sense.
04:33Why did I go to court?
04:35Honestly, I did not go for myself.
04:38I had a good salary and a good environment.
04:41But because I wanted to serve the country, I wanted to give back to society.
04:48That's why I quit and gave this exam.
04:51And when I went for the first attempt, my rank did not come like IAS.
04:56I needed 2-3 options like IAS and IFS.
04:59So, I started giving the exam again.
05:02When I was giving the exam again, I got phone calls from other people.
05:07They asked me, do you know what happened to you?
05:10And by that time, I did not know that something had happened to me.
05:13Because I thought that I have to give the exam again.
05:17So, when I started finding out,
05:20when people call you and ask you, do you know what happened to you?
05:23And you don't even know that something has happened to you.
05:26So, you know, you then start figuring out what happened.
05:29That the whole world knows and you don't know.
05:32So, that's when I found out that something like this was happening.
05:35The people who called me were the same people with whom this was happening.
05:39They were also being rejected because of their disabilities.
05:44And I realized that generally in India,
05:47disability comes due to economic hardships also.
05:53In India, disability is a very big factor correlated with poverty.
05:58So, all the people who had been calling me up,
06:02they were not from well-to-do families.
06:05They were not well-equipped.
06:08Yes, because the court system in India is very expensive.
06:11Lawyers are very expensive.
06:14It takes a lot of time.
06:15The whole process is extremely expensive.
06:18So, I realized that they are the people who will not be able to do that.
06:23And maybe I have come here to make a difference.
06:27I have come here to make lives better.
06:29Maybe this is what I am meant to do.
06:32So, I fought this case because I thought,
06:35maybe I have to change this.
06:37Maybe I have to implement something here.
06:41I had been working in the corporate.
06:44I came from a relatively better background.
06:47So, I decided to fight the court.
06:49So, basically, your birth was successful for people
06:58You fought like a front-face warrior for those people
07:02who could not come forward openly.
07:04On their behalf, you came forward as a whole.
07:08Very good, ma'am.
07:09And what you said is true.
07:11People are afraid to fight the system.
07:13Because people think,
07:14I don't know how we will be troubled later.
07:19Ma'am, now you are a part of that system.
07:21So, the dark things that can still be called the system,
07:26if you are talking to them,
07:28don't you feel that they will go against you?
07:32The male-dominated system,
07:35don't you feel that it will backfire on you?
07:40Look, it is not about an individual, right?
07:43We are not attacking a single person.
07:46We are not saying that he did wrong or she did wrong.
07:49We are saying that the policy is wrong.
07:51If no one fights for the policy,
07:53then how will the policy be right?
07:56That is the point.
07:57Ma'am, as a woman,
08:00what are the challenges in your life
08:04that you have faced as a woman?
08:07Let's forget about the disabilities and all.
08:13You know, honestly,
08:14actually, till this civil services exam thing,
08:17most of the challenges in my life came from being a woman in this world.
08:21The biggest challenge is,
08:23if you are a girl,
08:26the world,
08:27and it has changed a little hopefully now,
08:30but I am talking 20 years ago.
08:32Now, the world was not ready to accept women in leadership positions.
08:37So, what I had to face at the college level was always,
08:43that as a girl,
08:44you are not allowed to have an opinion.
08:46You are not allowed to lead anything.
08:48I mean, you know,
08:49the roles for women were sort of caretaking roles.
08:53If you are a part of a club or a society,
08:55then you are that person,
08:57who is allowed by boys like a charity.
08:59So, if you are thinking of becoming its head,
09:03then that was not an idea that men were talking about.
09:05You are not allowed.
09:06Yeah, yeah, you are not allowed.
09:08Now, look,
09:09there is a timing for girls' hostel,
09:11not for boys' hostel.
09:12Now, in college,
09:13if there is a timing for girls' hostel,
09:15what we are saying is,
09:17lock up the girls inside.
09:18Right?
09:19Let the boys roam freely.
09:20But, what happens with that,
09:22if you are doing research in a lab,
09:24and your research is going on for a long time,
09:26you know, you have to spend 7-8 hours in it,
09:28you are stuck.
09:29As a girl,
09:30you have to go back.
09:31So, you have to leave it.
09:33Your opportunities are very limited.
09:36A lot of events that used to get organized in our college,
09:39you had to work at night for that.
09:41Because, there are a lot of things,
09:42if your college closes at 5 pm,
09:44and if your hostel closes at 8 pm,
09:46the class is off at 5 pm.
09:48After that, you will eat something,
09:51everything is done,
09:52and it is 6 pm.
