https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

For the Love of Maithili

In the crowd of civil servants, IPS officer Rishabh Kumar Jha is a glorious exception. In this age when English rules the masses and is a language of choice for almost all the UPSC aspirants, Mr Jha opted for Maithili and succeeded with flying colours.
Indian Masterminds Stories

English is the king- or queen- of all languages; no doubt about it. Even while attempting UPSC examination, most aspirants do so in English. Very rarely do we find people opting for other languages such as Sanskrit, Maithili, Bhojpuri or Maghi etc, forgetting that these have often been the true representatives of our art, culture and traditions.

In this situation, it’s heartening to see an aspiring civil servant choosing Maithili as his optional- and also scoring big and bagging a rank for Indian Police Services! In an exclusive interview with Indian Masterminds, a 2015 batch officer of Jharkhand cadre Mr. Rishabh Kumar Jha explains the importance of Maithili in his life and what pushed him to choose it as his optional subject for civil services exam. 

Maithili fascinates me’

Mr. Jha belongs to Saharsa district of Bihar, where Maithili is widely spoken. Everyone in his family used to communicate in the same language. “If you have heard someone speak Maithili, you must be knowing how sweet this language is. The softness of this language always fascinated me. When I was in the process of choosing the optional, I saw Maithili as one of the options. And I immediately decided to select Maithili”, he said. 

Mr. Jha with his friends during the training period

However, before the UPSC preparation, Mr Jha he didn’t have exposure to the literature in Maithili. It was the first time he was learning about this language formally. He recalled, “Till my graduation, I only studied in English medium. I used to speak Maithili but had never read or written anything in it. For an English medium student, it is always tough to write in Devanagri script (which is used in Hindi and Maithili as well) with good speed. So, that was one challenge, but with practice I got used to it. The best part of this exercise was the opportunity to learn something new. In front of the that, every problem appeared very small.”

When Mr. Jha attempted UPSC in Maithili, he didn’t know that he was doing something new. “Now when people appreciate me for it, I really feel good. If my decision inspires others to take up this language further, then nothing like that,’’ he remarked.

Giving Justice to Rape Victim 

Mr. Jha is currently posted as SP, Chatra. Previously he was posted in Ranchi (Rural). While his posting a law student was gang raped. It was one of the most heinous crime taken place in that region. This incident hugely impacted Mr. Jha. He took this case not only just as a duty but also a responsibility. Mr. Jha and his team worked day & night and within 12 days, all the culprits were behind bars. They were also sent for a speedy trial and in just three months, all of them were convicted and granted life imprisonment. Sharing his experience he said, “It still gives me goose bumps. The only good part about the whole experience was that all the convicts are still behind the bars”. 

In his initial days of service Mr. Jha proved his efficiency by handling many such cases. He is committed towards his duty and wants to serve in central agencies in future. 


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Uttar Pradesh Police (UP)_resized
UP Police to Undergo Major Transformation: Roadmap to World-Class Force to Be Ready in One Month - Details Inside
406951-supreme-court-of-india-sc
Supreme Court Constitutes Two SITs With Senior IPS Officers To Lead Independent Probes in Shah and Mehmoodabad Cases
Bihar Government-resized-IM
CM Nitish Kumar's Govt in Bihar Implements New NCF: Only 29 Study Hours a Week, 10 Bag-Free Days for Students!
CM Yogi Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh: CM Yogi Adityanath Stresses Focus on Aspirational Districts and Blocks
BEL Bharat Electronics Limited
Bharat Electronics (BEL) Secures Rs 528 Crore in Fresh Defence Orders, Strengthens Strategic Edge - Details Inside
Screenshot 2025-06-30 195034
Jharkhand: CM Hemant Soren Pays Tribute to Santhal Hool Martyrs, Reaffirms Commitment to Tribal Rights
Mohan Yadav CM MP
Madhya Pradesh to Boost Sports Infrastructure and Player Support for 2028 Olympics: CM Dr. Mohan Yadav
Screenshot 2025-06-30 193541
Sarkot Sets a Benchmark in Sustainable Rural Development under Uttarakhand’s Model Village Programme! Earns Plaudits From CM Pushkar Singh Dhami
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Inderjit Singh Air India
Is Air India Carrying The Burden of Split Before Privatisation?
Ex IRS C Rajendiran
Ex-IRS Officer C. Rajendiran Illuminates Thirukkural’s Timeless Wisdom in Exclusive Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
Why Has the DGCA Fined Air India Rs 5 Crore Since Privatisation?
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IPS Deepak Meghani
Deepak Meghani, IPS: A Journey of Focus, Failure, and Quiet Discipline
A passionate writer, he has authored several books in Gujarati, ranging from exam strategy guides to...
Sanish Kumar Singh
“If you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way,” Sanish Kumar Singh AIR 8, UPSC IFS 2024 
The real interview, he says, was much more humane. “The board was conversational. The chairman opened...
Raju Wagh
When the Battlefield Became a Study Room and a Dream Took Flight
Amid IED blasts and anti-Maoist operations in Bastar, CRPF Commando Raju Wagh taught village kids, studied...
Social Media
Shailaja Chandra
“Nanis & Dadis Have a Brain”: Former IAS Officer Shailaja Chandra Weighs in on 1970s vs 2025 Life Debate - “This Generation Has It Better”
Responding to Viral Post on Middle-Class Struggles, Ex-Bureaucrat Offers Candid Reflection on Then and...
Tigress Arrowhead
The End of an Era: A Queen Falls - Ranthambore’s Iconic Tigress Arrowhead (T-84) Passes Away at 14, Hours After Daughter’s Relocation
Ranthambore mourns the loss of one of its fiercest and most beloved tigers, Arrowhead, the granddaughter...
Screenshot 2025-06-13 194001
Wild Elephant Disrupts Riverside Picnic, Sparks Debate on Human Encroachment; IFS Parveen Kumar Shares the Video - Watch Here!
Mr. Kaswan used the viral video, which has garnered over 1.5 lakh views, to highlight the risks of human...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Uttar Pradesh Police (UP)_resized
UP Police to Undergo Major Transformation: Roadmap to World-Class Force to Be Ready in One Month - Details Inside
406951-supreme-court-of-india-sc
Supreme Court Constitutes Two SITs With Senior IPS Officers To Lead Independent Probes in Shah and Mehmoodabad Cases
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Inderjit Singh Air India
Ex IRS C Rajendiran
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT