Qualifying Kashmir Administrative Service exam is about hard work – Rameez Rashid

Rameez Rashid secured the 3rd position in Kashmir Administration Service, but his passion for Police Services made him opt for it. Rashid is the second generation Police Officer as his father is already serving as a Senior Superintendent Service in J&K police. From the study table to a police academy, Rashid shares his journey with Hill Post.

Q: To whom and to what do you give the credit for your achievement?

First and foremost thanks to Allah and his Prophet Muhammad (SAW) for this blessing. Among the people the credit for this achievement mostly goes to my late grandfather who always encouraged me to do something good in life and to my parents. Nothing would have been possible without their support and guidance.. Not to forget, my siblings -sister and two younger brothers- who always encouraged me.

Q: How should one assess oneself before deciding to go for civil services as a career?

If you have the will to go for it, you must not give it a second thought. Proper career counseling can give a person’s dream and will a proper direction.

Q: When should one ideally start the preparation?

Graduation is the best time to make a start. I personally did so. And then, dedicated six months’ of hard work before the exam.

Q: The first step is the most difficult; how to prepare? Which optional? When to read? How much to read? From where you got the right advice?

Single minded devotion matters, others things hardly bother you if you are prepared to take up the challenge. Guidance and careful analysis of the whole scheme will make things clear. What to chose, how much to read etc is finally your own call.

Q: What were your optional subjects and why did you select these?

My optional for the prelim was Zoology and for mains it was Kashmiri Literature and Anthropology. Change in the optional at mains had a game plan behind it. Kashmiri, especially, was a choice by heart for it gave an inner good feeling reading your own mother tongue literature. My decision to take up Kashmiri was opposed by many given my almost negligible experience with the subject. But I stood determined and didn’t let anything obstruct my way and proved myself right by becoming the first qualifier among top 5 rankers with Kashmiri as an optional.

Q: Does the place of preparation matter?

Environment does have an impact on the preparations and one should always prepare where one feels comfortable. Home seems to be the best place for some, while others prefer to prepare away from home. It’s completely one’s own mood and choice that should prevail. For me, it was a mixture of both.

Q: Is strategy more important than hard work?

Strategy plays an important role. Though ‘hard work’ can’t be ignored, i must say that it was ‘smart work’. By smart work I mean, working hard but not as hard as one would without a proper goal, and proper moves. Work well with dedication -that’s what constitutes ‘smart work’.

The strategy was to read as much as possible because KAS is an exam where you can’t risk to leave any portion untouched. As my dream was to qualify in the first go with a good rank, so i hardly left anything where i would have to repent if the case was so. Crafty selective reading after you’ve read almost everything needed, also helps to fetch a good rank.

Q: How many hours one should devote to crack this exam?

It’s not actually the quantity, rather the quality that matters. During the mains i would devote much time for the preparations, but before the exams it would be just 5 or 6 dedicated hours a study.

Q: Any particular books and reading material that you like to share with our readers?

NCERT texts and Spectrum Series got general studies; for Anthropolgy books by Nadeem Hasnain, Physical Anthropology by B M Das, General Anthropology by Amber and Amber, Anthropology by Indrani Basu Rai, Indian Society by S C Dubey, Anthropological Thought by Upadey and Pandey, NCERT Textbook of Sociology for XI and XII, Brain Tree Study material; and for Kashmiri I read the books prescribed by the PSC in the syllabus, plus some Kashmiri literary books like ‘Kasher Adbuk Tawareekh’ by Shafi Shouq, Research Journal ‘Anhaar’ by Kashmiri Dept Kashmir University, “Kashir Encyclopedia 4”, “Kashir Zabaan Te Adab” by Cultural Academy, “Kashiruk Grammar” By Shafi Shouq, “Kashmiri, English, Hindi Reader” by Shafi Shouq, Special “Sheraz” Editions by Cultural Academy etc.

Q: How did you cope up with the pressure both family and friends?

Faith in God and oneself is the factor that overcomes all kinds of pressure. Daily prayers and remembrance of God gave me the inner strength and courage to withstand evrything. Moral boosting and the ‘you can’ & ‘you will’ kind of encouraging words by parents, siblings and dear ones played a great part.

Q: Had you not been selected?

Did give this question a thought even though I was optimistic right from day one. It’s in my blood to ‘be positive’ as B+ happens to be my blood group as well. And, towards the end, if at all anything was like that, bouncing back and hard at that in the next attempt would have been the alternative.

Q: Any suggestion you want to give to future aspirants?

Set a goal, work for it with dedication and make it your aim by choice. Don’t be cowed into others choice. Work hard and let not anything distract you. Read whatever is helpful for the exam, be open to guidance from specialists, give your best and then leave it to God.

Having got here, I have decided to devote some of my time for other aspirants and guide them as much as possible. They can contact me anytime and I would only be to happy to help them.

Mohammad Zahid

Zahid Maqbool is a freelance journalist based in Srinagar.