09:53As a woman,
09:54you have only 2 hours.
09:55While, men have time,
09:57whatever time in the night.
09:58Right?
09:59So, your opportunities are getting cut because of that.
10:01The system was also getting cut.
10:03Because of that,
10:04men automatically,
10:05back then,
10:06did not understand the concept of
10:08women having a voice,
10:10women demanding to be equal,
10:12women demanding leadership roles.
10:14So, in that,
10:15I had to face a lot.
10:17You know,
10:18dominating girls,
10:20and I don't know,
10:21what they understand.
10:22A lot.
10:23You know,
10:24you are given a lot of names.
10:27Just because,
10:28you want to also contribute,
10:31and you also want to have a voice,
10:33and you have an opinion,
10:35and you want to express that opinion.
10:37So, a lot of challenges have come.
10:39But, I will say this one thing to your audience.
10:42There are a lot of rules for girls.
10:44All the shoulds are for girls.
10:46You know,
10:47girls should not speak loudly,
10:49girls should sit properly,
10:51girls should not go out at night.
10:55All the shoulds are for girls.
10:57You should behave like this,
10:59you should be submissive,
11:01you should talk politely.
11:03All of the shoulds are for girls.
11:05For boys,
11:06boys will be boys.
11:07Right?
11:08Correct.
11:09So, I will say this thing.
11:10The girls,
11:11should follow those shoulds,
11:13the shoulds of becoming a good person.
11:15You should not be cruel to someone,
11:19you should not be mean to someone,
11:21you should not be,
11:23you know,
11:24the shoulds of becoming a good person,
11:26listen to your parents,
11:28be respectful of others,
11:29follow all these shoulds,
11:31which apply to boys also.
11:33But, if there is a should,
11:35which applies only to girls,
11:37I don't think you need to listen to those.
11:39Look,
11:40it is not your job to make the world convenient.
11:43Right?
11:44It is not your job to live for the convenience of the world.
11:48No one will do anything for your convenience.
11:50So,
11:51what I would say is,
11:52do things that are important,
11:54necessary,
11:55and promote a good,
11:56happy society.
11:57But,
11:58don't do things which are about making it easier and convenient for others.
12:03Ma'am,
12:04recently,
12:05I remembered an incident.
12:07You must have seen,
12:08you must know,
12:09the Pune rape case,
12:10which happened recently.
12:11A girl was raped in a government bus.
12:15And,
12:16the rapist,
12:18was on parole.
12:19There were many such cases.
12:24So,
12:25these things,
12:26as a woman,
12:27affect me a lot.
12:28That,
12:29I am a journalist,
12:30I am going out at night,
12:32I am also using things outside,
12:34apart from private vehicles.
12:36So,
12:37it is very unsafe.
12:38So,
12:39you are a part of the system.
12:41So,
12:42what do you think,
12:43how can these things be improved?
12:47How can women be safer?
12:49Is this a mindset?
12:50Is this upbringing?
12:51No,
12:52this is not a problem of girls' upbringing.
12:55This is a problem of boys' upbringing.
12:57Yes, yes.
12:58I was talking about this only.
12:59Is this upbringing,
13:00for boys,
13:01a lack of home upbringing?
13:03Or,
13:04what is this?
13:05Yes,
13:06many things are such that,
13:07no matter what you do,
13:08in some people,
13:09it will come from the society.
13:11Okay?
13:12Some people have a tendency to pick up the wrong things from the world.
13:16You may not be able to improve this by doing this.
13:18There are such girls and boys.
13:20Okay?
13:21But,
13:22at a larger level,
13:23the boys,
13:24you know,
13:25there is a big problem.
13:27Have you heard of herd mentality,
13:29group mentality?
13:30What happens in that?
13:31We are so scared to check someone,
13:33on their bad behavior,
13:35what people will think about us,
13:37that we keep saying someone's wrong behavior,
13:40and we keep encouraging him as a group,
13:43rather than controlling him.
13:45In today's date,
13:46if you see,
13:47the majority of the cases that you are getting,
13:49are related to gang rape.
13:50Right?
13:51What is the reason for that?
13:52That all people together,
13:53by encouraging each other,
13:54promote all the wrong ideas of one person.
13:57Correct.
13:58Right?
13:59So,
14:00what is the problem?
14:01And,
14:02this has happened to me a lot.
14:03I had a habit,
14:04that if someone was doing something wrong,
14:05I didn't care what people would think about me.
14:07I used to check him.
14:08I used to say,
14:09you are doing this wrong,
14:10or this is wrong behavior,
14:11or this is that thing.
14:12Right?
14:14People used to get angry on that.
14:15And,
14:16people would be like,
14:17this is a monitor,
14:18or this is,
14:19you know,
14:20she becomes a teacher,
14:21and this and that.
14:22And,
14:23she is very strict,
14:24and very rude,
14:25and,
14:26you know,
14:27that.
14:28But,
14:29if everyone did this,
14:30then a lot of wrong things
14:31that are happening in the world,
14:32would not have happened.
14:33Correct.
14:34Keeping quiet while seeing the mistake,
14:35that is also one thing.
14:36So,
14:37a lot of people,
14:38and,
14:39like I said,
14:40in the beginning,
14:41your question is,
14:42that,
14:44how to check your son,
14:45how to monitor his behavior,
14:46that is more important.
14:47How your son is talking
14:48about a girl,
14:49how he is looking at her,
14:50what is his attitude,
14:51that can be found
14:52only when he is young.
14:53He comes in his teenage years.
14:54A lot of times,
14:55he comes from home.
14:56Families treat
14:57their daughters
14:58and their women
14:59inferior.
15:00And,
15:01they also pick up
15:02the same boys.
15:03But,
15:04apart from that,
15:05as parents,
15:06you have to check
15:07that your son
15:08is doing
15:09the right thing
15:10in the world.
15:11And,
15:12if he is doing
15:13the right thing
15:14in the world,
15:15when he is
15:16coming out
15:17of the house,
15:18what opinions
15:19and behaviors
15:20he is carrying.
15:21You know,
15:22it starts
15:23from very small
15:24things.
15:25That,
15:26he teased
15:27a girl
15:28or commented
15:29on her.
15:30After that,
15:31he touched her.
15:32After that,
15:33he took
15:34another step.
15:35Or,
15:36you know,
15:37what videos
15:38your son
15:39is watching
15:40on his phone,
15:41what movies
15:42he is
15:43watching
15:44on his
15:45phone,
15:46what
15:47he is
15:48watching
15:49on his
15:50phone,
15:51he will
15:52start
15:53to
15:54do
15:55the
15:56same
15:57thing.
15:58So,
15:59that's
16:00how
16:01he has
16:02started
16:03to
16:04do
16:05the
16:06same
16:07thing.
16:08So,
16:09he is
16:10doing
16:11they belong to men, that's why we have set one day for women.
16:14This is because of that.
16:16Now your birthday is only one day, that's why you celebrate it.
16:18If it was every day, you wouldn't celebrate it.
16:20If you go to office every day, you wouldn't celebrate it.
16:23So, the thing that is rare is that
16:28what is needed really is that our entire education system,
16:32our societal fabric,
16:35in that, we should make an attitudinal change
16:39that from childhood itself,
16:41we should monitor boys the same way we monitor girls.
16:45We should teach boys the same things.
16:48This is a very good thing that it has started a little.
16:51In school textbooks, the gendered languages were changed.
16:54You know, mom is cooking food.
16:56Now also, dad is working in the kitchen.
17:01So, that change has come in.
17:03So, that mentality is now changing.
17:06Today, many boys know how to take care of the house equally.
17:11There are rare cases, but there are rare cases
17:15where men are the homemakers
17:17and women are the ones who are financially providing for the family.
17:21So, you get to hear such cases in today's date.
17:24Which means that somewhere, that ease of thought has come in.
17:29The difference still is of objectification of women.
17:33Another thing is,
17:34to teach every child that just because you have a desire,
17:38doesn't mean it has to be fulfilled.
17:40And a lot of times, these rape cases and all of this,
17:44is because we haven't taught anyone to control their desires.
17:48We haven't taught that if you have a desire, then it has to be fulfilled.
17:52You know, your control will not be there.
17:57You need to accept it and you need to learn how to live with that.
18:01You need to also understand how the world works.
18:06Empathy as a concept is never inculcated.
18:11Not sympathy, but empathy.
18:14If you are in someone else's place,
18:16then what will you feel in this situation?
18:18What will you want?
18:19And living that way, that changes a lot.
18:25Because if the person who is raping her,
18:28if she is able to keep herself in that place,
18:30that if I trust someone and that person does this to me,
18:35then how will I feel?
18:37If we are able to do this,
18:39which cannot be taught to adults,
18:41you will have to do this in your childhood,
18:43you will have to do this to your family.
18:45You know, the school system will do it,
18:47but parents' support is also needed in that.
18:49So, I think that is where the difference will come in.
18:53We cannot celebrate Women's Day and Women's Day.
