Srinagar, March 20: Bisham Dev Singh Jamwal, a resident of Chanas Tikri, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district, recently achieved 15th rank in the prestigious Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) Examination.

Brighter Kashmir caught up with Bisham to ask what had inspired him to take the highly competitive three-stage examination-cum-recruitment process.
“My journey towards taking this challenge up started in the 11th standard. I completed my 10th standard from the Tikri Sainik Co-operative School and then joined the Brahmrishi Bawra Shanti Vidyapeeth School in Udhampur. There, I met Arush, and through him, his father, a JKAS officer. My interactions with Arush’s father inspired me to attempt it,” said Bisham.
“My focus was on self-study. I had a thirst for acquiring knowledge, did not take any coaching, and sought professional assistance online for writing answers,” he said.
When asked for his immediate reaction to his success, Bisham told BK, “I got to know about my result from my mentor (Arush’s father). I was in Srinagar at that time and I got a call from Jammu from Ashok Uncle.”
In response to a question why some individuals tend to give up mid-way, a philosophical Bisham said, “Aspirants who give up mid-way should ask themselves what made them take the exam in the first place; they must have strong reasons to continue their journey and it that has to come from within.”
“A JKAS aspirant must primarily be guided by a purpose, i.e., ‘why do I want to be a civil servant?’ If you approach the competition with that mind-set, success is assured,” he said.
Bisham said he saw himself as an astute observer of people in society and that he had nurtured this habit since childhood. “Issues like patriarchy and the neglect of people with mental issues, etc. bothered me, and I felt as I grew up, that the civil services provide a platform for social change and you can bring joy into people’s lives. This was the core reason to try”.
He spoke warmly about close friend Arush, saying that he had been a pillar of strength for six years and played a big role in keeping him focused and determined.
“When I look back, I feel you should have people like Arush around you to keep you motivated and centered to achieve that desired goal,” Bisham said.
When asked how young aspirants especially from poor or underprivileged backgrounds should prepare for JKAS, he said, guidance was quite good and available online. “There was really no need to go to coaching institutions, give huge fees, etc. Self-study, self-strategy and your own emotional and mental IQ, were enough to get you through.”
“You must strategise and constantly test yourself to succeed. If you must go to a coaching institute, then go there to get the discipline to compete,” Bisham said.
As to the field he was interested in, Bisham said, “Administration, because it gives you a broader perspective, you get to see dynamism up close. For instance, as JKAS officer, I can address problems associated with two issues at the same time, like for instance, women empowerment and child support.”
“One more aspect I would like to stress on is to keep a track of your mental health, for that can take a toll when studying for this examination. My message to all is treat the JKAS like any other examination, but be focused,” he said.
BK also spoke to Arush, and he said, “I am really happy for Bisham’s success. I have known him since the 11th standard. He was then clueless about his life. I decided to help him in whatever way possible, which not many people do.”
When he went to see him in 2024, he was in bad shape mentally and in terms of his living standard.
“I decided to take him back home, for I realised that there are people in this world, in our society, who will do everything within their power to discourage you and mentally drain you out,” he said.
Arush said that elders, parents, etc. should not to force their views or way of life on the young, and must give them the space to develop and flourish.
“If a person follows his or her passion, he or she will be successful in life. Forcing someone to do something they do not like, is the work of the devil,” he added.
Both said reading books and newspapers strategically were necessary to achieve success in examinations like JKAS. Being glued to social media reduces your mental strength and only gives small gratification. They said possessing qualities of kindness and passion is key to avoiding social evils like drugs, etc.