In the path of ambition, failure is often seen as a stepping stone to success. This is the story of an IFS officer who, despite repeated setbacks in number of competitive exams, made sure to not leave her ambition behind, which ultimately led her to don the prestigious uniform of an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer.
She is 2022-batch IFS officer Ishita Bhatia. Speaking with Indian Masterminds, Ms. Bhatia shared about her not-so-easy journey to forest administration.
WHY IFS?
Hailing from the serene town of Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh, Ishita embarked on her career specialisation journey at the National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, pursuing a degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) from 2015 to 2019. However, her aspirations stretched far beyond the realms of circuits and algorithms.
A brief stint in one of Delhi’s premier schools, where admissions were predominantly reserved for the offspring of bureaucrats, provided Ishita with a glimpse into a world she found not just extraordinary, but divine.
The allure of a life deeply connected to nature, coupled with her spiritual inclinations, set the stage for her eventual rendezvous with the Indian Forest Service. “Frankly, the journey began with aspiring to be an IAS firstly, but gradually, during my IFS training, I realised maybe this is exactly what I’m meant for!” she told Indian Masterminds.
FAILURES
The path, however, was not a smooth one. She candidly shared her struggle, recounting a series of failures in competitive exams, including UPSC pre 2019 and 2020, RBI grade B 2020, UPSC CAPF 2020, UPSC CDS 2020, ECGC PO 2021, Intelligence Bureau 2021, AAI ATC 2021, HPPSC pre-2021, and CAT 2021. It was a period of introspection and self-doubt, a time when she contemplated whether destiny had a different path for her.
PARENTS SUPPORT
Amid the trials and tribulations, her parents stood as pillars of support. Sensing her distress, they wisely refrained from probing about exam results, prioritizing her happiness over outcomes. Ishita’s brush with despair reached its zenith when, after narrowly missing the cut in CSE 2021 by just one mark, she retreated into a month-long emotional hibernation, affecting not just herself but her family as well.
“My family, too, suffered because of that. Not because I couldn’t make it, but because they wanted to see me happy! Those were sad times, I tell you!” she said.
DISAPPOINTMENT TURNED INTO SUCCESS
The turning point emerged from the darkest corners of disappointment. Sharing about her darkest days, she reminisced, “I was lost. I didn’t want to move an inch from my bed, forget about studying anything. My physical health was also not good, I ate recklessly. I began thinking maybe the fault is in me, I’m never meant for this. The same old blaming the destiny.”
She further added that she even checked on some astrologers out of sheer helplessness for some answers. All they told was to not expect as my “horoscope doesn’t have it to become a bureaucrat.” Times flew by and slowly she started changing her perspective to “so what?”, not giving sole importance to this exam. “And, that’s when things started to change. Both inside and outside of me,” she said.
Mulling over Plan B, she considered pursuing an MBA, a path promising financial rewards. While feasible, her heart remained steadfast on the services. Teaching as an optional career emerged as Plan B’s backup plan.
PREPARATION STRATEGY
In a whirlwind of preparations, she faced the challenge of IFS Mains with only two months left and two unknown optional subjects. Amidst the chaos of relocating homes, she demonstrated unwavering determination. Armed with a meticulously crafted calendar, she tackled each topic methodically, ticking off completed portions. Telegram groups for common IFS optional subjects became invaluable resources for doubt clarification.
As Ms. Bhatia embraced success with her IFS triumph, she shared a profound message for aspirants: “Life is too short to not believe in magic!”
Her journey exemplifies the transformative power of resilience and the profound belief that setbacks are not roadblocks but mere detours on the path to fulfilment.