18:55It cannot be a good thing.
18:57It cannot be a good thing,
18:59but one thing that happens is that awareness and these discussions happen.
19:04You know, idea generation happens from that one day.
19:07Today, you and I are also talking.
19:09So, we are talking about this idea,
19:11we are generating this idea.
19:12Maybe four people will listen to it and something will change in their mind too.
19:15So, what that day is doing is that letting that conversation happen,
19:19letting people think about that idea
19:21and maybe somewhere it will take root and it will take shape.
19:24Absolutely.
19:26Ma'am, you are very outspoken.
19:28I follow you on your social media platforms.
19:31Recently, I saw a post on your Instagram.
19:34It is a little offbeat.
19:36Someone had proposed to you for marriage in your chat box
19:39and you have clearly put screenshots of those things on your social media.
19:45So, I am a doctor, etc.
19:47I don't know what I am.
19:49You even asked how can a doctor and an engineer be together.
19:53So, as a woman,
19:55as a strong, independent and of course beautiful woman,
19:59you must know a lot of negative approaches.
20:02You must also know positive approaches.
20:03We tackle positive approaches.
20:05Women are not able to handle negative approaches very well.
20:08So, how do you tackle those unwanted approaches?
20:13I will tell you honestly.
20:16I look very forbidden.
20:18I look very scary.
20:20So, that can never happen.
20:22By the way, this is another thing that I really think parents should be made aware of.
20:27Don't get scared of your daughter.
20:29Don't teach your daughter from childhood that this will happen to you.
20:33So, don't do this.
20:35Teach her how to handle it if it is happening.
20:39If you are going out at night,
20:41what safety precautions should you take?
20:43What should be your common sense reactions?
20:45And teach her to go out according to that.
20:47Thankfully, this has always happened with me.
20:49If you look at it generally,
20:51why are these things happening with girls?
20:54Because girls are a weak target.
20:56So, if you look strong,
20:58before targeting someone,
21:01someone will think four times.
21:03So, the most important thing is to look strong.
21:06As a strong person, generally people don't harass you on the street.
21:10It happens only when you look weak and poor.
21:16And look like you will get scared.
21:19The world scares only those who can get scared.
21:22So, if you look like this,
21:24the world will do this to you.
21:26Secondly, online solutions are very good.
21:28Block them.
21:30Absolutely.
21:32But this is very easily accessible.
21:35You block one person, he blocks four.
21:37Yes, I know.
21:39But actually, I will do one thing.
21:42In our country, we are scared of naming and shaming.
21:45What will people say?
21:47But, you know, that kind of works.
21:49Secondly, I will say one thing to girls.
21:52And also to boys actually.
21:54Don't do anything like this.
21:57I will say one thing to both boys and girls.
22:02Don't do anything
22:04which will make your parents feel ashamed.
22:08Don't do anything which you don't want
22:11your parents to know about it.
22:13So, they will feel ashamed and so will you.
22:17The world will only harass you if you do something like this.
22:20So, I have never done anything
22:22which I can't say in front of my parents.
22:24Except, I have not studied much.
22:27So, there is nothing like this.
22:31And I would suggest that everyone should live like this.
22:33And in that case,
22:35if someone is harassing you,
22:37you will be able to tackle him boldly.
22:39You will be able to complain to the police.
22:41You will be able to tell people about it.
22:43You can register him in the police or cyber crime.
22:47And let his parents also know.
22:49His parents should also know
22:51how he is bullying girls.
22:53Ma'am, the system is not that strong.
22:55I had an encounter like this.
22:58I was in 10th standard.
23:01Someone took a photo from my Facebook
23:03and circulated it a lot.
23:06I was a sports person.
23:08I was famous in my district.
23:10In small towns, girls face a lot of problems.
23:13So, my photos were circulated like this.
23:16This is my number. Call me.
23:18I am free at 12 at night.
23:20So, I felt very bad.
23:22I spoke to the SP of my district.
23:24He told me to file a complaint.
23:26He is not here. He is in Patna.
23:28I am from Bihar.
23:30He is in Patna. If there is any connection, check it.
23:32I don't know where he went.
23:34I don't know where he went.
23:37So, I don't think the system should be that strong.
23:41No, it is done now.
23:43I think you are talking about a long time ago
23:45when we were not so aware in cyber.
23:48But, it is done now.
23:50The second thing
23:52what you need to do
23:54is get your parents in the loop.
23:56Get your teachers in the loop.
23:58Get your teachers in the school.
24:00Get your parents in the school.
24:02So that
24:04at least you are not doing anything wrong.
