Nanditesh Nilay writes for UPSC Ethics Simplified fortnightly on Sundays. Today, on the last day of 2023, he pens down an important message for all the aspirants, "Be determined to change the course of life". Let's take a pause and read before stepping into the New Year 2024. Dear Aspirants, We are ready to welcome the new year. Hope it will be lucky for all those who are diligent and despite all odds, believe in the values of perseverance and commitment. In 2024 there will be a lot of aspirants who will be again beginning from scratch to meet their ultimate dream, to become an IAS officer, and on the other hand, there will be a few who will be fastening their laces for the final lap, the interview. So, here is some gentle advice from your ethicist. What will be those values in life or in governance that need to be addressed well? Why am I asking this question? Only because we always begin with hope and happiness whenever we are in the first week or the first day of the new year. We believe that there will be an inner spirit that will turn the wheel of luck and success will finally bless all those mortals who prepared with their innate ability for the dream. Like all your well-wishers, I am also of the view that you are near to your goal. Maybe 2024 will be the year that will take you to LBSNAA, Mussoorie. I want to revisit those lines of Mahatma Gandhi when he was travelling from Johannesburg to Durban. It was a 24-hour journey. He has even discussed it in a chapter in his Autobiography entitled, "The Magic Spell of a Book". He was reading Ruskin’s "Unto This Last". Mahatma Gandhi writes, "The train reached there in the evening. I could not get any sleep that night. I am determined to change my life by the ideals of the book …. " Yes, great aspirants. Mark this year with your perseverance. Perseverance is continued persistence in doing what one considers to be right despite difficulties or delays in achieving the desired results. It implies unwavering steadfastness in pursuing the right course of action, even in the face of odds or failures. In dealing with public affairs such situations are not uncommon and therefore perseverance is a valuable attribute to be successful in the long run. You will need that perseverance in this new year. Secondly, your commitment to the cause must be the center of your preparation. As you know well that commitment is the quality of being dedicated to the cause or the purpose. It indicates unwavering dedication towards cherished goals. High levels of commitment are essential lest one should be deluded by the power or the privileges of one’s position and thus be deflected from the real goal And I am sure you will not. You are a student and will be a student of life forever. Even the New Year will be wishing the same to you. So touch your study room again. Mark your presence and the day is not far when a train or a car will be taking you to LBSNAA. Don't forget Gandhi, keep one of the classics with you and keep on reading it. Such kind of commitment and perseverance will take you to LBSNAA. Happy New Year! With Love Nanditesh Edited by Manas Srivastava (Nanditesh Nilay is the author of ‘Being Good’, Aaiye, Insaan Banaen’ and ‘Ethikos: Stories Searching Happiness’. He teaches courses on and offers training in ethics, values and behaviour. He has been the expert/consultant to UPSC, SAARC countries, Civil services Academy, National Centre for Good Governance, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Competition Commission of India (CCI), etc. He has PhD in two disciplines and has been a Doctoral Fellow in Gandhian Studies from ICSSR. His second PhD is from IIT Delhi on Ethical Decision Making among Indian Bureaucrats. He writes for the UPSC Ethics Simplified (Concepts and Caselets) fortnightly.) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.
