The Forum had the the pleasure of interviewing Ms. Pooja Elangbam, AIR 81, (2017). Read on, as she talks about the books she's close to, digital note-making and her preparation, as well as the trials of being a woman from the North-East.
1. Your book club in Imphal is a unique initiative. How did this idea germinate?
“I have been reading obsessively ever since I was a child. My parents gave me books to occupy my attention when they ran out of stories to tell me and since then, I read when I am curious, happy, stressed out or bored or anytime I am free. I started sharing the books I read, excerpts I found interesting on social media and it generated a lot of interest. Then people kept asking me for book recommendations as well so one day I just decided to have a meetup in Imphal to check how many people were interested in starting a book club, a space to share our reading lists but also to share poems and stories we have written, or ideas and issues that we feel strongly about and there has been no looking back since. We have held quizzes, literary and art meets, started our own magazine and now due to the pandemic, we are holding online writing and art contests.”
2. How do you perceive reading, and why ought one to read?
“It is hard to answer that because it’s like second nature to me, almost like breathing or drinking water. I read because it fills my soul, it keeps me company, it makes me question myself and my surroundings and gives me new eyes to see the world with.”
3. What are some books that you think should be on every individual's must-read list? Which genre fascinates you the most, and why?
“I read indiscriminately from classics to graphic novels to murder mysteries to political philosophies. I have so many books that I think should be on every individual’s must list but to name a few: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s ‘Americannah’, Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’, Arundhati Roy’s ‘The God of Small Things’, Yuval Noah Harari’s ‘Sapiens’, Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’, Jung Chang’s ‘Wild Swans’.”
4. Additionally, could you suggest some Literature/films/other media (fictional and/or Historical) one may consume in order to better understand Northeast India?
“The best of literature and films about Northeast India are in found in our own languages and very few have been translated. However, some English writings about the Northeast that I like is Janice Pariat’s—she is also a Stephanian—‘Boats on Land,’ Easterine Kire’s ‘Bitter Wormwood’, Linthoi Chanu’s ‘Wari’, Mamang Dai’s ‘The Black Hill’, Aruni Kashyap’s (also a Stephanian) ‘The House with a Thousand Stories’.
5. What advice would you give to Stephanians as to aid them in making the most of their years in College? What has been a major lesson from Stephen’s that helped you in CSE preparation, and your journey, further?
“I look back at my years in Stephens’ as an era of discovering, having newly launched into the ‘real world’ from the security of school life. With the brazen confidence of a first year, I made lots of friends, lots of mistakes, but also had lots of fun. I took so much joy in the ordinary freedom of college, such as taking metros, eating out, shopping at Sarojini.
One of the major lessons from Stephens that helped me with CSE preparation is the joy of learning, not just to reach a certain goal but to enjoy the process. I was lucky to have professors and peers who made learning so interesting and fun and that has always stayed with me. The idea of Book Club Imphal was to also have fun while learning, that learning needn’t always be serious or confined to classrooms, that it can and should go beyond that.”
6. Were you a part of any society in College? If yes, how would you say it helped you develop in the extracurricular sphere?
“I was a part of the Informal Discussion Group, Quiz Club, Film Society and the History Society. The experiences of organizing events, cooperation and coordination with various members, getting things done, the discussions and the discourse, all these have helped me become the person I am. I still vividly remember the movies we screened, the quizzes I participated in and they have remained hobbies even after I graduated from Stephens’.”
7. Would you suggest that aspirants prepare for the UPSC CSE since their days in College? What may be done by college students who wish to clear CSE to strike a balance between their academics and other activities?
“I wasn’t very sure about taking the civil services exam while in college. But for those who are sure of it, you can start by reading/revising NCERT books in all subjects from Class 9-12 and read newspapers daily or update yourself with current affairs.
My advice to those in college is to just enjoy it because it is a magical time of camaraderie and discovery, both of yourself and the world around you, with very few responsibilities. Doing well in academics and other activities are not inversely proportional to each other if you are level-headed and know your priority. You should participate in various activities, hang out with friends, go for college festivals but at the end of the day, you shouldn’t forget to do the required readings.”
8. The UPSC offers many posts, however, aspirants generally opt for IAS as the first preference. Why do you think the service remains a popular choice? What was your reason for choosing the same?
“All services have their niches and contribute to the governance of the country. But IAS remains the most popular post due to the versatility in the career, it starts from the ground level where you are mostly focused on problem solving and implementation of policies to senior levels where you get to actively contribute to policymaking. As an IAS officer, you can to work in education, health, social welfare, law and order, tourism, urban development and many other aspects of governance which may not always be available in other services. I also had a slight inclination towards the Foreign Service, having taken up International Relations in my MA with a penchant for travelling, different cultures and places. In the end, I chose the IAS because it gives a better chance of making a direct impact on the ground level.”
