A GRAIN OF SAND

Shri Sajjan Yadav’s “Scaling Mount UPSC – Inspiring Stories of Young IAS Officers” isn’t just a book; it’s an insightful expedition into the heart and soul of India’s future administrative elite. Having had the opportunity to delve into its pages, I’m left with a profound appreciation for the human endeavor and sheer resilience that underpins the journey to public service in India.

As someone whose work spans the realms of international diplomacy and public policy, I often seek to understand the core values that shape a nation’s internal framework and its interactions on the global stage. In “Scaling Mount UPSC: Inspiring Stories of Young IAS Officers,” Shri Sajjan Yadav masterfully unveils these values through the compelling narratives of seven young individuals who have conquered the formidable UPSC examination.

Their stories, hailing from diverse corners of India and often marked by significant socio-economic hurdles, resonate deeply. These aren’t simply tales of academic triumph; they are powerful testaments to the indomitable human spirit thriving in the face of adversity. From the quiet resolve in regions facing unique challenges to the unwavering focus amidst limited resources, each account paints a vivid picture of personal battles fought and victories hard-won on the path to serving the nation. This intimate glimpse into their struggles underscores the remarkable human capacity for perseverance – a quality that is, without a doubt, fundamental to any meaningful progress, whether personal, societal, or national.

Shri Sajjan Yadav’s narrative style is both lucid and eloquent, allowing the raw emotion and unwavering determination of his subjects to shine brightly. He skillfully interweaves these individual experiences, creating a rich tapestry of aspiration and achievement that spans the diverse landscape of India. The deliberate focus on individuals from varied geographical backgrounds, academic disciplines, and genders highlights the vast reservoir of talent within the nation and the critical importance of providing equitable pathways for this talent to contribute to India’s growth and development. Through this thoughtful prose, we gain a deeper understanding of the multifaceted identity that shapes India from within.

Reflecting on the future paths of these young officers, one can’t help but contemplate the profound influence their formative experiences will have on the policies they shape and the manner in which India engages with the complexities of the world. Will the empathy forged in their own struggles inform a more inclusive and equitable approach to governance? Will their deep understanding of India’s diverse realities shape more nuanced and effective international collaborations? The true poignancy lies in recognizing that these individual journeys are, in essence, the very building blocks of India’s future, both domestically and on the global stage.

Ultimately, “Scaling Mount UPSC: Inspiring Stories of Young IAS Officers” transcends the conventional boundaries of a success story. It is a poignant reflection on the potent force of human aspiration, the transformative power of perseverance, and the profound significance of individual journeys in shaping the destiny of a nation. For anyone seeking a powerful dose of inspiration and a deeper appreciation for the quiet strength and unwavering grit that fuels India’s progress, “Scaling Mount UPSC: Inspiring Stories of Young IAS Officers” is an essential and deeply moving read. It leaves you with a renewed sense of hope and a profound respect for the quiet strength that resides within the heart of India’s people – a strength that will undoubtedly shape its future for generations to come.

Explore this insightful journey yourself. You can find “Scaling Mount UPSC: Inspiring Stories of Young IAS Officers” here: https://amzn.in/d/5y8i7dj

My latest LinkedIn post is all about exploring this book.

This book has offered me valuable perspectives in my own work as an International Diplomacy Researcher and Public Policy Analyst, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in understanding the making of India’s future leaders.

Also, my dear readers hope you all are doing well. Just resurfacing after a busy period! Excited to be back and sharing my insights with you all again!!

Stay happy and hearty!

Dr. N 🌷

#UPSC #CivilServices #Leadership

Today, during the usual social media scrolling, I came across this post by oroyalarchives on instagram. Couldn’t help myself but reminisce about the times of Her Royal Highness Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur. Myself, being an alumna of Maharani Gayatri Devi Girl’s Public school, Rajmata was an integral part of our time at MGD. Rajmata was both our patron and guiding light.

Grateful to have walked the corridors of this historic institution!

Also, the posts of oroyalarchives are always a pleasure to glance at! Always an enjoyable read. Do give this post a read (Linked below).

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A post shared by Royal Archives (@oroyalarchives)

Happy Reading 🍂

Came for my morning coffee ☕ in the kitchen and the sweetest surprise 🫢 I could get were these tiny bundles of joy, my “Kacche Aam” 🥭 that were brutally harvested by yesterday’s gusty winds 🌪️ and torrential rain ☔

Biggest thanks to my gardener, Ram Bhaiya for picking up these munchkins and sneaking them into the kitchen. Hands down the best gardener award goes to Ram Bhaiya!

To all my lovely readers and dear friends, if you are Indian enough, you know the cherished beauty that Kacche Aam or ‘Raw Mangoes’ hold. Their sweet and sour fragrance, their sour and pungent taste, their tiny shape and most significantly you throw them under the sun and these green beauties turn yellow, all cooked up while bathing in the sun rays! Truly a joy gulping down Mangoes – raw or not!

