I am Sahitya Pusapati and through this article I would like to share my journey of 7 years and what helped me to tackle UPSC CSE and what pulled me back number of times. From my journey, one can mostly learn what should not be done!
MANY MISTAKES OF MY PREPARATION AND HOW I CORRECTED THEM:
- Not understanding the demand of exam: Through excessive focus on studying from different sources. Not being precise about note making and taking false pride in reading fancy books. In the end what worked for me was bringing simplicity to my preparation. Supplementing my notes with RUSHIKESH REDDY’s( AIR 95, 2019) notes for several topics across the GS papers. DK BALAJI’s text book on ethics has been a huge help in GS 4 as well.
- Choice of OPTIONAL: Zoology has been the love of my life before I had taken it as my optional. However, during the initial years of preparation it had turned into a night mare! Eventually I understood the pattern and how to manage the huge syllabus. It was rewarding in the end, not purely on the basis of marks but many other ways as well. I did study the basics of zoology concepts from different standard text books and supplemented it with handwritten or printed materials for zoology available in the market. I also took help from KAJAL JAWLA’s (AIR 28, 2018) online notes. Please be wise in choosing your optional.
- Focus on PRELIMS at the cost of MAINS: This is perhaps common to many aspirants like me who are not well versed with the style of CSE. Until my fourth attempt, I was jittery about prelims and would endlessly focus on it. So, please don’t do it. Integrated preparation of prelims and mains is possible and go for it. In this aspect, course correction happened naturally for me. Each day, solving quizzes for prelims, writing or at least thinking about two or three questions can help you build your competence. Of course joining a test series and solving full length papers once a week can be of great help, for both prelims and mains.
- Seek advice at the right time from right people: overtime you will understand who means business and who doesn’t. If things aren’t working, then please seek guidance from right people who have your interest on their mind. Do not assume you know everything and act like a know-all. Also drop any kind of inferiority complex and approach people who may give you that one tip which might turn the tide in your favors.
HOW TO SUSTAIN INTEREST IN PREPARATION DESPITE MULTIPLE FAILURES:
You have only to remain quiet and firm in your following of the path and your will to go to the end. If you do that, circumstances will in the end be obliged to shape themselves to your will, because it will be the Divine Will in you.
Sri Aurobindo
After a point of time, this preparation can get exhausting and difficult. So each person has to devise a method that can keep their discipline optimum. It is discipline that can get things done rather than motivation. At least for me, that was the case. For that you have to make the process enjoyable. I would explain the concepts to family and friends. I would dramatize a situation and learn rather than being monotonous about preparation. Reverse engineering, which is learning through questions can be beneficial. The classic brainstorming exercise before taking up a topic can be a very useful thing. Discussions with peers can be helpful. In the end, pick a method that suits you. Ultimately your desire to live a life of your dreams will help you sail through many- many uncertain times.
BOOKLIST: I am referring to the books that I have referred to which are not commonly referred to. GAZETTEER ON INDIA, SN SEN for history and art and culture. SUBHASH KASHYAP for Polity( Our Constitution and our Political system), ERACH BHARUCHA for environment.
ZOOLOGY:
OVERVIEW: HICKMAN
VERTEBRATES AND INVERTEBRATES: RL KOTPAL
PHYSIOLOGY: TORTORA
BIOCHEMISTRY: SATYANARAYANA
GENETICS: HARTL AND JONES, MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF GENE( PEARSON PUBLICATION)
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY: GILBERT
CELL BIOLOGY: LODISH
Please note that these text books can be exhaustive and one has to be selective in their reading. I took the help of online or printed materials or hand written notes available in the market. IAS ZOOLOGY.COM has been of good help as well.
I would like to end my long post( just like my long preparation period, haha!) by the following quote:
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, suffering, loss and have found their way out of depths.”
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.
I sincerely hope to see such beautiful people across the society irrespective of their choice of career. Such people can create something that lasts forever. For that kind of a legacy, you need to be brave and energetic. So brace yourselves and get ready for your Ithaca. After all who doesn’t want these Ithacas in their lives?
