By Donn Morgan Kipgen
In what appears to be earthly divine blessings to the family members and respective societies of successful candidates of the just concluded MPSC Examination 2007, it also is a massive windfall for all UG militant outfits of Manipur. These unprecedented 128 sources are highly reliable future investments. The MPSC’s craftily selected 128 bank account numbers are much better financial prospects to the UG militants’ Depts of Finance than 2 or 3 UPSC low-profile selected investment. Apart from the honourable MPSC members, the full names and their most probable designations of all the 128 selected officers are openly there to note down for very demanding and taxing correspondences in the near future. The 9 year- burden of senior officers, i.e IAS/MCS, even IPS/MPS officers, about 50 odd in all, who have been virtually made patron members of the Revolutionary groups will be lifted within 2 years period. It must have been boring for both the givers and takers all these years. These new 128 selected ones can freely take a crash-course in negotiations, % sharings, contributions, diversions, personal quota-systems, manipulations, dealing with Youths, buying and registrations in others names, etc from senior officers who refined unethical crafty arts which are not taught at training centres. What is an illegal action for ordinary citizens is lawful to all civil service officers when it comes to taking or giving ‘gifts’.
Though how ‘fair’ was the final selection process conducted by the MPSC would never be known, this particular batch has the right to be respected since they had gone through the Prelims for the first time in MPSC history. However, the next prelims would be twice as harder like that of the UPSC, and of course, the Main Exams too. Atleast 80% of the lucky first amongst equals could have been selected on merit basis, but the same cannot be boldly said for 20-25% who ‘unexpectedly’ got selected. This is not meant to say that there were briberies, favouritism nor mistakes on the part of the interviewers or Board members. Yes, it was not like the highly controversial selection of ASI and SI of the State police allegedly averaging Rs 5 lakhs each. With the 5th pay commission, things doubled-up rapidly. Surely this would not have been done during the recent MPSC examination as alleged. As a human being some members might have fallen in love with the face of Mahatma Gandhi embossed upon crisp bank notes with 2 or 3 zeroes denominations. After all, nothing comes free these days, not even the exalted post of the member of the MPSC itself; therefore, the expected allegations. In retrospect, the recent MPSC examination 2007 seems to be fair enough in comparison with the previous examinations and other open competitive exams in Manipur which have been everything but open or competitive. Let’s hope that the degree of difficulty and the standard of the prelims, main exams and interviews worked out overnight by the newly elected MPSC members be on par with that of the UPSC. The weeding out process i.e. the Prelims, ought to be made the hardest nut to crack rather than being a ‘Weeding in’ process with ‘candidates-friendly’ questions. The questions asked in both the main examination and the interviews ought to be more specific, relevant, independent and mentally testing, if advisable, in the next MPSC examination. Many promisingly good ones with fountain of knowledge, the required mental and physical fitness and strong personalities somehow failed to make the grade, whereas some few ordinary candidates miraculously passed the hurdle. In private interviews and study made since the end of the Prelim round, all those highly learned scholars who somehow failed to reach the summit have one decisive thing in common: they have no rich and influential backgrounds. But to win or lose is not the only thing, its all in how we play the fairest game. And not all the best get the opportunity to reach the highest ground. The poet Thomas Gray, in his ‘Elegy’, penned the painful truth thus:
‘Perhaps in this neglected spot is laid
Some heart once pregnant with celestial fire;
Hands, that the rod of empire might have sway’d
Or waked to ecstasy the living lyre.
‘Full many a gem of purest ray serene
The dark unfathom’d caves of ocean bear:
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.’
Even in this present day world, there are many wise and highly talented persons with high IQs who have no opportunity to have higher education or the luxury to go around to make use of their admirable skills and God-gifted talents. Many talented and educated persons somehow do not have the chance at all.
The fact that the MPSC, 2007 Examination ended ‘peacefully’ is a very good thing. Most of the selected ones are said to have make it on merit. Yes, even if a candidate wants to bribe his/her way through, he/she needs to have a good academical qualification, an acceptable personality and mental fitness. The Chairman of the MPSC seemed to have made a bad timing when he officially shouted his ‘No Bribery’ theme just before the start of the interview stage. First, it raised a doubt as to why he would make a holistic remark without any open allegation. Secondly, it was too little too late, since everything needed to be done, if possible, would have been done ‘home and dry’. These 128 meritorious candidates ought to keep in mind that they are first amongst equals and not the cream of the society who would look after the future of Manipur with their gifted talents, visions, strong personalities, mental toughness etc. Since they have got what it takes to do the highly demanding jobs and the commendable academical qualities, they have to right the wrong selflessly with courage. Because of the big time gap of 9 years and lack of human resources for the State Administration, 128 learned scholars, selected on near merit basis, would be promoted as fast as possible, i.e 1/3rd or even 3/5th time period less than the last MPSC selected officers. They are the luckiest selected candidates because the already mentioned factors which would or could not be given nor repeated the next time around. They should also impressed upon themselves as respected officers that there were lots of equally qualified professionals and scholars in our midst.
All those unfortunate ones would have to accept gentlemanly that the world is not going to end tomorrow. Just as there is always tomorrow, there are always for better job opportunity if they personally double-up their determination and sense of academic honour with advanced studies. With more determination and resilience they could get the much more coveted posts of IAS, IPS, etc. Period. Failure is the springboard of higher success.
Congrats to all the 128 Manipur Elite Corps of ‘07.
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