Tejas Agnihotri AIR 37 UPSC CSE

Hey folks,

I've created this channel as a medium to give back to the community. I would be posting my notes and giving general gyaan that helped me tide over the uncertainties (especially the fear of uncertainties) and what we can do to hedge our risks. If you people would want, we can also conduct some live sessions (audio or video) for a more focused interaction.

But before I delve into my background (so that you can understand where I'm coming from and why my strategy was what it was), I'll share my 2 cents about this "exam". I feel this exam, more than anything else, demands a fundamental acceptance of the philosophy that beyond a certain point it is out of your control. It is designed in a way that years of hardwork can sometimes be lost due to small blunders or even due to subjectivity or "luck" not being on your side. There's no real concept of proportionality with respect to hard work and results in this exam.

It seems unfair but because everyone is in the same boat, it makes it somewhat okay, if not fair.

That being said, this exam is tough. It takes a toll on you and on your social life (to an extent).

For me, what sometimes works is broadening my perspective. Everything is transient and this too shall pass. In the next 150 years, this planet will have a completely new set of people and none of them would know you directly. All your achievements and all your mistakes would be forgotten. The world would continue like nothing has changed. So relax and do not take 'life' very seriously. In the grander scheme of things, very few things matter and your happiness is definitely one of them.

Also, I fully acknowledge that it's easier said than done. I realise that luck has been on my side and I'm eternally grateful for that. But I still feel we should guard our mental peace with whatever weapons we can deploy. And your attitude is the strongest weapon of all.