As they say ” Summers are incomplete without mangoes”, it is the gospel truth!!

‘Mangifera Indica’ – you have all my heart!!

Hope you have a great weekend my dear readers!

Also would love to hear about your nostalgic anecdotes about mangoes!!

Good cheer,

Dr. N

The past few days at The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 have been nothing short of exhilarating!

Davos may be over, but the conversations it sparked continue to reverberate. As a public policy analyst and an international diplomacy researcher, I’m left with a renewed sense of purpose to translate these insights into actionable solution to bridge the gap between ideas and impact and to humanize the narrative of our collective future.

Truly an insightful dialogue!!

Signing off,

Dr. N

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P.s : I’ve added some snippets! Hope you like it!

It is a family tradition to celebrate the last day of the year with all my loved ones together. The blazing bonfire, the cold weather chilling us to our bones, what a contrast of life I wondered, the smoldering heat, the shivering cold, the roaring laughter, yet every heart hid a resounding nostalgia for the days of yore. The aroma of barbecue roasting with every spice crackling, engulfed the whole backyard, what a smell! The enchanting aroma, contagious laughters and the tales of yore all made me step out from my host duties and finally I came and sat around the bonfire with my loved ones. As the year passes by, sitting with my loved ones, in the beauty of togetherness, I nostalgically went through my memories, some days of grim and others of glory, some good, some bad, but everything is worth it as I look back at this wonderful year that I had! I adieu the passing year and salute the year that filled my cup to the brim on every occasion and still left few drops in my cup on the days it was deemed to be empty. They say God is kind…yes, he is , he made me feel his presence so many times! Thank you 2023!
As I stand on the cusp of the exit page of 2023 and the landing page of 2024, I realise that it is a mere stepping stone, not a milestone!

Wishing my dear readers who over the course of time have turned into my family, happiness, peace and health! A little wish from your very own, a grain of sand! 🌷

“May Light always surround you;
Hope kindle and rebound you.
May your Hurts turn to Healing;
Your Heart embrace Feeling.
May Wounds become Wisdom;
Every Kindness a Prism.
May Laughter infect you;
Your Passion resurrect you.
May Goodness inspire
your Deepest Desires.
Through all that you Reach For,
May your arms Never Tire.”

To another year, another set of triumphs and tests and conquering them all!

In the words of Maya Angelou, “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour and some style.”

Wishing the best of health and happiness to my dearest readers who have turned into amazing friends! 🌷🤩

Peace & Love

” I have measured out my life with coffee spoons “

These infamous lines of TS Eliot’s The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock encapsulates the magnanimous power a cup of joe holds!

As the day sets in, and a cup of strong coffee lands in my hands, I wonder at the serene beauty the cup holds. “Black as night, sweet as sin”. Gulping down the cup of joe is not the drill, it is the near perfect symphony of aroma dancing across the room as it reaches me. As I ground the coffee, each bean is crushed with a nutty aroma engulfing me, the boiling water, when poured on the grounded beans, the whiff of earthy-ness lingers in every breath I take! And as I take a sip, all I know is Bliss!!

To all the cup of joe aficionados! Have a great week ahead! Stay healthy and optimistic!!

“Strongest minds are often those whom the noisy world hears least” – William Wordsworth

Stay happy and strong my dear friends!🍂😊

Once again the day has arrived, a day to rejoice, a day to celebrate our Independence.
15th of August INDIA’S INDEPENDENCE DAY. Today we Indians are celebrating our 77th Independence day with hearts filled with gratitude towards the freedom fighters who have made us this capable that we can breathe freely, can express our thoughts freely and live a life of self respect in our own land without restrains or restrictions

In my memories when I go down the years when I was a small kid, the innocent child in me longed for those classic motichoor laddoos that we got year by year by the same sports Sir. All the innocent eyes were transfixed on the dozens of Laddoo boxes with sweet fragrance and sweeter taste, ladden with pistachios and melon seeds, dripping with the desi ghee. Ram sir our sports teacher use to distribute to us after our principal ma’am hoisted the tri colour, our national flag and we kids neatly dressed in white kurta and pyjamas, polished black shoes singing the national anthem in full volume, trying to keep up with the symphony of our school band. Nothing made our spirits down…neither the rain nor the humid summer day. It was a day full of joy, no school dress, no studies, function at school, famous chief guests, early home with tiffins full of tasty laddoos. For days we friends used to act like freedom fighters, speaking patriotic dialogues that Poonam ma’am, our acts and skit coordinator made us learn by heart. How sweet were those memories! At that time we didn’t know very clearly why exactly we celebrated this day, back then our ladoos were our independence day.

But today when I see this tricolour, our national flag, tears roll down my eyes, I am speechless my heart is filled with gratitude to those martyrs who sacrificed their dreams, their lives suffered the agony to make us see this day of Independence.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO MY FELLLOW INDIANS🇮🇳⚘