9. Did you join coaching through offline mode or online, and for what duration? How effective, according to you, are both the modes, respectively?
“I did not join any coaching, partly because I got dengue in Delhi and just wanted to go back home to Manipur to recuperate. While at home, I started checking up on materials and strategies online and felt that I could do it by myself. However, I collected materials and test papers from several coaching institutes such as Vajiram, ALS, Khan Academy, etc. I managed to put together a list of the basic books by looking at previous years’ toppers book-list and did research online. My preparation didn’t follow a strict online or offline mode, it was a combination of both tailored by myself, for myself, of myself. My current affairs, apart from reading the Hindu, was purely based on online materials. I think an effective use of both is required but for those who cannot afford coaching or live in areas where coaching is not available, the internet is your oyster.”
10. What would your advice be for Northeast Indians, Stephanians and other candidates for cracking and dealing with the CSE?
“For those dealing with the CSE, my advice is to take it seriously but not fear it. A lot of people are under the misconception that it is a very difficult exam but it isn’t. It requires a lot of reading due its vast syllabus which covers everything under the sun. But with smart preparation, you can tackle this exam. Use it as an opportunity to learn about the country, when you analyse issues, try to actually apply it to what you have seen in your environment or faced in your life. And please don’t sacrifice your physical or mental health for this exam. There is always an element of luck or unpredictability due to which you might not get selected, despite your best efforts. There are so many other careers you can pursue.”
11. What are your hobbies? How may a candidate maintain a balance between productivity and leisure?
“My hobbies are reading, writing, yoga, running, quizzing, and watching movies. My friends used to tease me that my idea of taking a break from studying from for CSE was reading other non-CSE things. That said, it’s important to also do something physically invigorating such as running or yoga or dance or playing a sport otherwise studying long hours or staying indoors for so long can be oppressive. I never studied for more than 2 hours without a break. Even scientifically, it has been proven that human beings cannot pay attention for more than an hour or so without wavering. So, I listen to music, go for a short 15-20 minute walk, eat something and then get back to studying again. It’s not about how many hours you study but how focused you can be when do you do get down to studying. I think having a timetable helps in keeping you in track. Once a while, there might be a day when you don’t feel like picking up a book at all and that’s fine too.”
12. As the curriculum becomes more and more digitised, with even opportunities like online classes and candidates seeming to prefer digital forms of note-making, what would be your advice to those who want to stick with the conventional, written forms of note-making? How do you suggest they go about it, in order to ensure that it does not become too cumbersome at the time of revision or compilation?
“Note-making is important but it should be kept short and to the point. I have noticed people making very elaborate notes and it takes up too much time. It is always better to make mind maps using keywords, certain important phrases or statistics, pointers etc. Digitization has definitely changed the way we access resources but it still requires us to make some effort in sorting it and note-making, whether in digital or conventional, written format. Note-making, in my personal experience, helps when the keywords I have used can trigger more information I have stored in my mind. So, it is really about to getting to know how your own mind works.”
13. Can you share your experience as a trainee in LBSNAA?
“We arrived in LBSNAA end of August 2018 for the Foundation course and due to the monsoon mist and the slight rain, it looked like a magical place with its colonial architecture and its mountainous landscape. As a trainee, our time-table was hectic and started from 5.30am of PT till 6-7pm of extra-curricular activities or events. We were always kept on our toes due to bio-metric attendance but we also had a wonderful time meeting people from diverse backgrounds and services. Everyone had unique stories and upbringing and it was truly humbling to come across people who come from deprived or marginalised backgrounds who have made it here due to sheer dint of hard work. I made life-long friends during our seven-day trek, India Day practices, village study tour. Since a lot of my friends were in the foreign services, they tried their best and almost succeeded in making me regret not choosing IFS. Our 2 month long Bharat Darshan through the length and breadth of the country brought us closer to the struggles and achievements of people, businesses, administration and showed us the transformations taking place in the country.”
14. During training, which qualities, primarily, do you think the officers (are made to) imbibe?
“Having qualified for the CSE, there was a lot of focus on inter-service camaraderie. People from various services were grouped together for projects and treks so that we spend time with each other. Officers are made to learn cooperation through many exercises and projects which are to be undertaken as a group. Even the seven day Himalayan trek emphasises on cooperation, communication, support and management of people. Different leaders are selected for different tasks so that we all experience being a leader as well as a follower. Other qualities officers are made to imbibe are empathy, sensitivity, inclusivity, dignity, integrity, politeness, firmness and pragmatism. These are demonstrated to us through plays, music, social services, in classes and presentations, case studies. We are also made to do a lot of hands-on projects that makes us reflect on various aspects of governance.”
15. Do you think that North East Indians are adequately represented in the Administrative Services? What may be some ways to provide for more representation?