24:06If you are facing any problem,
24:08stand in front of them.
24:10I will say one thing.
24:12I don't recommend women
24:14tackling these issues directly on themselves.
24:16Go and fight with someone.
24:18What happens is
24:20acid attack victims
24:22such things happen suddenly.
24:24So, never
24:26go and fight with someone suddenly.
24:28In that moment, stay calm.
24:30Stay patient.
24:32Take action later.
24:34If someone is harassing you in that moment,
24:36then
24:38start yelling as loudly as you can.
24:42Start asking for help.
24:44Shout loudly and ask for help.
24:4699% of the time,
24:48that person will run away.
24:50In the first time,
24:52no one does anything drastic.
24:54What do you do?
24:56If someone says something to you for the first time,
24:58you listen to it quietly.
25:00When it happens for the 5th, 6th or 10th time,
25:02then that person can do something drastic.
25:04But if you
25:06take action for the first time,
25:08if someone did something to you for the first time,
25:10you go and tell your parents.
25:12Complain to the police.
25:14Or
25:16talk to his parents.
25:18Tell them what has happened.
25:20See what has happened to you.
25:22Your parents should go to him.
25:24Not with the intention of fighting.
25:26You can fight.
25:28But if you
25:30go with the intention that
25:32let us solve this issue.
25:34If the child has some misunderstanding,
25:36then let us resolve that.
25:38Because no one benefits
25:40if things go in the wrong direction.
25:42So I would suggest
25:44that instead of being someone who tackles it in that moment,
25:46start fighting directly.
25:48It is better to
25:50ask for help
25:52if there is a lot of excess.
25:54Otherwise,
25:56step back from that.
25:58Get out of the situation.
26:00Then go and ask for help.
26:02Go to your home and tell the police.
26:04Tell his parents.
26:06And the insult
26:08that someone is teasing a girl.
26:10It is worse than that.
26:14So don't do that.
26:16And whenever you are
26:18making friends with strangers,
26:20do it very carefully.
26:22And don't
26:24ignore small flags.
26:26When someone says something,
26:28it is a lie.
26:30In fact, when I posted it,
26:32it was not because of that.
26:34It was because I wanted people to be aware
26:36that if someone is sending you such messages,
26:38check how logical
26:40these messages are.
26:42And then raise that flag.
26:44Normally,
26:46we don't even identify
26:48what is the logical fallacy
26:50or what is wrong.
26:52And we don't check it.
26:54And we don't react.
26:58We decide on that.
27:00We ignore it.
27:02And we get trapped.
27:04I know of so many cases
27:06where women have been scammed online
27:08on even matrimonial sites
27:10by such profiles.
27:12You know, someone will come
27:14and tell you something big.
27:16And you get impressed.
27:18And then,
27:20you know, people are getting scammed badly.
27:22So, that actually was about
27:24peace.
27:26Before understanding someone,
27:28ask them 500 logical questions.
27:30Think if it is possible.
27:32It might be rude,
27:34but it is better to be rude and be safe
27:36than sorry later.
27:38There were a lot of heavy talks.
27:42What are your hobbies?
27:44What do you like to do in spare time?
27:46I have so many hobbies
27:48that it becomes difficult to count.
27:50If I get a good
27:52spare time, I love traveling.
27:54Then I read a lot.
27:56I dance.
27:58I have a lot of friends.
28:00I watch
28:02movies, TV series.
28:04I mean, it depends.
28:06Do you play cricket?
28:08No. I am not a fan of cricket.
28:10I used to be a fan of football.
28:12But in India,
28:14football matches come late.
28:16And because of my job profile,
28:18I can't watch it late.
28:20But I am not a fan.
28:22You must be following social media.
28:24Yes.
28:26You must not watch cricket,
28:28but you must be aware of
28:30ICC tournaments,
28:32India-Pakistan match.
28:34I am aware of that.
28:36You must have become famous
28:38by doing IIT Baba.
28:40After Mahakumbh.
28:42You don't follow it,
28:44but you follow social media.
28:46You must have seen some memes
28:48where IIT Baba's predictions
28:50were wrong.
28:52He predicted
28:54India-Pakistan match.
28:56It is a rivalry game.
28:58It is a game of enmity.
29:00India will lose.
29:02Pakistan will win this time.
29:04But it turned out to be the opposite.
29:06India defeated Pakistan.
29:08So, what is a troll?
29:10After that, IIT Baba started
29:12being a troll.
29:14He is from an engineering background.
29:16He is also from an engineering background.
29:18So, he started being a troll.
29:20Do you follow him?
