In India, Interviews are very interesting phenomena. Aspirants prefer government jobs because the salary is 'awesome' with 'total job security' and the 'work pressure' is almost nil. The scenario is totally different in private jobs where the 'professionals' are imprisoned in a golded cage: the salary and infrastructure is 'good', but the work pressure is 'really awful' with 'zero job security'! Therefore, an average Indian guy without 'any fancy paper degree' from a foreign university or a premier national institute covets a middle-order government job. Moreover, he gets more perks alongwith the cash component. The private sector overpromises, but underdelivers. In addition, any government job is 'socially more acceptable' than any high-profile private job or widely accepted business model. This social condition results in securing comparatively more 'dowry' under the disguise of 'Gifts for our Dear Daughter'. Now, 'dowry' is not just a 'lumpsum of money alongwith a car'; it has wider ramifications and dynamics; therefore, it deserves a separate paragraph.
'Dowry' is like a dream come true. How and why? An average Indian has to suffer and struggle a lot in his life before he gets a 'respectable job' and 'finally settles down'. The only relief to him is his father's rented house where he gets 'modest' clothes to cover his body and 'a square meal twice a day' to stuff his belly with. A 'two-wheeler' or motor-bike is like his very own Formula 1 Racing car. Yes! That's all: He can't expect or demand more than these 'Basic Luxuries' of life. Besides, he very well understands that he won't get more because his family can hardly afford even the present status! Why so much Deprivation and Competition? Is it because of Population Pressure, Policy Paralysis or Corruption? Nobody bothers to know. Here every father knows only one law: "Save Money". The money thus saved acts as 'bribe' for securing son's job or 'dowry' as a guarantee for daughter's life. Indian grooms get heavenly treatment in the form of 'dowry' with huge cash component, never ending 'perks' and a tacit promise to revise the 'whole plan' whenever required. In this way, an Indian youth, who has been a deprived soul all his life and longed for 'one romantic glance' from an 'average looking girl', suddenly becomes the owner of a 'hybrid car' and 'starts controlling the life of an enviable beauty' of his area. Even his Past becomes jealous of His Present. So, you see a government job is actually much more than a Dream Come True! This is no less than a Revolution!
Coming back to interviews, let's discuss the process. Interviews for private jobs are 'highly informal' and aimed at testing the efficiency of candidate in terms of 'how much bucks you can bring in for the company'! Such interviews doesn't require any sincere preparation; all you need is: Fluent English, Know your work professionally and Ready to join with all your documents in no time! If you get the job on the spot, the interview is a 'success' and vice versa. On the other hand, before reaching the 'Interview Stage' for government jobs you have go through a Written Test having two parts: A - Objective Type: Multiple Choice Questions - MCQs and B - Long Answer Type: Descriptive Questions or Essay. Thses tests are so designed that 'only the best minds can qualify'. Then, comes the 'Interview' into play. The final selection is done on the basis of the merit list comprising the marks of the Written Test and Interview. Hence, here the interview can be 'very good, good or bad', but certainly not the sole criterion for 'success'. Moreover, it is formally called 'Personality Test' to test the Aptitude, Attitude, Character, General Awareness, Outlook and everything else!
THE INTERVIEW SET-UP (for Government and Public Sector Units): A panel comprising 4 members sitting comfortably around a rectangular table covered with a non-fancy cloth. The 'chairman' occupies the central position and calls the shots there. The surface of the table is occupied with an assortment of things including but not limited to a globe, a pen-stand, some random sheets of paper, several files, an old flower vase without flowers, 4 empty cups and 2 plates with a few cookies left. The candidate is made to sit along the centre of the unoccupied edge of the rectangle facing the 'chairman'. When the candidate enters the 'interview hall', the chairman accepts his greetings, gestures him to take his designated seat and spearheads the process by asking the 1st question regarding the candidate's background like 'Introduce Yourself, Where are you from?, What does your father do?', etc. Then, the other panelists take turns to examine (or 'harass') the aspirant. After four rounds of interrogation, the candidate is asked without any ceremony or glory to leave at once! Thus, a milestone in the selection process is reached. His fate is sealed in an envelope.
