“Discipline, dedication, hardwork, consistency and self-evaluation are the secrets of my success”
-Sharad Joshi
‘Pratiyogita Darpan’ arranged an exclusive interview with Shri Sharad Joshi who has been selected in Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Examination 2015. He deserves all admirations and our heartiest congratulations on his outstanding success. This important, thought provoking and highly inspiring interview is being presented here in its original form.
PD—Achieving top slot in the coveted Judicial Services Examination is no small feat; accept our heartiest congratulations on your splendid success.
Shri Sharad—Thank you very much.
PD—Were you confident of your success in this examination and how did you react to this news ?
Shri Sharad—I was elated after hearing my result. Both my mains exam and interview went well, and I was expecting a positive result. I thought I might figure in the merit list, but making it to the Top 3 is really special and unexpected. After hearing the news I felt content and satisfied. All my hard work and the wishes of my family and friends finally paid off.
PD—Can you recall the exact moment when you realized the importance of Judicial Services ?
Shri Sharad—I realized the importance of judiciary in the society and was fascinated by it as an institution. It was not until the last year of my college that I decided to join the Judicial services. Most importantly, it was my father who always inspired me to join the Judicial Service.
PD—You must have read Toppers’ interviews in newspapers/ magazines; what inspired you the most ?
Shri Sharad—Yes, I did read toppers’ interview. Every interview I read inspired me further and motivated to be a part of the toppers’ list. Especially, the stories of those toppers who seemed to have fought against all odds and managed to perform exceptionally well in the competitive examinations inspired me the most. These personal stories taught me to stay calm, patient and be grounded during the entire period of preparation, examination, and even after the selection. I believe I will carry these lessons with me throughout my life.
PD—Finally at what point of time did you make up your mind to make career in Judicial Services ?
Shri Sharad—I aspired to be a judicial officer from the moment I started studying law, but I truly began my preparations during the final year of law school. Before graduating from law school, I made up my mind to appear for Judicial services examination.
PD—Was Judicial Service Examination a planned decision of yours or parents’ wish ? Did you keep in mind some time frame for the examination preparation and number of attempts.
Shri Sharad—It was my decision to prepare for the Judiciary Services and of course, my family always supported me during every point of this journey. And yes, I did keep some time frame in mind for the exam preparation.
PD—The first step is the most difficult; from where did you get the right advice ?
Shri Sharad—I talked to my parents, friends, teachers and with persons who were already a part of the Judiciary. Thereafter, I got personal guidance from few mentors. Also, I analyzed the syllabus thoroughly and made a strategy as to how to cover the entire syllabus before the examination. The most important strategy I followed was to look at the previous year’s question papers and it really helped me to understand the recent trends that are going on in the examination.
PD—In how many attempts have you achieved this success ? How do you visualise your previous attempts.
Shri Sharad—This was my third whole hearted attempt. As the adage goes, failure is the pillar of success, each attempt was a great learning experience for me. I corrected my mistakes and learnt from them as well. I worked more on my weakness and tried to maximize my strengths.
PD—Were you Preparing for other career opportunities as well while preparing for your career in Judicial Services ?
Shri Sharad—Initially, when I had started preparing for competitive Examinations I was also preparing for Civil services.
PD—While changing economic environment offers immense lucrative career opportunities in various sectors, still what kept you motivated towards Judicial Services ?
Shri Sharad—The motivation to serve the nation brought me here. I have always believed that being a part of the legal profession is something bigger than economic incentives or getting reputation for oneself. I believe that a strong judiciary is the backbone of a healthy democracy and I would like to be a part of it because economic incentive is only a part of that, not the whole incentive.
PD—‘Time Management’ is a key factor while making preparations as well as in writing examination papers, be it Prelims or Main Examination. How did you manage things ?
Shri Sharad—To have success in judicial exams, all one requires is an effective preparation strategy and that includes an efficient time management as well. I made short term goals and accomplished it within a time frame; it helped me a lot to manage my time during preparation. For the Prelims exams, I solved MCQ’s within a time frame and also gave mock tests, it improved my time management in prelims. As far as mains is concerned regular answers writing practice is a must, I practiced answer writing at home in exam conditions and it gave me the desired result.
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Bio-Data |
| Name—Sharad Joshi
Father’s Name—Shri Satyendra Joshi Mother’s Name—Smt. Subhashini Joshi Date of Birth—June 6, 1988 Educational Qualifications : 10th—2003, MP Board, Bhopal (66·40%) 12th—2005, MP Board, Bhopal (73·70%) B.A., LL.B. (Hons.)—2010, Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar (Gujarat) (57%) LL.M.—2014, Government Law College (65%) |
PD—What was your strategy for Prelims ?
Shri Sharad—Firstly, I tried to maintain a good command over bare acts (Cover to cover) and thereafter solved as many questions provided in previous papers, gave mock tests for prelims and read Pratiyogita Darpan regularly for current affairs. I also read the intermediate level books for Computer and English.
PD—What shift did you adopt in your strategy for Mains (Written) ?
