8 of 20 UPSC candidates opted for Gujarati literature

Of the 20 candidates who made it to the finals of the civil services examination from Gujarat, majority had chosen Gujarati literature as their optional subject. While eight successful candidates had chosen Gujarati literature, four opted for Geography and two for political science and international relations.

Interestingly, of the 14 who had cleared the finals of UPSC last year, only one candidate had opted for Gujarati literature.

Experts note that understanding Gujarati literature for civil services would really help the candidates connect with the public pulse of common people.

Sharing the reason for opting for Gujarati literature, 29-year-old Mamta Popat who scored 45th rank said, "To enter public administration, one needs to know and understand the society and culture. My educational background is science and MBA, and for me, to understand a region, I thought literature is the best way and see everything differently. Understanding literature of a particular region also helps you to understand the society and behaviour of people better."

Mamta who hails from Junagadh is at present undergoing training for deputy collector in Vadodara. She wants to work with the Women and Child Development department.

For 26-year-old Riyaz Sarvaiya, who got the 801st rank, being comfortable with the language made him opt for the subject. Riyaz, whose father is a police constable, said, "Throughout my life, I studied in Gujarati medium, and since I understand and enjoy literature, I opted for the same. However, I will attempt for the exam once again. While I got the 801st rank, I will not get IAS posting."