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An IRS Officer With A Bard’s Heart

Indian Masterminds Stories

“It’s not the destination, it’s the journey”, this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson perfectly describes the life of Dr. Kundan Yadav. He started his journey from the ghats of Kashi and then moved through Allahabad, Benras Hindu University, and Jawaharlal Nehru University. He even went to the USA on Full Bright Scholarship to finally return to be an IRS officer.

His father was in the police, continuous transfers made Kundan Yadav change schools 17 times before passing his 12th Board. Dr. Yadav was not always a scholar, in fact, he did not pass 12th in one go, had it not been his missed opportunity to secure a room in JNU, he would never have been an acadaemic.

Without a proper room in a hostel when he had to spend days in the library, his life took a 90-degree turn and he became only the second person to get a Full Bright Scholarship in Hindi and went to the USA. But America couldn’t get Banaras and India out of him and he came back here.

He even cleared NET but then circumstances propelled him towards the civil services. Before clearing UPSC CSE, he also passed UPPCS. Dr. Yadav joined IRS (Customs and IT) even though he had another chance for appearing in MAINS. He could have been an IAS officer but he doesn’t regret it. He believes that IRS has given him all that an all-India service could have given.

He has just started his journey as a writer and poet with his first book published “Gandese Guru Ki Shapath”. In an earlier video, Mr. Yadav shared his poem on the Moon. Here he shares his connection with the Hindi language.

SELECTION IN HINDI

Dr. Yadav gave his written papers in Hindi but gave his interview in English. He believes
that although aspirants are still getting selected in Hindi the path is tough with any vernacular.
During an exclusive video interview with Indian Masterminds, Dr. Yadav shared his journey and talked about why he craves to be a professor, besides tips and advice for Hindi medium aspirants.


Watch the third part of the interview here:


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