My Journey

By Supreet Singh Gulati [2002- BTEE]

Supreet Singh Gulati ('Super') got the second rank in the Civil Service examination this year,
and is headed for a high-impact career in the IAS. In this article, he describes his formative
experiences at IIT Madras.
As a child I wanted to make rockets. I still remember screaming in delight
when India successfully launched its first PSLV in 1994. But some dreams are
never to be. I lost mine to my own ignorance. After all, wasnt getting into IIT
an ultimate achievement for a 17 year old? Whats a childhood dream
compared to opportunities that education at IIT would open up money, fame,
girls and travel? I never pursued it and as I graduated at 21 years of age I was
a proudly confused youth!
My first year at IIT can be summed up in one word despo. I was a Bloody
Branch Changer after first year. The second year was about bunking (that
takes a lot of effort after despoing for one year), playing TT, skating, and
taking long walks through the woods of our campus. Please dont ask my GPA
for 3rd and 4th semesters.
Third year gave me two distinct highs. The first one came through turtle walks organized by Student Sea
Turtle Conservation Network (SSTCN). Not only did my interest in wildlife find a direction through these
regular walks, I also met people who expanded my interests to include issues facing us today. My
association with T S Shankar (my junior at IIT), Dr. Susy Varughese and Dr. Dilip Veeraraghavan from
this period onwards has proved to be one of my biggest strengths till date. The second high came through
winning gold medal in skating. Nearly 150 students from another hostel rooted for me to win the last race
of the competition. It felt like heaven to perform and win in front of a cheering crowd.
Final year at IIT was the most formative year of my personality. So many events were packed in the latter
half that I could hardly believe it was real. The highs came through campaign to prevent blackbuck deaths
in the campus and starting IIT Madras wildlife club Prakriti. A few of the interested students launched
nightlong vigils for a month and a half to prevent deer and blackbuck death due to attack from stray dogs.
I remember falling asleep on the bus stop near KV school after a 40 hour vigil on bicycle. T S Shankar,
who has always set standards, didnt rest even at that time even though his vigil had been equally taxing.
We achieved our immediate purpose during the month, and launched Prakriti soon after with the desire
that good work would be continued by juniors once our small group graduated.
The experience that I am particularly fond of is the one we had with Piddlu, a blackbuck fawn. One fine
evening, Shankar came to the hostel carrying the fawn in his arms. Its mother had fled from an attack of
dogs leaving him behind. Our efforts to return it back to its mother failed. Also, we did not find any suitable
place in the city to rehabilitate him. Determined to return it back to its natural home, we T S Shankar,
Ashok Govindarajan, Nandakumar and myself helped maam Susy Varughese to raise up the fawn till it
could be set free. Dr. Kribakaran, the veterinary, was of immense help during this period. I missed
Piddlus rehabilitation in the Guindy National Park as I had graduated by then. We all hope that he is a
fine buck by now with its antlers attracting the females in large numbers!
The lows came in torrents too. Within a span of fortnight I lost my mother to cancer, my eagerly awaited
first job to global recession and a real threat of not graduating that year loomed large due to my
underperformance in B.Tech. project. I managed to scrape through the tough period largely due to
support given by Maam Susy Varughese, Dr. Dilip Veeraraghavan, Bestial (Ashok Govindarajan) and
Shankar.
I wrote earlier that I graduated as a proudly confused youth. Proud youth because I had ideas and ideals
and had seen some of them work in the small setting of our campus, confused because I had my interests

in issues that we face daily on one hand and also a career in electronics industry that I wanted to be a
part of. This confusion continued for about two years during which I was employed as a software engineer
in a MNC. I couldnt reconcile both the facets and reached a point where I had to make a decision in one
or the other direction. I took leave for two months from the company and worked with Centre for Science
and Environment (CSE) a non-profit NGO - as a volunteer during this period. The experience was
enough to make a decision and I chose Civil Services as my preferred career option. Its advantage is that
along with the opportunities, it also provides authority and responsibility to bring the change that we want
to see in our governance mechanisms.
It has taken me nearly four years to make it to the Services since I took that decision. It has been a long
period and having made it to the Services, Im determined not to lose my dream. I have realized that as
an individual within a large organization I can only make small changes for the better, but that doesnt
stop me from dreaming.
And Ive finally understood what John Wooden meant when he said, Success is never final, failure is
never fatal. Its the courage that counts. Over the past decade I have been overjoyed and made lasting
friendships whenever Ive shown courage. Ive lost people and self-esteem when circumstances have
succumbed me into timidness. The result has proved immaterial.
Im happy that over the years I have won confidence of a handful of people wholl keep me on the correct
path. Theyll be the source of my courage for this challenging job.