THE PROCESS and THE WAITING PERIOD: Generally, the gap between the issue of Notification of Jobs and receiving the Final Joining Letter or Letter of Intent exceeds 1 whole year. Meanwhile, the aspirant writes other exams and appear for some other Interview if he got through the Written Test and receives the 'Interview Letter' for the same. After coming out of every Interview Room, he pats himself on the back and thanks God for providing him the 'opportunity'. Moreover, he also complains to God that he has 'completed his quota of struggle' and now deserves a 'peaceful life'. Whenever a guest visits his home, he has to 'explain' that he is 'doing something' and not 'sitting idle'. He would very painfully inform his relatives and friends that he could not make it to the 'Final Merit List' because he was short of just 3 marks. A 'General Category' candidate will never forget to curse the 'Reservation System' for his failure. Thereafter, every guest, friend or relative would mechanically reply back: 'Don't worry and try harder next time'. Yes! That's it. They spare only one line for his whole 'era of struggle'. The fact is that they are actually 'happy' to see him 'struggle and lose his sleep'. They ask about 'his status' only when they want to initiate a discussion or conclude a topic and sometimes to 'hurt' his family mentally or build 'psychological pressure' on him. This rare truth is discovered by the aspirant himself only after he has tolerated too much and undergone a good deal of silent suffering! Again, it's too late a discovery! [Here, nothing is simple or peaceful. Everything is badly intertwined and painful.]
TIME FOR THE "GREAT NEWS": One fine afternoon you find a strange man knocking at your door. This 'gentleman' is the same 'postman' who never bothered to stop at your door and would artfully 'throw' it in your courtyard without 'deboarding his bicycle'. However, he is very docile today and carrying a 'thick' letter. Surprised and puzzled, you approach the gate and move your hand forward as a gesture to receive the same letter. The postman quickly pulls his hand back and instantly says, ''This is not an ordinary letter. Good News! You are Finally Selected! This is the Joining Letter. You got the Government Job; Congratulations!" Thereafter, he pauses for a while and before you could understand or say something, he begins, "I have 'served' you for so many years. Your joy is my joy. Don't you think so? Now, I also want my 'reward' for being the 1st person to give you the good news." You wonder if he knows something called 'Internet'. Nevertheless, you thank God for 'rewarding your efforts'. In a few micro-seconds you 'calculate' that the postman 'deserves' anything but not more than 100 rupees. You turn around to get the cash, but amazed to see your mother possessing a 100 rupee note and standing behind the door. What a coincidence! She has been carefully listening to your conversation. The postman who has assumed the 'messenger of God' posture and 'head of the Interview Panel' attitude, very humbly, greets your mother for the first time. She offers him to have lunch or (atleast) a 'cup of tea'. The postman understands his 'social permeability' very well and hence politely turns down the offer after shoving the money in his front pocket. His finishing dialogue: "I am an 'honest' person. Otherwise, I too had made it big in life like others! I have do my 'duty' and distribute other letters. I'm in a hurry. All the best. Thank You". Thereafter, he leaves; you and your mother keep looking at him till he disappears with his bicycle. Anyway, both of you are grateful to the postman for showing you the 1st trailor of the SuperHit Movie called 'Great News'. Your mother has to relate the same story to your father in the evening. You prepare yourself to Repeat the same process when a 'cop' knocks at your door for 'Police Verification' to asses your 'legal character'. Besides, you also have to 'bribe' the doctor if he finds or deliberately 'points out' that you are not 'Medically Fit' for the job!
FATHER and SWEETS or A SWEET FATHER: Soon you find your house stuffed with sweet packets. Each packet is costly and hence, contains sweets of all shapes like rhombus, sphere, square, triangle and trapezium. For the first time you find 'Geometry' so sweet and yummy! You wonder what has happened to the person who assumes the title 'Your Father'. He is the same person who would always advice: "Keep Reading, Keep Busy. Try to read more and sleep less. Eat less but Study more. Live to work hard." He would never willingly buy even a stale loaf of bread for you, but today your house can give competition to a Sweet Shop. Why? Dear, sorry to say again these are not for you. Yes! Actually, these sweet packets are 'Marketing Tools' containing 'encrypted messages' in the form of sweets. The only way to decrypt the message is to open the packet and eat the sweets inside. The message is simple and straight forward: "Look Ladies and Gentlemen! Now, my son has also attained a Government Job. Hereinafter, my family would command more 'respect and honour'. Moreover, please meet us with only those 'high-profile' matches who are ready to pay the 'highest dowry' plus the girl must be an exceptional beauty. Thank You."
