UPSC Interview 2024] – Transcript #58: Sheel Vardhan Sir, Board, History Optional

Date of Interview: 2nd April 2025
Board: Sheel Vardhan
Optional: History
Daf details: BA History hons, MA history, oral history project. Rest not asked

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Chairman

Welcome to the conversation

1. You did this oral history project. What does shruti, smriti and ithihas mean ? ( i answered, then he himself summarised)
2. What does Itihas mean ? ( i answered, to make inquiry, he said yes As it had happened in past)
3. Do you know meaning of word “upanishad” ? ( sorry sir then he himself explained)
4. Which is one ruler that you would hate the most. You can choose anyone across the world. But aurangzeb is surely out.
5. Now choose from world. (Chose hitler)
6. If from Indian perspective. I was thinking, he himself asked- would it be churchail, i said definitely yes sir.
7. In which ruler’s time would you like to live under ? (Answered Ashoka)
8. Okay so if in front of you, emperor ashoka is sitting, what 3 questions would you ask from him ?
9. I am a magician and have made you ashoka. Now answer these three questions.
10. Now what if i say that there was nothing sort of change of heart. It was just a administrative measure.
11. Which ruler do you think was undeserving at all to rule India across the period ? ( i answered Aurangzeb. He said no he captured power through his efforts)
Then i Answered Masud Shah and Bahram shah who came after removing Capable Raziya Sultan.
He asked do not think these humanyu, hemu etc were deserving. I said sir as far as humanyun is concerned, he could recapture his empire again. It shows that he was a bit deserving.

Member 1

1. In this job you are coming requires leadership. How would you assure that you lead when others of your team give you diverse opinions.
2. But what if they don’t agree at all with your views and asked for divergent ways. What would you do.
3. These is so much disparity between East and the west. What measures would you suggest to address this disparity.
4. What do you think- AI would result in job losses or not.

Member 2

1. If i ask you one community that has been demanding nation but couldn’t find ever. Can you tell me which community is that one .
2. Yes, right . so how Kurds have been oppressed.
3. You must have read history how USA created wedge between china and russia in 1970s. Now Trump is trying to again do the same. What could Trump do to achieve it.

Member 3

1. We have been talking so much about “indian knowledge system”. Is it really helpful or we are just wasting our resources on it.
2. You talked about values. Tell me some values that are unique to India. (I answered- spiritualism along with materialism, community living, vasudev kutumbakam, living with Nature in harmony)
3. Tell me some differences between values within the country. Can you tell me some ? ( I thought and then said sorry sir right now i can not think of )
4. It is said history is only for those who can do so much rote learning mugging facts , dates. Don’t you think so?

Member 4

1. As we talked about history. There has been recently new ways of history writings. Do you know and like some recent historians. Why do you like. Which book of that historians did you read ?
2. Good. You chose my favourite historian. And you should definitely read this book as you mentioned.
3. If you are in govt service in archaeology department. And ASI is having so many sites that cannot be controlled properly resulting in neglect. What can you suggest to address this.

Chairman:
During your interview, these has been so much discussion on history. What are the lines that Bahadur Shah Zafar said when he was exiled to Rangoon. (I said i am not recalling exact lines but if u allow i can recite it is in urdu. While i was just trying to recall. He himself started – kitna badnaseeb h zafar ……..
i just keep on reciting along with him. Then for last line he stopped for allowing me to complete the lines.)

It has been wonderful talking to you. Your interview is over. Thank you.

Experience: gave around 15-16 mocks to build confidence and practice of speaking crisply.