Is it a game being played with the students who are not in the English "forum" or is it only being used for political mileage by various party leaders? Do the recent developments by UPSC really provides advantage to those "expert" in English or are the steps favourable in the reverse directions? Now no more questions and a serious analysis will follow the dilemma (if you think the above thoughts put in a dual state of mind).
I agree with most of the concerns of these party leaders and the voice-lenders against the step of UPSC regarding the consideration of 100 marks separately in English Paper. They are absolutely correct when they say that the "Administrative Skill" required to enter the elite IAS, IPS, IFS etc services has very less to do with the language he/she uses in writing the paper. Also, since all the national languages are recognized by our constitution, so there should be no preference given to a particular language as it may give some un-fair advantage to few chunks of people who had the capacity (I am talking on the economic ground) to enter into English medium schools/colleges. So far, it seems everything to be on their support.. Let us now turn the coin and analyze at the other side. The story is quite different on this side if we look it from the "Global" perspective. The Civil Servants are believed to be running the country on their shoulders (However, in no sense, I mean that other services are not important). Only for a few years at the beginning of their career, they are posted at their cadre as a "District Collector" or "District Magistrate" (Name varies with states) and then they are posted as secretary under the Government which requires communication not only at the National level but even across the Border. This is the first instance which proves rightly the significance of introduction of "English" as a compulsory paper. It is worth mentioning in this context that some of these IAS officers are sent as delegates to institutions of high importance (World Bank is an example in this context) and the medium of discussion is none other than "English". To say in other words, it is a "NECESSARY EVIL" and the truth should be faced boldly and in no case we turn our back to ignore it, otherwise in future it will hunt us in one way or the other. To prove my statement, I have strong defense in support of it. The two superpower of the present world- Japan and China are facing the heat due to their negligence of English and it is a practice being followed by these two countries to send their "Civil Servants" to other advanced countries so that they can learn the art of competing globally. To further support the step taken by UPSC, I want to quote Mr. Srivatsa Krishna (He is one of the most brilliant and dynamic IAS officers in the present time) directly, "Being able to communicate with the rest of the world means you need a competitive, forward looking, and articulate civil service which requires to know English."
Contrary to the view that the pattern will favour the students with a strong background in English and thus it will be not in the interest of those form the Rural areas, I would like to point out that UPSC has acted brilliantly on their new recommendation which suggests that a student can only opt for Literature paper only if he/she is graduated in the particular subject. Hence, this will certainly act as a deterrent to the common practice (Specially followed by the people of IITs) of taking any literature subject (for example Maithili) and mastering it in 6 Weeks and qualify the exam easily . It is certainly a blow to these students, hence in all it obviously favours the rural area students. Hence, there is no question of any un-fair advantage to the urban area students. The ball is in the court of the rural students and they should take its advantage without wasting mush energy on the issue of introducing a separate English paper.
Another point which I would like to bring to the book is that Civil Service is an All India Service and voicing in favour of regional language (like Marathis etc.) only is a childish act on their part. People who have a dream of representing India at national or international level must not even give a second thought on the requirement of English. It is not only the intelligence level or the administrative skill which defines a civil servant but adapting to various extreme situation at different levels which is required sometime in diplomacy. Thus, a challenge is in front of everyone and winning this race requires quick transformation according to the situation as put forth by UPSC. I want to conclude by saying that " Time is running and without following unnecessary thoughts and falling prey to unsolicited advice by the politicians and the related ones, students should try to catch the fish before it moves deep into the ocean.
I agree with most of the concerns of these party leaders and the voice-lenders against the step of UPSC regarding the consideration of 100 marks separately in English Paper. They are absolutely correct when they say that the "Administrative Skill" required to enter the elite IAS, IPS, IFS etc services has very less to do with the language he/she uses in writing the paper. Also, since all the national languages are recognized by our constitution, so there should be no preference given to a particular language as it may give some un-fair advantage to few chunks of people who had the capacity (I am talking on the economic ground) to enter into English medium schools/colleges. So far, it seems everything to be on their support.. Let us now turn the coin and analyze at the other side. The story is quite different on this side if we look it from the "Global" perspective. The Civil Servants are believed to be running the country on their shoulders (However, in no sense, I mean that other services are not important). Only for a few years at the beginning of their career, they are posted at their cadre as a "District Collector" or "District Magistrate" (Name varies with states) and then they are posted as secretary under the Government which requires communication not only at the National level but even across the Border. This is the first instance which proves rightly the significance of introduction of "English" as a compulsory paper. It is worth mentioning in this context that some of these IAS officers are sent as delegates to institutions of high importance (World Bank is an example in this context) and the medium of discussion is none other than "English". To say in other words, it is a "NECESSARY EVIL" and the truth should be faced boldly and in no case we turn our back to ignore it, otherwise in future it will hunt us in one way or the other. To prove my statement, I have strong defense in support of it. The two superpower of the present world- Japan and China are facing the heat due to their negligence of English and it is a practice being followed by these two countries to send their "Civil Servants" to other advanced countries so that they can learn the art of competing globally. To further support the step taken by UPSC, I want to quote Mr. Srivatsa Krishna (He is one of the most brilliant and dynamic IAS officers in the present time) directly, "Being able to communicate with the rest of the world means you need a competitive, forward looking, and articulate civil service which requires to know English."
Contrary to the view that the pattern will favour the students with a strong background in English and thus it will be not in the interest of those form the Rural areas, I would like to point out that UPSC has acted brilliantly on their new recommendation which suggests that a student can only opt for Literature paper only if he/she is graduated in the particular subject. Hence, this will certainly act as a deterrent to the common practice (Specially followed by the people of IITs) of taking any literature subject (for example Maithili) and mastering it in 6 Weeks and qualify the exam easily . It is certainly a blow to these students, hence in all it obviously favours the rural area students. Hence, there is no question of any un-fair advantage to the urban area students. The ball is in the court of the rural students and they should take its advantage without wasting mush energy on the issue of introducing a separate English paper.
Another point which I would like to bring to the book is that Civil Service is an All India Service and voicing in favour of regional language (like Marathis etc.) only is a childish act on their part. People who have a dream of representing India at national or international level must not even give a second thought on the requirement of English. It is not only the intelligence level or the administrative skill which defines a civil servant but adapting to various extreme situation at different levels which is required sometime in diplomacy. Thus, a challenge is in front of everyone and winning this race requires quick transformation according to the situation as put forth by UPSC. I want to conclude by saying that " Time is running and without following unnecessary thoughts and falling prey to unsolicited advice by the politicians and the related ones, students should try to catch the fish before it moves deep into the ocean.