KNOWLEDGE, FUTURE PLANS and WHERE R U?: At this point, another simple truth dawns upon you. Nobody cares for KNOWLEDGE. These were 'money, position and power' that always mattered. You have always 'instructed' your mind to 'retain and revise' more information. Now,after getting the job you 'request' your mind to come up with some 'really cool' ideas such as Bike Trip, Trekking, River Rafting and Online Dating. What a change, Sir! Gradually, your focus shifts on your 'Future'. The 1st priciple is to get married as soon as possible. The Advisory Panel comprises your family, friends and acquaintances. This Panel unanimously agrees: "You are already late. By this time, you should have become the father of at least two 'sons'. Anyway, better late than never. Don't buy a car and Start Saving Money for your children! Learn to keep your 'seniors' happy. Try to be in their Good Books. Time to forget Academic Books. Never be close to your 'juniors'. You have to 'control' them. They should be trained to be at your beck and call." Soon you become a new member of the centuries old 'Colonial Game' of 'Subordination and Subjugation'. The very identity for which you strived and confronted the whole world seems to never exist! You faced everyone who was against the 'spirit' of honesty and equality. In the long run, you became the 'greatest victim' of a cocktail of all vices. Like, many others, you realise that your 'spirit' has been extinguished forever. Now, pops up a question of comprehensive 'Identity Crisis'. Forget those who have completely transformed into 'New creatures of New India'. The problem is for those who still subscribe to the 'old values that brought freedom'. Now, you are in your father's shoes. Study + Struggle, Marriage + New Job Ethics and Husband + Father: It's simple, but who swallowed you! Nevertheless, welcome to the Rat Race!
THE 'DIFFERENT' OR THE 'DESTROYED' GROUP: We were a group of friends who always thought 'out-of-box'. This characteristic alienated us from the 'Normal' lot. We commanded 'extra' respect and acceptability. We exhibited greater confidence. Presently, all those 'Normal' guys are minting money and have been well-settled much before. On the other hand, the 'out-of-box' lot has become the 'Group of Losers and Strugglers'. Now, most of the lot no more desire to be Artists, Players, Painters, Writers or Bird Watchers. They no more want that cool girlfriend or 'Dreamgirl'. All they want is an educated and obedient wife who can serve their families. They have completely 'transformed' and even 'Fluent English' has failed to save their souls. They no longer subscribe to values like Honesty, Patriotism and Righteousness. They advise their children to flatter their teachers to get good marks; lick their boss to get early increment and save their jobs; and loot their country to meet family demands. What a Metamorphosis! Do anything to command more Power and exercise higher Control. Who changed them: Society, Corruption, Population Pressure or the Country itself has changed? Nobody knows the answers. Moreover, nobody wants to attempt these questions!
POST SCRIPT: One of my friends who has newly joined the 'transformed' lot got through a 'really' tough exam after years of failure and 'frustration'. During college days, he used to talk about 'Country First, National Pride, Justice, India is the Best, Help the Poor and the Weak'. Currently, the Government of India has offered him a latest Car with a driver, a Palatial residence with domestic helps and multiple Foreign Tours. So, he has 'achieved' everything that 'rejected commoners' desire in India. People say that he will get married in a year after the girl completes her postgraduation from a European university. She is an Indian, but has resided mainly in Europe and USA. It is confirmed that my friend is to get a luxury car, a bungalow and a huge sum of money from the girl's side as 'Gifts' [Indian Euphemism for Dowry]. Besides, the girl is a 'Marvellous Beauty' who can make even the 'Miss Universe' feel inferior! I am also going to be married soon. However, I'm not placed that higher in the Government Machinery therefore my valuation is nothing when compared with his!
Most Important thing is the message that made me write this tedious article. The same friend had sent me this message yesterday: "Please don't invite me to your marriage if you accept dowry or gifts. Being an 'Honest Indian Officer', I hate these things."
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