29:22Do you have any opinion about him?
29:26I have a problem.
29:28I think logically.
29:30Before I accept or reject
29:32anyone,
29:34I don't consider
29:36anyone good or bad.
29:38I see what is good
29:40and what is bad in everyone.
29:42When I judge someone,
29:44I make an opinion
29:46based on their past behaviour.
29:50Just because
29:52somebody decided to
29:54quit practical life
29:56and go do something for themselves,
29:58it is not relevant for me.
30:00I don't see that as
30:02something to think about or treat as a relevant thing.
30:04You don't give importance to such topics?
30:06No.
30:08What is important for me is
30:10what you did for the world.
30:12It is easy to live for yourself
30:14by cutting yourself from the world.
30:16What did you do for others
30:18by fighting for the world?
30:20You are the inspiration for that.
30:24We talked about your hobbies,
30:26your engineering background.
30:28Before UPSC, you were an engineer.
30:30You also got a job.
30:32We checked your social media comments.
30:34Our viewers have put some
30:36allegations on you.
30:38One allegation was that
30:40you joined a company
30:42that makes chocolates
30:44because you like eating chocolates.
30:46Is it true?
30:48Yes, it is 100% true.
30:50Just think,
30:52I saved Rs. 1000 per month.
30:54Nice.
30:56So, you like chocolates a lot.
30:58Yes.
31:00In food items, chocolate is the
31:02one that I can rely on.
31:04There is one more allegation
31:06which you have put on yourself.
31:08I have seen some of your interviews.
31:10I have seen that
31:12you have called yourself lazy.
31:14Yes.
31:16I am lazy.
31:20I am lazy
31:22and I am responsible.
31:24Both things can be together.
31:26I am lazy
31:28but
31:30I am lazy
31:32till the point where
31:34there is no question of responsibility.
31:36I don't have to exercise.
31:38I can lie on the bed like a potato.
31:40But I won't eat
31:42so that I get sick.
31:44I won't face any issues.
31:46So, I am responsible
31:48for everything.
31:50I am lazy but I am responsible.
31:52This is a good punchline.
31:54I am lazy but I am responsible.
31:56Yes.
31:58I am lazy
32:00till the point where
32:02there is no problem for me.
32:04If I have committed something to you,
32:06I will do it.
32:08Otherwise,
32:10if I have to go to a market,
32:12I am very lazy.
32:14If I can,
32:16I will reach my bed by car.
32:18I am that lazy.
32:20But if I have to work,
32:22I can walk 15 km.
32:24So, it is about
32:26your motivation.
32:28It depends on your motivation.
32:30If it is motivating you,
32:32then you can do it.
32:34No.
32:36Everyone has a cause of motivation.
32:38My cause of motivation is
32:40that is this something that
32:42I am responsible for doing.
32:44I am very responsible towards my job.
32:46I am very responsible for my work.
32:48I was not responsible for my studies.
32:50I was responsible for my studies.
32:52You are not a topper.
32:54Before that,
32:56I was very lazy.
32:58Actually, there is one more problem.
33:00My mother is very hardworking.
33:02My father is also relatively hardworking.
33:04Because of that,
33:06I was very lazy.
33:08But I am extremely responsible.
33:10So, you will never see
33:12that I am involved in
33:14my responsibility.
33:16But if I have to do it for myself,
33:18I will not do it.
33:20If I have to cook for myself,
33:22if I have to cook for 4 people,
33:24then I will definitely cook.
33:26Do you cook?
33:28I love cooking.
33:30What do you like to eat and cook the most?
33:32Actually,
33:34I like to cook pickle the most.
33:36Pickle? Toughest?
33:38No. Actually, I find it the easiest.
33:40But I add a lot of pickle.
33:42I think I add 25, 30,
33:4440 kgs of pickle.
33:46So,
33:48the benefit of that is
33:50that you don't need
33:52an instant eater.
33:54So, whenever you find someone,
33:56you can feed them.
33:58If you cook something else,
34:00you need someone to eat it.
34:02So, I
34:04absolutely enjoy cooking.
34:06But yes, I can't cook for myself.
34:08I can't cook for myself.
34:10You said that you are very responsible
34:12for your job.
34:14So, I want you to
34:16share your work life
34:18and heroic achievements
34:20that you feel
34:22should be made known to the world.
34:24Women should be inspired
34:26and officers should learn from you.
34:28Any heroic achievements
34:30that you have done.
34:32If you are telling about yourself,
34:34then what is the benefit of your work?
34:36Ma'am, you should tell something
34:38so that people get inspired.
