Why Should We Be Thankful to Puja Khedkar?

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 30 July 2024 "Often an unethical act of one man reveals the ethics and ethos of the whole system." A Dutch maxim Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar from Poona needs no introduction. Her tantrums and haughtiness are now national news. Chances are that she'll be dismissed and may even be put behind bars for all that she has done thus far. But this young and impetuous woman could have avoided the embarrassment of getting arrested and terminated had she kept a low profile. Delhi police’s crime branch has also registered a case of cheating, fraud and forgery against Khedkar, following an UPSC ------ Yet, in an indirect way, the entire country should be thankful to her because her series of arrogant acts opened a Pandora's box. To quote, Salaam Ahmadnagari, "Meri Pindari Ne Raaz Kai Khol Diye / Main Ahmiyat Khamoshi-O-Inkisari Ki Samajh Na Paaya" (My haughtiness revealed many secrets / I couldn't understand the importance of silence and modesty). The selection of such a dubious candidate has birthed many questions regarding the integrity and uprightness of not just UPSC but all elite services in India. Now it can be safely speculated that there may have been many Puja Khedkars in the IAS and could still be in service because they chose to keep a low-profile and didn't tom-tom their achievements too early and also too vociferously. Now when it's obvious that nothing is immaculate and unblemished in the whole system and all walks of life, the maligned image of UPSC should make youngsters think of other options. Just imagine, India's top-notch services are also based upon the government's reservation policies. Puja unscrupulously obtained her caste and other certificates to become an IAS officer. There're many like her who manipulate their castes and income to become IAS officers. The youngsters of Hindi belt are mad about becoming bureaucrats. So, they join coaching classes which openly claim that they're ' factories ' to churn out IAS mandarins. Delhi's Rajendra Nagar and Mukherjee Nagar are the epicentres of UPSC coaching. All coaching classes are full to the brim and utterly ill-managed. So much so that three UPSC aspirants drowned when the basement hall got flooded due to incessant rains at Rajendra Nagar! This mishap happened yesterday. Why are youngsters bent upon joining these fancy jobs which are no longer known for their integrity? Isn't it a case of what we say in Persian, "Aawaz-E-Duhul Az Door Khush Mee Numayad “(Door Ke Dhol Suhane Lagte Hain; Eng. equivalent: blue are the hills that are far from us)? So many other types of decent jobs are available to the youngsters who want to pursue their creative inclinations. Youngsters and their overambitious parents must realise that UPSC Se Aage Jahan Aur Bhi Hain/ Abhi Zindagi Ke Imtihaan Aur Bhi Hain (There are other worlds beyond UPSC / There are many more exams in life). Sorry for paraphrasing Allama Iqbal's famous couplet! It's an erroneous perception to think that UPSC is the be-all and end-all. It's not. Puja Khedkar has indirectly done a great service to UPSC by detonating the myths of honesty and fair play. Think beyond the conventional and do what appeals to you. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/upsc-puja-khedkar-ias/d/132819 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism