Hardik Narayan Shukla

JNU'25 | IR | Observing, Trying, Learning

[Hardik Narayan Shukla @hardik_narayan]

वसुधा का नेता कौन हुआ?
भूखंड-विजेता कौन हुआ?
अतुलित यश क्रेता कौन हुआ?
नव-धर्म प्रणेता कौन हुआ?

जिसने न कभी आराम किया
विघ्नों में रहकर नाम किया।

~ रामधारी सिंह दिनकर (रश्मिरथी)

[Narendra Modi @narendramodi]

Wonderful to see that INSV Kaundinya is embarking on her maiden voyage from Porbandar to Muscat, Oman. Built using the ancient Indian stitched-ship technique, this ship highlights India's rich maritime traditions. I congratulate the designers, artisans, shipbuilders and the Indian Navy for their dedicated efforts in bringing this unique vessel to life. My best wishes to the crew for a safe and memorable journey, as they retrace our historic links with the Gulf region and beyond.

@INSVKaundinya

[Hindwi @hindwiOfficial]

समादृत साहित्यकार विनोद कुमार शुक्ल का आज 88 वर्ष की आयु में अखिल भारतीय आयुर्विज्ञान संस्थान (एम्स), रायपुर में देहांत हो गया। वह गए कुछ समय से गंभीर श्वसन रोग की वजह से क्रिटिकल केयर यूनिट (CCU) में भर्ती थे। उनके विपुल उत्कृष्ट साहित्य के साथ-साथ उनकी यह कविता जब तक हिंदी भाषा है याद आती रहेगी :

“जाते-जाते ही मिलेंगे लोग उधर के
जाते-जाते जाया जा सकेगा उस पार
जाकर ही वहाँ पहुँचा जा सकेगा
जो बहुत दूर संभव है
पहुँचकर संभव होगा
जाते-जाते छूटता रहेगा पीछे
जाते-जाते बचा रहेगा आगे
जाते-जाते कुछ भी नहीं बचेगा जब
तब सब कुछ पीछे बचा रहेगा
और कुछ भी नहीं में
सब कुछ होना बचा रहेगा।”

#vinodkumarshukla #naman #hindwi

[Hardik Narayan Shukla @hardik_narayan]

#TIL:

Next year's competitive exam paper will always be tougher than the previous one, and also the "toughest" until the following year.

[anand mahindra @anandmahindra]

This clip which was shared with me is about Shri Inder Jit Singh Sidhu of Chandigarh.

Apparently, every morning at 6 AM, in the quiet streets of Chandigarh’s sector 49, this 88-year-old retired police officer begins his day in service.

Armed with nothing but a cycle cart and an unwavering sense of duty, he moves slowly and purposefully, picking up rubbish from the roadside.

He says he wasn’t happy with the ‘low rank’ Chandigarh got in the Swachh Surekshan listing. But instead of complaining, he chooses action.

Each piece of trash he clears is more than just litter removed. It’s a statement. A quiet, persistent belief in a better world. A belief in living with meaning, regardless of age or recognition.

In a world often obsessed with youth and speed, his slow but steady footsteps tell us that Purpose doesn’t retire. Service doesn’t age.

A Salute to this quiet warrior of the streets. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[BhikuMhatre @MumbaichaDon]

After 'Mile Sur Mera Tumhara', this is a collab which will make you go crazy!! ❤️

Must hear it once...Jai Mahakal 🙏

[Aditya Raj Kaul @AdityaRajKaul]

Pakistan Prime Minister has called a meeting of the National Security Committee tomorrow at 10 AM. He wants his beauty sleep.

[ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY @adgpi]

#PahalgamTerrorAttack

Justice is Served.

Jai Hind!

[Hardik Narayan Shukla @hardik_narayan]

Wordle 1,235 5/6*
All thanks to the little chemistry I remember:)

#Wordle1235
⬜🟨⬜⬜🟨
🟨⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟨⬜🟨🟩
🟨🟨⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

[Shailaja Chandra @over2shailaja]

Whenever I write a post involving IAS officers I get two reactions- “Only a handful are honest.”
Or “the IAS is overrated.”
And yet 9 lakh people sit for the exam every year and not even 200 get selected. Tens of thousands spend the best part of their youth just trying to become an IAS officer! There must be reasons for this!
What makes the IAS so sought after despite all the criticism and reported loss of prestige? Most of those who sit for the exam year after year and tell the IAS interview board they want to serve the country, actually want:
1. Power
2. Prestige and
3. Patronage.
After joining service, however, it is the age of entry that most influences promotions- more than hard work or brilliance. How so?
1. If a candidate gets in when he/ she is between 22 and 24 years old, the chances of reaching the level of Secretary at the Centre or Chief Secretary or Additional Chief Secretary in the State are near certain.
2. But if an officer is pushing 30 ( even 28 or 29, when he joins, )the chances of reaching the top in the State, leave alone at the centre are remote- almost zero! Because it takes between 32 to 36 years to become Secretary to Government of India or Chief Secretary in the state. Those who are over 28 years just do not have the years left to acquire the seniority needed, as everyone must retire at 60.
So what do such officers do when they have nothing to look forward to and have 10 years of active service still left? Some lose the will to make a difference and start treating the job as routine. Their efficiency and risk taking abilities decline with each passing year.

