"You need not be an bright student from childhood to crack competitive exams"
An interview with Mushahid A Sheikh, the first from Bhatkal to crack PSI examination
Bhatkal a Muslim dominated coastal town in Karnataka has been in the media for all the wrong reasons since the early 90s. The local organisations and leaders have been trying to persuade the youth in the Community to choose Civil Services.
Traditionally business and trade have been the preference of the youth of the Nawayath community. Very few among them have ever shown any interest any job or employment as their career. As an effort to address this imbalance and reverse this trend, several local organisations have lately organised programs and workshops for educational and career guidance and orientation for the youth. They are very happy with the recent success of Mushahid, one of their young members in clearing Karnataka PSI examination. Mushahid, a B.Tech graduate in a Architecture has made them proud by scoring a position in the top 50 ranks in the examination. He was given quite a jubilant reception when he visited his home town recently. Several organisations and institutions were eager honour and have felicitate him. Many schools and colleges have invited him to talk to their students and motivate them.
Mushahid was born in Bhatkal in 1992. He completed his primary schooling at Shams and Anand Ashram Convent Schools in Bhatkal. He was an average student with no outstanding credentials. It was during his days in the High School that he started scoring good marks. Completed his PUC at St. Aloysius College Mangalore and later graduated in Architecture (B. Tech) from MS Ramaiah College in Bangalore. He began his preparations from civil services examination from ACE IAS Academy in Mangaluru and cracked the examination with flying colours in 2019.
Excerpts:
Coming from a community (Nawayath) where predominantly business and trade are preferredover everything else as a career, what motivated you to go to the Police Department?
Yes, the Nawayath community has always been into business and trade. But I have a different background. My father had served in the Army for about five years. That was my biggest motivation. I used to see his pictures in uniform during my childhood and they were quite fascinating. So basically I had it in the back of my mind from a very early age. But my moment of realization came when I was interning in Bengaluru after getting my graduation. That’s when I took a U-turn from Architecture and decided to make civil and uniformed services are my destination.
Going back to Bhatkal, the town has been in media for some wrong reasons. You ever thought of preferring to call yourself a person from Valki and not from Bhatkal?
Sometimes. But it never bothered me really. Though my father is from Valki but my birth, schooling and everything was done in Bhatkal. People at times have stereotypical views about Bhatkal but not all the people are of that mindset. Some will not judge you.
So you don’t have any problem being called a person from Bhatkal?
Absolutely not.
Who and what has been your greatest strength throughout this journey?
My family. They have struggled hard to support me. Whether it was me travelling late at nights, catching trains, preparing foods for me and everything else. They made sure I remain in good mental and physical shape throughout. Apart from that my own passion that I had to do it, was also helpful and kept the light burning in my mind.
How easy or difficult do you think is cracking competitive exams like PSI and others with such good numbers?
Every exam has its own challenges. They have their own set of challenges and requirements. Secondly, the competition has gone up significantly. In almost all such exams around one lakh people will apply, of which about 40 thousand will clear physical tests and appear for exam. At the end only about 200 candidates manage to make it through. So the odds are against you, you can miss out on 0.1 marks. To crack any competitive exam, I believe at least 2-3 years of struggle is must.
What is your success mantra? How did you manage to not only crack the exam but also get a place in top-50 ranks under such competition?
I started with preparation for UPSC and then appeared for PSI exams. Revision and time management are the only skills that can help you. Otherwise the knowledge of all the candidates appearing for the exam will be the same. It is the revision that makes the difference.
How do you think or want to serve the society as a police officer?
I would rather put it like helping the people instead of serving the society. My belief is I should make people able and capable. If you can only enable them themselves, they will help themselves. Police is the first point of communication between people and government whenever something happens. So the police service is something that helps you work closely with public, that’s why I preferred to choose police department.
Any plans to appear for any other competitive exams like UPSC?
Yes definitely. I will always want to work for the people and society. So yes, I will try and do it from every better position that I can reach. And if I think I am ready and qualified for anything bigger and better than this, I will go for it.
What will you advise a high school student who aims to join uniform or civil services?
See, schooling is a crucial part but that is not where everything about your future is decided. I as a primary student had failed in one subject once. So it’s not that if you are an average student you cannot crack competitive exams. You need not be a bright student throughout. There is nothing to worry, just wait for your calling in whatever your passion is. If you give your best you will surely get through. More importantly be satisfied and content with what you are doing.
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Priyanka Gandhi calls for ‘moral accountability’ over names in ‘Epstein files’
Wayanad (Kerala) (PTI): Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday called for "moral accountability" from public office-bearers whose names appear in the 'Epstein files', alleging that such accountability was lacking in India.
Speaking to reporters in Wayanad, Vadra said that across the world, those in public office whose names appear in the 'Epstein files' have resigned.
Her remarks come at a time when Congress is demanding the resignation of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, whose name figures in the 'Epstein files' released in the United States.
“But here, our government does not seem to think there is any moral accountability towards the public. There is a moral accountability,” she said.
She added that if a person’s name appears in such files, they bear moral responsibility.
“Not just your name, but if you are repeatedly emailing back and forth and are clearly aware of this person’s activities, if you have been engaging in conversations and meetings, and if you are a minister, you have a moral responsibility towards the people of your country,” she said.
She noted that in other parts of the world, ministers and even members of royal families had been arrested or investigated and had resigned.
“But here, there seems to be absolutely no consciousness that there is some responsibility owed to the people. If you are interacting with a convicted paedophile and criminal, then surely there should be some accountability,” she said.
The 'Epstein files' refer to documents held by the US government relating to Jeffrey Epstein, containing details of his interactions with wealthy, prominent and influential individuals.
Epstein was later convicted of sex crimes, particularly involving the sexual abuse of underage girls.
When asked about Kerala Health Minister Veena George suffering injuries during a KSU protest, Vadra said she was not in favour of any form of violence.
On houses to be provided by the state government to over 170 families affected by the landslide, she said she was glad people were receiving homes, but stressed that the process should be expedited, including the construction of houses by the Congress for victims.
She also took a dig at the Union government, alleging a lack of assistance from the Centre. “We have received practically no help from the Centre, which I feel is tragic,” she said.
She added that the landslide was declared a severe disaster only after prolonged efforts, despite demands to classify it as a national disaster.
The landslide claimed over 200 lives and destroyed hundreds of homes in July 2024.
“These are times for all of us to come together, above politics. I know it is election time, but when something of such scale happens, we must all unite,” she said.
On the change of the state’s name from Kerala to Keralam, she said she was getting used to it like everyone else.
“I keep saying Kerala and then correcting it to Keralam. I will get used to it,” she said.
When asked about a Congress MP criticising the name change, she said she was not aware of the remarks made by other leaders in her party. “It is the prerogative of the government. A lot of names have been changed recently,” she said.
Responding to recent allegations of medical negligence against the state government, Vadra said Kerala needed stronger healthcare outreach.
“Such instances would not occur if there were sufficient doctors, staff and administrative support. Much more can certainly be done. People should receive better healthcare,” she said.
