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CHAPTER 7

Interview Technique

Lesson 1

Common Missgivings About SSB

Common Missgivings About SSB
Fortunately, candidates are better informed about the approach and methodology of SSB today. Some twenty
years ago, the situation was different. Selection was a mystery and hence mysterious beliefs were prevalent
among candidates.
One of such beliefs was about the waiters. We were given to believe by some opinion mongers that waiters
or the attendants of the candidates’ mess were the experienced ‘observers of human behaviour’ (if not the
psychologists) and they would report whether your conduct in the candidates’ mess is ‘officer-like’ or not. How
do you sit, eat, watch TV and interact with your own batch-mates was their special areas of concern. They were
the ones who could smell blue blood and would report to the President about their observations.
They were considered to be trained spies who would shadow candidates everywhere from dormitories to
toilets, from dining hall to cinema halls so, beware and do not dare take panga with the mess-staff ever.
Much to the chagrin of any well wisher of the system, even today things have not gone from the minds of
candidates completely !
Vani-Vilas : The Interview

Answer My Questions And Take It
Ancient Indian Universities of Nalanda and Taxila had a peculiar system of admission for the students. The
aspirants had to convince the Dwarpal or the ‘doorkeeper’ of their scholarstic aptitude by entering into a
‘shastrarth’ or a question-answer session to measure the depth of knowledge. The Universities had gates for
entrance in all the four directions and the Dwarpals appointed were the great scholars whose job was to certify
the scholarstic aptitude and eligibility of the aspirants.
One section of the Mahabharata accounts Yudhishthir’s answers to the question of a Yaksha who laid claim
over a pond. He would ask some questions to any one desirous to draw its water and would allow only when his
questions were answered satisfactorily.
Vidyottama the princess of Ujjaiyini wanted to marry the man who could accomplish her in the shastrarth.
Feeling jealous of her beauty and wits, the pundits thought of a design that she loses to a blockhead. They found
Kalidas a fool beyond any doubt to trap the princess. The only condition was that Kalidas would NOT UTTER
A WORD. Kalidas obeyed them in letter and spirit and got Vidyottama in marriage !
In its broadest sense, interview may be defined as ‘a personal meeting and a formal conversation
between two (or more persons) with an aim of getting information about the person or persons taking
part in the meeting’.