34:40Women like me should get inspired and do something.
34:42Actually, there are many
34:44small things.
34:46It is difficult to remember.
34:48There are many
34:50already available online.
34:52You must have got them.
34:54But I want you to
34:56tell our viewers about them.
34:58There are
35:00some projects which I personally
35:02am very
35:04attached to.
35:06But, okay.
35:08If you want heroic things,
35:10generally, you get to hear
35:12it more in the police.
35:14But, we also have some issues.
35:16So, I am telling you
35:18a recent one.
35:20But,
35:22I was posted in an insurgency
35:24affected area for elections.
35:26In every election,
35:28there were some kidnappings,
35:30murders,
35:32gun violence.
35:34And,
35:36a month before I joined,
35:38somebody was
35:40murdered openly on the road.
35:42So, it is related to elections.
35:44There, there is
35:46massive violence.
35:48It is historically a very violent
35:50election area.
35:52I got posted just before the elections.
35:54I controlled
35:56the situation.
35:58We had the most peaceful elections
36:00in the history of that region.
36:02I think I can take credit for that.
36:04I
36:06actually
36:08connected with all the candidates.
36:10Whenever there was
36:12any situation,
36:14I reacted instantly
36:16and controlled it.
36:18I kept all the parties in front
36:20and handled it
36:22fairly
36:24and unbiasedly.
36:26I did it instantly and impromptu.
36:28I was standing on the road
36:30until all my
36:32EVMs came back.
36:34It was raining heavily.
36:36I was standing
36:38on the road all the time
36:40ensuring that all my cars
36:42and people come back safely.
36:44I was in touch with all the
36:46military, CRPF, police
36:48and all the licenses.
36:50I was personally taking security meetings.
36:52I was doing patrolling and all.
36:54Monitoring
36:56on CCTV cameras and all.
36:58I was doing it personally.
37:00Great. Let me tell the viewers
37:02about one of your achievements.
37:04I think it is heroic.
37:06You gave a job to a transgender
37:08at the reception.
37:10I know that story.
37:12It is available.
37:14I am not talking much about it.
37:16It is heroic for me.
37:22I think one project
37:24I am personally very
37:26I could not extend it
37:28but I hope to be able to do it one day.
37:30I did a
37:3212-hour
37:34crèche
37:36at the reception.
37:40We were providing
37:42medical, educational,
37:44food and nutritional care
37:46free of cost.
37:48I got this through CSR.
37:50Unfortunately, due to COVID
37:52it got disturbed.
37:54That is a project I really want to continue
37:56for urban migratory poor women.
38:00We have an IAS officer
38:02with us.
38:04We have some questions from UPSC aspirants.
38:06I will ask them quickly
38:08and answer them.
38:10I have brought 2-4 questions.
38:12The first question is from Vijay Chittoria
38:14from Rajasthan.
38:16He has a question.
38:18There is a lot of talk about smart work.
38:20Traditionally, it was called hard work.
38:22Who is more powerful
38:24in UPSC, smart work or hard work?
38:26What is it?
38:28Only a combination
38:30can make a difference.
38:32For example,
38:34I will give my example.
38:36For my optional,
38:38I did more than 50.
38:40Would you call that hard work or not?
38:42It is hard.
38:44But it is also
38:46smart work because I
38:48collated from all the books
38:50what all relevant things I am getting.
38:52When I am revising,
38:54I am revising in that way.
38:56That is also smart work.
38:58Smart work is smart work in some situations.
39:00I will tell you one more thing
39:02about smart work.
39:04I knew that I can't remember anything
39:06while mugging up.
39:08There are some topics
39:10in which you can't
39:12understand anything.
39:14There is a sequence of things
39:16like art and culture.
39:18In that, you can't understand anything.
39:20Art and culture is mugging up.
39:22So, I left those topics.
39:24Instead, I focused on
39:26those topics.
39:28I did it with more effort.
39:30I covered the topics
39:32where I was going to
39:34get less marks.
39:36That is smart work.
39:38Now, you have to do both.
39:40You have to decide
39:42your strength
39:44and play accordingly.
39:46Correct.
39:48The second question is from Amol Bindre.
39:50He is from Maharashtra.
39:52What should be the plan B with UPSC?
39:54Absolutely.
39:56In fact, plan B should be
39:58done first and plan A
40:00should be done later.
40:02Many people say that if you have plan B,
40:04you won't be able to do it.
40:06If you feel that
40:08you won't be able to do it
40:10if you have plan A and plan B,
40:12you won't do it anyway
40:14because you don't have motivation.