“I think North East Indians are under-represented in the Administrative Services. Every year when the CSE results are declared, only Assam has a constant presence among the rank-holders. The other states barely have any representation. This year, no person form Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram was there among the rank-holders. Nagaland finally got 1 candidate, after 13 years. Most of the states have majority ST population but despite that, ST posts are not being adequately represented by tribes from the north-east leading to some people suggesting that there be a 20-30% reservation for northeast STs within the overall ST reservation. In the past, it has been difficult for aspirants from the northeast to access resources and coaching as it was expensive and unaffordable for a large chunk of people. I think digitization bodes well because resources can now be accessed from all parts of the country. But the internet in the northeast is still not as good or as fast. Also, there is a self-esteem issue among candidates from the northeast due to systemic racism and discrimination. If this can be overcome and they are able to use the internet productively, it can go a long way in addressing under-representation.
16. As a woman and someone who hails from Northeast India, have you faced any challenges regarding your gender or your descent during your service?
“As a Northeastern woman, any place beyond the chicken neck lies the danger of stepping on land mines of racism, name-calling, even assault. I have heard rude remarks that question your abilities that come in the realm of casual racism and sexism from school to college to even after joining the services. It is never very overt and sometimes it feels as though the person making such remarks are not even aware that it is racist or sexist. I have always been vocal about educating oneself and others regarding this. I have seen a lot of my female batchmates also taking this up and I hope that the men in the services are aware and take this up, and question their internalised patriarchy not just in the offices but even in their homes. As more women from the northeast enter not just the administration but other fields, it will hopefully lead to more sensitivity and inclusion.”
17. What could be the ways to amplify and provide a forum to discuss the needs of Northeast India in the mainstream narrative?
“There is lack of adequate representation in the mainstream narrative, not just in news but in popular culture such as movies, TV shows. We see similar issues of under and misrepresentation of minorities especially blacks in American media and in the last few years, probably with the Black Lives Matter movement, there have been pledges by companies and media to do more in matters of representation.
There is widespread ignorance and indifference that is prevalent in this country. For starters we should include the history, culture, socio-economic conditions of the North East in school books. There needs to be a consciousness among mainstream intellectuals, businesses, media platforms that northeast have stories worth hearing about. There are activists, storytellers, entrepreneurs, moviemakers emerging from the northeast and they should be supported by production houses as well as by the masses.”
18. What insights into the society are available to an IAS officer, which may not be visible to others; especially when handling the affairs in states which seem to lack a region-centric discourse?
“As an IAS officer, you get to see a larger picture of governance and development. Our work in the field enables us to see the groundwork and later on, we are able to piece it to see how effective it is on a larger or country-wide scale. That said, India being a diverse country, what works in one part of the country won’t necessarily work in another. Therefore in our policies and schemes, there should be enough flexibility to enable each state or region to incorporate its own ethos or system that functions. The All-India Services provide the much required steel-frame. Even though we are allotted certain states as cadres, we also take central deputation and other assignments which enable us to look beyond the state or region we have worked in.”
19. Which issues concern you as a civil servant and what can we, as citizens, do to tackle the same?
“I am concerned with the education system and its effectiveness in equipping our generation not just to get jobs but to be good human beings, active citizens with critical thinking abilities. Several studies have proven that a lot of degrees in India don’t amount to much and this gives rise to unemployment problems as well. Unemployment leads to a rise of restless and angry youth who aren’t able to channel their energies productively. In a state like Manipur, it leads to rise in use of drugs and juvenile delinquency. As citizens, we need to petition for better government schools, accountability about the functioning of schools, training of teachers. It is important to educate ourselves beyond our textbooks. The world is changing rapidly and we need to keep updating our skills to adapt to it. As citizens, instead of being job takers, we can be job makers. The rise of entrepreneurship culture among the new generation is really encouraging. We should support our local brands and shops, our handloom products.
Another issue that concerns me in gender inequality. Despite a few women making marks in various fields, majority of women don’t have equal opportunities or privileges. A lot of women are still married young and saddled with housework. They are rarely encouraged to pursue their dreams or studies. Even women who have studied and find work are discouraged from working after they get married or have children. Women still face discrimination in the workplaces and even hostility, sometimes sexual assaults. As citizens, we need to stand up for women in our homes, schools, colleges, offices, public places. We all need to work to dismantle the internalised patriarchy in ourselves and in our homes.”
20. Lastly, is there anything else you would like to reiterate to the aspirants? Any quote or a line from a book?
“To the aspirants, I would urge you to read the Constitution, not just as mere lines to be memorised for passing the CSE exam but read it in its spirit, the way it tries to accommodate diverse groups of people that populate this country, the way it gives freedom of expression, freedom from the clutch of untouchability, the way it provides for equality of opportunity regardless of gender or race or caste or religion, the way it allows us to celebrate our varied religions, cultures, languages. The Constitution’s transformative powers should be wielded not just as a civil servant but as a citizen of this country.”