Chennai flood - Sorrow of TN UPSC aspirants

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Cyclones and storms are usual nightmares in the Bay of Bengal during the months of October to December but it was and is an extra-baggage of worry to the Tamilnadu aspirants preparing for UPSC because every year they have to face the most crucial part of their dream, that is the Mains examination during these months. Since the capital city - Chennai is the only center for this examination the aspirants from the entire state have to suffer majorly during this period.


Source: IndiaGlitz


Since 2003 I was preparing for the exam and my stay in Chennai started from then. My first Mains was during 2006 October and it turned out to be a real nightmare. Those days there were no established coaching centers as of now and we were devoid of internet connection and smartphones. So lack of information made me suffer. I was not aware of this climatic condition and it was during the last day of the examination, as I stepped out of the house I saw suddenly formed lakes around the house, nothing but the water-logging. The water scarcity and water-logging issues are like two ends of a vicious circle of Chennai, where one is followed by the other in repetition without any break.







Source: The Indian Express


Since the city buses were not reliable especially during the rainy season I had to fetch an auto but none of the auto drivers were ready to take up the ride because of water-logging. I almost gave up and was about to return back home with a heavy heart, fortunately, my house owner stopped me and enquired about my situation. He fetched one auto driver who was his friend, the driver was ready to pick me but with a warning that if the water-logging on the way was heavy then he will not take me further to the exam hall. That was the worst ever thrilling ride in my life but luckily I was able to reach the hall on time.






Source: Mint



There are other issues that only the TN aspirants face every time in Mains. Firstly, the bone-chilling climatic condition will not allow you to either prepare or enable you to write the exam properly without a shiver. The next major issue is the power cut. Candidates will be provided with the candles which give you dim light and at times to make the situation worse the table allotted to you will be shaky making the candle fall right over your exam paper. Another issue is that you will never know whether your paper reaches safely to UPSC escaping from the rain during its journey without causing the spread of ink.








Source: New Indian Express


Nowadays everyone possesses a smartphone with internet and are aware of the situation in prior. Lots and lots of coaching centers with experienced mentors have sprung up to alert the candidates. Vehicles are being arranged by certain coaching centers for the safe commutation of the candidates and meals are also provided by them at the centers. But above said issues are still prevailing inside the exam hall which the government should take care of because only the TN aspirants are facing these extra challenges thus bearing more pressure than other state candidates. It even made a few to choose other states as exam center which is again a matter of discomfort.




The 2015 flood was the worst of the worst experiences of my life which need to be written in a separate article which I will publish soon.

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