Shri Sharad—I restricted myself to the important areas and tried to be thorough with those. I made sure that I obtained conceptual clarity. Thereafter, I practiced answer writing daily. I planned my study plan to be negotiable and effective and set realistic goals to achieve. I read selected legal topics in details, made notes of important points, followed exam question patterns, took mock tests regularly, and improved speed and handwriting, along with writing constructed answers thoughtfully in subjective papers. I thoroughly understood question patterns from previous years’ question papers and did an indepth study in topics which are frequently asked in previous papers. For the judgement writing part I read original text of the judgements of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and that helped me the most.
PD—Was there any special effort for effective preparation for ESSAY Paper ? Which topic did you pick up this time and why did you choose this particular topic ?
Shri Sharad—For Essay Paper regular practice is a must. Everyday, I read the editorials page in The Hindu, The Times of India and other newspapers along with articles available on the internet along with reading Pratiyogita Darpan. In case I found some interesting quote or phrases, I noted them down. I made a tentative list of essay topics and practiced writing. For my Essay Paper I also wrote a social article on ‘Smart City’ and wrote some legal articles on Euthanasia. I tried to keep my language simple. I also ensured that my essays were very simple, comprehensive and most effective.
PD—How did you prepare yourself for Interview ? How did your interview go on, how long did it last and what were the questions asked during the Interview ?
Shri Sharad—My interview went well and it lasted approximately 17 mins. I was asked questions about practical application of law, Company law, Code of Civil Procedure, Constitution, MP Accommodation Control Act, Legal GK and current affairs along with some queries regarding my resume.
PD—In your opinion at which Educational Level should one start preparing for Judicial Services and what should be the minimum period of time required to prepare for Judicial Services Examinations ?
Shri Sharad—It is ideal to begin serious preparations during the final year of graduation studies.
PD—Does the educational, financial and demographic status of the family of an aspirant have any impact on the preparation?
Shri Sharad—Educational, financial and demographic background of a candidate can affect their preparation in some ways. For example, if a person does not have the means to afford the books necessary for preparation, then such a financial situation can prove to be crippling. However, if a person has the determination and is willing to put in the necessary hardwork then he can overcome numerous obstacles.
PD—In your opinion what role do the Competition Magazines play when you are preparing for an examination like Judicial Services ?
Shri Sharad—I think competition magazines are a good source of information as a monthly compilation of current affairs and help the students. Hence, it will be fruitful for the candidates to diligently follow at least one good competitive magazines regularly.
PD—How do you find Pratiyogita Darpan ? Do you find it close to your expectations ?
Shri Sharad—I find Pratiyogita Darpan to be very useful for preparation for prelims as well as for essay paper. Pratiyogita Darpan is a reliable and suitable guide to the youth for their career, and competitive examinations.
PD—What is the secret of your success ?
Shri Sharad—Discipline, dedication, hard work, consistency and Self-evaluation along with the blessings of God, my parents and unflinching support of my college, family, friends and teachers.
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Personal Qualities |
| Favourite Person— My parents are my source of inspiration and strength. I consider the teachings of Swami Vivekananda to hold great value in shaping my life.
Strong Point—I am a strong willed person who believes in perseverance, discipline and consistency. Hobbies—I love music and enjoy playing musical instruments as well as listening to both classical and western music. I also like to paint in my free time. |
PD—To whom would you like to give the credit for your success ?
Shri Sharad—There are many people who have helped me in many different ways to realise my dream. First of all I would like to give credit of my success to the blessings of god and My Dada, Nana and Nani. My Dadi, Mother and Father have always put great trust in me and supported me throughout this journey. Looking back, I realise that my positive mental state and calmness had attributed a great deal to my success and such a state of mind could never have been possible without the unending care and genuine trust bestowed on me by my parents, family, college friends and friends made during preparation. My elder sister Nikita and brother–in-law Gaurav Tiwari were always there for that much needed encouragement. I would also like to give credit of my sucess to my lucky charm _‘Samyak’.
I would like to convey my heart-felt gratitude and sincere appreciation to Rahul Sir, Rehman Sir and for all those people who have helped and inspired me throughout this journey. Thank you everyone, this would not have been possible without your support and faith in me.
PD—Any suggestion/advice you would like to give to the future aspirants.
Shri Sharad—Believe in your abilities, regular study, self-motivation and self-evaluation are very important to clear this examination.
I would like to give the advice to the future aspirants by quoting Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s lines,
Lehron Se Dar Kar Nauka Paar Nahi Hoti
Himmat Karne Waalon Ki Haar Nahi Hoti
Asafalta Ek Chunauti Hai Sweekar Karo
Kya Kami Reh Gayi Dekho Aur Sudhaar Karo
Jab Tak Na Safal Ho Neend Chain Ko Tyago Tum
Sangharshon Ka Maidaan Chhodh Mat Bhago Tum
Kuch Kiye Bina Hi Jai Jai Kaar Nahi Hoti
Himmat Karne Waalon Ki Haar Nahi Hoti.
PD—Thank you very much and wishing you all the best for your future endeavours.
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