The IAS is not heaven born. As there are good, bad and indifferent people everywhere, so there are officers! But we need an All- India service to bind the country together which is why that is provided in the Constitution.
IAS officers because they are so small in number ( under 5000 for the whole country,) can easily reach out to each other on the phone. Their information system is fantastic and the service bonds are strong. One can easily find support from a neighbouring state or anyone with influence, if one needs it for a public cause. In times of crisis - floods, cyclones, earthquakes, or recently the administrative management of Covid and the ensuing vaccinations, most IAS officers showed exemplary leadership - 24x7.
The country has 730 districts (with populations of ~2 million each) and in times of crisis the District Magistrate’s role is pivotal .No country in the world has such a system, making the process of governance- central, state, district and sub- district down to each Block and village, reliable and predictable.
We cannot do without a head of district administration who acts as a focal point in a vast country like ours. That is only possible if one has a federal administrative set-up. The IAS was set up to answer that need.
And one needs IAS officers to help make and implement policy. This just cannot be done by anyone who does not have the experience of working in a state to understand what is possible and what is not. Also what people really need in the face of contending priorities. You need a service to understand the wheels within wheels - individuals cannot do it .

The only message I am giving is that if the age of recruiting IAS officers isn’t reduced from 32 to 28, ( it was 24 in my time), Government and the country will not have people with the ambition, energy and efficiency that the IAS needs to fulfil the requirements of the job.
Niti Aayog had recommended it. Half a dozen committees too had put it as a top recommendation. One must not give hope to people to keep on and on trying to join the IAS as an end in itself. It is wrong to extend hopes to lakhs of aspirants who will never make it, by offering the lollipop of a bizarre age limit which will destroy the service and the will to perform.

[Hardik Narayan Shukla @hardik_narayan]

इसी तरह समय का पहिया एक और चक्कर लगा लेता है
और हम सब रह जाते हैं
अपने-अपने 'अगर' के साथ,

अगर सब कुछ मिल जाता और हो जाता,
तो कुछ भी मिलने और होने को नहीं बचता।

~ हार्दिक नारायण शुक्ला
(2/2)

[Hardik Narayan Shukla @hardik_narayan]

अगर...

अगर पर्याप्त बारिश हो जाती
तो बाढ़ या सूखा न पड़ता,
अगर मिट जाती गरीबी-बेरोजगारी
तो चारों ओर कितनी खुशहाली होती,
अगर न छीना जाता बचपन
तो हर बेटी राजकुमारी होती,
अगर मिल जाता चांद पर पानी
तो वहां भी रहने की संभावना होती,
(1/2)

[Besan ka Halwa @vikramgrawol]

विद्यार्थी जीवन में "संघर्ष" को समाज इतना बड़ा बना देता है की संवेदना, सहानुभूति और समानुभूति की जगह नहीं बचती। दम या तो घुट जाता है या घोट दिया जाता है। समाज विद्यार्थी कब बनेगा...🙏

[Hardik Narayan Shukla @hardik_narayan]

Since girl candidates won't be allowed to take exams in their home districts, they may be discouraged by their conservative families from even appearing in these exams. As it is said, "करे कोई, भरे कोई". Let's see if these reforms are able to curb paper leaks and related crimes.

[Hardik Narayan Shukla @hardik_narayan]

Among the several stringent steps being undertaken in UP to prevent Exam Mafias, this particular change will affect a huge number of candidates (esp girls) who don't have resources to travel hundreds of kms from their hometown.

[Mohammed Zubair @zoo_bear]

A must must watch well researched video by @maheshperi explaining the real reason why NEET is a scam. It tells you that NEET has nothing to do with merit but a reservation for the rich.

[Amitav Acharya @AmitavAcharya]

My joint seminar with Prof Nora Fisher Onar
@FisherOnar and Turkish colleagues organized by Sabanci University, Istanbul

"Global International Relations:
Contestations and Challenges in a Multiplex World"

2 July, 2024, 3.30pm
Venue: Karakoy Minerva Han, Istanbul

Zoom link

https://t.co/CgeYsEFzMZ
Meeting ID: 971 1166

[OSA Hindu College @osahinducollege]

Once again Hindu College is the Best College for Arts & Science in India in the India Today @IndiaToday Best Colleges Ranking 2024 for the 3rd year running.
1/2

[CoffeeWithTheClassics @CoffeewClassics]

Page after page, The Brothers Karamazov is full of psychological insight.

Who doesn't recognize someone they know (or themselves) in this?

[Hardik Narayan Shukla @hardik_narayan]

कहाँ तक सही है
मसालों की तरफदारी करने में
मूल्यों को भूल जाना।
(3/3)

[Hardik Narayan Shukla @hardik_narayan]

कहाँ तक सही है? ✍️ (एक प्रयास)

खाना अच्छा बने तो कैच का मसाला ही इस्तेमाल हुआ
और खराब बने तो गोल्डी का,
कहाँ तक सही है भूल जाना उन हाथों को
जिनके न होने पर ये मसाले धरे के धरे रह जाते,
या फिर उन सभी बर्तनों को
जो अपना अहम योगदान कभी नहीं जताते,
(1/3)

[Hardik Narayan Shukla @hardik_narayan]

या उन सभी अन्य मसालों को
जो गोल्डी और कैच की तरफदारी के बीच
ढूंढ रहे हैं अपना अस्तित्व।

कहाँ तक सही है
मसालों के दो खेमे बना लेना
और अपने खेमे को विजयी बनाने में जीवन लगा देना,
एक ही समाज से निकले सारे मसालों, बर्तनों और हाथों को
क्यों नहीं समझा जा सकता समाज का अभिन्न अंग?(2/3)