How much does it take to make it through the UPSC…is
NPSC a cake walk compared to UPSC? Here’s a look at the competitive examinations
from two very successful candidates. Both have faced the battles, both have won
and now they tell ‘the Morung Express’ of their journey. Check out this
exclusive interview with Mijito Chishi, IFS (Indian Foreign Service, 2010 batch)
and Sashi Wapang, IRS (Excise and Customs) 2009 batch.
MeX: Let’s start from the beginning; tell us about your early
schooling years and college?
Chishi: I did my early schooling from Don Bosco, Kohima after
which I moved to Mussoorie. I graduated from Delhi University with B.com
(Honors). I enrolled in Nagaland University for a post- graduate degree in
commerce and finished in 2006. In Oct that year I came back to Delhi to prepare
for the civil services. I cleared the exam in 2010.
Sashi: I completed most of my schooling at Mount Hermon School,
Darjeeling though I did study for two years in between at Chandmari English
School, Kohima. I am an engineering graduate in Electronics and Communications
from PESIT (Peoples Education Society Institute of Technology) Bangalore. I
moved to Delhi in 2006 and began preparing to clear the Civil Service exams. I
cleared it in my third attempt. I am currently in the last phase of my 18 month
training for the Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Excise) 2009 batch and will
get my first posting in May 2011.
MeX: What did you want to be when you were growing up? Was this
your aim always?
Chishi: My earliest memory is telling others that I wanted to be a doctor like
my dad. In boarding school, my deficiency in science subjects surfaced and my
preferences changed. College in DU made me try the CAT exams for the IIMs. One
attempt later, I knew that was not for me. But somewhere at the back of my head
the civil services was there, fueled partly by my insistent mother and a few
uncles. I suppose I had to reach a point in life where that idea had to be
accepted once and for all.
Sashi: The thought of writing the civil service exams took
concrete shape only during the end of my engineering years. While growing up, I
wanted to be many things at different points in time. I wanted to be a doctor
after reading Robin Cook and Erich Segal novels in high school. I wanted to be
an architect after being inspired by Ayn Rand’s Fountainhead. I ended up
becoming an engineer like my dad. And then the civil services bug bit me!
MeX: Well Mijito you studied in one of the best commerce
college in the country. Why would you come back to Nagaland University? Any
failures academically?
Chishi: Being in the best college doesn’t make you the best and
brightest student. Like someone once told me- a student is one who studies.
There are plenty of distractions in Delhi and I lost my way because of a variety
of other interests. I took four years to complete my undergraduate studies with
horrible marks to show for it. That I had disobeyed my parent’s plea to study
was apparent in my academic performance. I realized that I needed to obey them
once and return home like they told me to. Coming to Nagaland University had a
lot of lessons. My professors at NU were surprised. In retrospect, the two years
(2004-06) were wonderful and very important for my growth as a person. I could
get back to proper academic life and balanced other interests.
MeX: Okay coming to the interesting part. Let’s hear about the UPSC and
NPSC fever that hits everyone after graduation. Also is it better to concentrate
on one exam or dabble in both? What about the deeply troubled NPSC question
patterns, mistakes etc?
