IAS Exam is one of the toughest competitive exams in India. Its final rankings are decided post an interview, which is the final lap of exams. Interviewing panel consists of four eminent personalities, and a chairman. The legend has it that one can prepare for anything but an IAS interview.
Sakshi Kumari, a candidate from the state of Bihar in India, appeared for the interview. After exchanging pleasantries, one of the interviewers asked her-"What's your view on the great Albert Einstein's Quote-
'Imagination is more important than knowledge'
Sakshi Kumari: This came from the man whose one imagination changed the complexion of whole world forever. Little did Albert Einstein know that his imagination- that was born out of fear- would manifest into an unparalleled catastrophe. His letter to the President Roosevelt, that triggered a panic attack which went on to claim hundreds of thousands of Japanese lives, was purely based on his imagination of USA being attacked by Germans using atomic bombs in near future. In hindsight Einstein might have claimed a moral high ground by issuing a short and remorseful statement like 'Woe is me,' but his repentance; his empathy did not have the potential to undo the blot on humankind caused by his suggestion to Roosevelt. I really wonder how could he quote something like:
'Imagination is more important than knowledge'
Interviewers reserved their marks as Sakshi left the interview hall. Next in line for interview was Mr. Shashikant Patil from the state of Maharashtra, India. Apart from many other questions, he was also asked the very same question.
Shashikant Patil: " There is a prelude and a finish to this quote which goes like :
'At times I feel certain I am right while not knowing the reason. When the [solar] eclipse of 1919 confirmed my intuition, I was not in the least surprised. In fact I would have been astonished had it turned out otherwise. Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution. It is, strictly speaking, a real factor in scientific research.'
However, I would beg to differ with Einstein.I think if Einstein had no knowledge about celestial bodies' movements, his intuition would not have come true. Even if it did, it would have been a pure fluke. In my view, knowledge is as important as the ability to imagine, if not more. Imagining without knowledge would be daydreaming.
The interviewers looked somewhat satisfied and bade him adieu gracefully.
They say in an IAS interview a question is never repeated but interviewers asked the same question to yet another aspirant, Mr. Siddhartha Marwah from Delhi.
Siddhartha Marwah: "I think the only statement that possibly can be generalized is ' do not generalize anything.' Had the quote come from none other the great physicist we possibly would have tagged it to daydreaming. We have a tendency to be fanatical. We do not go to the trouble of seeing things through own lenses. Who wrote it- who said it- who sang it leads us down the garden path. What worked for Einstein might not work for me. What you see as a great source of joy may mean nothing to me. We all have different driving factors. Some try to fit in- that works for them. I don't try fitting in- whether it works or not. To each his own."
Sensing the disinterest in interviewers' eyes, Siddhartha stopped abruptly, flashed a smile and left.
That was the last interview of the day.
Any guess who got the best interview marks? Do write below your guess and reason in comments section.
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