40:16You don't want to work hard
40:18because if you have some other plan,
40:20you won't work hard.
40:22The third question is from
40:24Rishita Parashar from Bihar.
40:26Her question is that
40:28the aspirants who
40:30get rejected from the interview
40:32till the last attempt,
40:34should UPSC do something for them
40:36because their age limit gets over.
40:38They are talented
40:40and that is why they are going to the interview.
40:42So, UPSC should do something for them.
40:46We were talking about plan B.
40:48Why do you want
40:50someone else to make a plan for you?
40:52And if you are such a person
40:54that you want
40:56the government to make a plan for you,
40:58then
41:00you might not be
41:02eligible to join the government
41:04because you have to make a plan.
41:06You have to make a plan
41:08as an officer.
41:10You are saying that someone else
41:12should make a plan for you.
41:14Secondly, actually plans exist.
41:16Many PSUs
41:18have cleared UPSC prelims
41:20and mains.
41:22They are giving recruitment
41:24without any stages.
41:26Plus, there are also companies
41:28like NGOs
41:30that have started
41:32these
41:36services
41:38through which
41:40they give employment
41:42to such candidates.
41:44They already exist.
41:46You will get it if you research.
41:48But,
41:50I would like to say
41:52that why didn't you have a plan B?
41:54Why didn't you have a plan B?
41:56And if you have reached
41:58this age
42:00where all your attempts are over
42:02and you are able to reach the interview,
42:04then you should have made a plan long before.
42:06Why are you depending on someone else
42:08to make plans for you and make the road easier for you?
42:10Because in that case,
42:12what were you going to do by coming in?
42:14You can't make your own plans
42:16for your life.
42:18So, how were you going to make
42:20plans for your age?
42:22Great! What an answer!
42:24Your quick answer
42:26was to the point.
42:28No exaggeration.
42:30I really enjoyed talking to you.
42:32Since we are talking about
42:34Women's Day Special,
42:36I felt that you are a mentally
42:38strong woman.
42:40I have seen you.
42:42So,
42:44can you give a suggestion
42:46to all the women
42:48to keep themselves mentally strong
42:50in this male-dominated society?
42:54First of all, stop worrying
42:56about what everybody else thinks of you.
42:58We always try to make others happy.
43:00But, what others think of us
43:02makes us worried.
43:04Yes, people should not say
43:06that you are a bad person.
43:08The world
43:10should not be worried because of you.
43:12But, it is not your responsibility
43:14to make other people's lives convenient.
43:18So, stop worrying
43:20about what everybody else thinks of you.
43:22Secondly,
43:24start thinking
43:26rationally for yourself.
43:28There is a problem
43:30with girls.
43:32We are born with a guilt
43:34that we are a girl.
43:36And we have to
43:38resolve it.
43:40Which means
43:42we add layers of guilt
43:44because we try to be perfect.
43:46We try to be
43:48a perfect housewife,
43:50a perfect mother,
43:52a perfect professional.
43:54But, nobody says
43:56whether you are a perfect father or not.
43:58So, what I would say is
44:00learn to forgive yourself.
44:02Learn to forgive yourself.
44:04Understand that
44:06you are a human being.
44:08You have that much time.
44:10Now, you are also important.
44:12Your wishes also matter.
44:14So, then look at the world
44:16and look at what you are doing.
44:18Do not harass anybody.
44:20It is sad that
44:22some instances have come
44:24where women have been harassing their spouses.
44:26So, do not be that person.
44:28But, do not put yourself
44:30at stake because you are trying
44:32to be perfect for somebody else.
44:34Choose a grey area.
44:36Not a grey area.
44:38Be clear that you are this person.
44:40These are your shortcomings.
44:42You can do this.
44:44Keep the limits you are setting realistic.
44:46Do not set such limits for yourself
44:48that you break.
44:50Right?
44:52If you have 24 hours in a day,
44:54take it as 24 hours.
44:56Do not take it as 30 hours.
44:58This is something that I would say to women.
45:00Stop letting
45:02the world's opinions
45:04define who you become and what you become
45:06and how you behave.
45:08Do it because you are a good human being.
45:10Do it because you want to make the world
45:12a better place because you were here.
45:14That's about it.
45:16It is not your responsibility
45:18that the rest of the convenience
45:20is at the expense of your inconvenience.
45:22Thank you so much, ma'am.
45:24It was nice talking to you.
45:26Thank you for talking to us.
45:28I think that from today's session,
45:30women will be inspired
45:32and empowered.
45:34Keep inspiring us.
45:36Thank you so much.