A Year-long Series on Education, Sponsored by The Aligarh Forum : – A Mirror on our Efforts, our Successes & our Shortcomings ; Stories of triumphs, tribulations and struggles of the Indian Muslims in improving their educational status, in illiteracy alleviation, and in their professional and social uplift.
By Dr. Salman Sultan, TwoCircles.net,
A chance meeting with young Faraz Ahmad Qureshi, who happened to be in the same coach of Kushinagar Express, resulted in a freewheeling interview from Bombay to Bhopal. After getting selected in UPSC civil services in May 2010 and opting for Indian Revenue Service, Faraz was under training in different places apart from Bombay. Leaving for his home district Raisen, M.P., Faraz was hopeful of a good regular posting after being attached with different government departments. Presently, Faraz is an Assistant Commissioner (P) with Customs, Central Excise, Service Tax & Narcotics, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India.
TCN: Tell us about your educational background?
Faraz: Till 12th I studied in Raisen and my subjects were Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. I did B.Com (Hons) from IEHE Bhopal and later on M.A. in Public Administration in May 2005.
Faraz Ahmad Qureshi
TCN: When and where you started preparing for Civil Services exam?
Faraz: For one year I was preparing for Civil Services Exam through Hamdard Study Circle (HSC), New Delhi. I went back to pursue M.Phil. in Public Administration and then came back to New Delhi, first as Sub Editor of Civil Services Chronicle (2007) and then joined Hamdard Study Circle (HSC) as an Academic Associate in 2009. In 2010 May I got selected in UPSC Civil Services and in August 2010 went for training in Bombay.
TCN: How to prepare for Civil Services Exam?
Faraz: Early start soon after schooling with focus on goal to achieve will be good. Thrust should be in General Studies, Aptitude, G.K. (Geography, Politics, History) within a year upon graduation. Preparing for Civil Services Examination is quite demanding and at least 14-16 hours of regular study is required. As one can write answers in any of the prescribed 22 languages, it may be advantageous to go for Urdu medium for those well versed in Urdu. My medium was English. Economically Muslims are doing well though still there is scope for improvement. However, educationally the performance is dismal as education just for the sake of degree is worthless. Every parent must feel their responsibility. As education can take care of socio-economic situation, a holistic approach is required.
TCN: What was your inspiration?
Faraz: My parents are well educated. My father Dr. Israr Ahmad Qureshi is M.A.(Geog), M.A. (Socio), Ph.D. (Hindi), Vidya Vachaspati. He worked in State Bank of India, Raisen and after retirement is working as a lawyer for selective SBI A/c related cases as well as cases related to road accidents. My mother Mrs. Saiyeda Israr Qureshi is B.Sc. in Botany Hons., B.Ed, M.A.(Urdu). She is Lecturer in DIET (District Institute of Education and Training), Raisen. As Class II gazetted officer she had a great desire to see her son as Class I gazetted officer. My parents allowed me to have my own independent thinking. The new generation in any case is quite independent. However, youths must be made aware of options available. My parents, specially my mother, took great care to provide undisturbed environment for my studies. She kept me well fed.
TCN: What do you think about Muslim representation in Civil Services?
Faraz: I am quite concerned with the 3% barrier of Muslims in Civil Services. How can we cross this psychological barrier if we are not coming forward to compete? I would advise Civil Services aspirants to contact local Muslim bureaucrat or use the social networking site “Facebook”. Some people approached me in Bombay and I arranged for their stay in Haj House. We must build up a tradition of being united. Local Libraries and Study Centres must be established. They should not be for name sake like “India Shining” but serve the actual purpose of guiding/educating the new aspirants.
TCN: What magazines/periodicals you suggest for such Libraries/Study Centres?
Faraz: They should prescribe the following:
1. Civil Services Chronicle (monthly)
2. Newspaper (Indian Express)
3. Yojna of Planning Commission
4. Manorama Year Book
5. Outlook or India Today (fortnightly)
6.
TCN: Tell us about the changing format of Civil Services Exam?
Faraz: Now there will be no optional subjects in the Preliminary Exam. Multiple Choice Questions based on Civil Services Aptitude Test and General Studies will be of a total of 450 marks. 4 to 5 lakhs appear for this test out of which chance to appear in mains exam comprise of 12 to 13 times the post to be filled in. In mains two papers on optional subjects, two papers on General Studies each of 300 marks and one Essay of 200 marks i.e a total of 1400 marks are available for scoring. Questions actually test independent thinking of candidate e.g. a typical question may be “comment on chances of success of NREGA in other states”. It is, however, essential to qualify in English and one other Indian language in order to get the mains answer books checked. Marks of these qualifying tests are not added in the grand total which remains at 1400.
TCN: Will you give tips for the interview?
Faraz: For the personality test (300 marks) candidates called are 2 to 3 times the posts to be filled. One must be assured that this is not a test of knowledge as this has already been judged through mains exam. This test is actually for two things: Sustainability and Integrity. Interviewer may keep pressing in different ways to extract information contrary to the initial statement. Therefore, it is necessary to never lie under pressure.
TCN: Tell us about the interview board?
Faraz: Chairman of the board is a member of UPSC and other members are of public stature and repute. Interview board may consist of 4-5 members and is not fixed.
TCN: Do you think rural India is discriminated for Civil Services?
Faraz: Actually IAS is responsible to promote such things and only a letter from HRD is required to provide such facility.
TCN: What is the procedure for selection in HSC?
Faraz: In the month of November entrance test is held on all India basis. Shortlisted candidates are called for Group discussion and Interview by December end. In the last week of December admissions are confirmed with copy of UPSC form attached.
TCN: What are the facilities provided in HSC?
Faraz: Selected candidates have separate furnished room with 24 hrs electricity, running water at subsidized rates. Earlier monthly expenses were Rs. 3000/=. Admission forms for HSC is available on line as Jamia Hamdard web site has a link for HSC. Prof. A.A. Zaidi is the Director of HSC. Hamdard Public School, Coaching Centre and HSC are administered through a Society of which Janab Saiyid Hamid is the Chairman.
(Faraz Ahmad Qureshi can be contacted at Email: [email protected])