ESE Medicals and Myopia >4D (non pathological) - II

My ESE interview was around November and results and medicals came around January. I went to medical exam at southern railway hospital Chennai. This was my second medical test in same hospital. At 2014 ESE, all the written qualified candidates had to attend medical test and it was hell for the hospitals. Also before 2014 ESE, you had to give preference of your hospital.

Anxious face!

But now they have taken it away. I think now they allot the hospital which is more nearer to address you had given. It was convenient for most people, but I was working in Bengal and now had to travel to Chennai. Traveling was not the problem, but taking leave on peak work time by giving some other reason and seeing your superior’s face all twisted was a crisis for me. But I had to do it. Somehow, it was all an imagination and I got leave pretty easily, which is indeed a difficult thing for those working in construction industry.

                I went to Chennai southern railway hospital. As I had already given medical test in same hospital, I was familiar with the place nearest and decided to go for a bit sightseeing. On the day of medicals, I went to hospital at 9 o clock. There I found a few guys sitting and chatting .I knew they were for the medicals. I went and asked about the time to report. I already knew that the staffs came late at around 10 o clock. So we decided to pass time. I asked those two guys what their ranks were. 1^st rank said the first one and 2^nd rank said the next one. And they had similar GATE ranks. And the fun fact was that they were working. One of them was working for four years.

I admired their will power. For me, working really drains your energy and you really need a strong motivation for keep going. Although, I did give ESE during grueling M tech project time, the case was different. I had library facility in kharagpur and I used to regularly go there at 8 o clock. I would be the first one to enter the library and last one to go out at around 12 o clock. I had the chance of pacing my M tech work as I wished. I got two months of serious preparation after completing all M tech formalities. This was enough considering that I had already given ESE 2014 and GATE 2013. However, when I started working, it’s the responsibility that drains your energy and not the actual work itself. Around September, I had already started preparation for the third time if luck didn’t favour me during second time. However, it was frustrating because the projects were to be finished really fast and lots of work was pilling on. Being a junior, you have to work under lots of people and their remarks sometimes disturb mental peace. Seven casual leaves per year did not help either. I personally am a sensitive guy and these disturbances were creating problems in my studies. However, when I went to medicals, I found most of them working people. Some were in PSU’s and they managed their leaves and free times perfectly. Some of them were writing IAS and this exam was their backup. I just found out that I was just being a cry baby.

So, after two years of leave from blog writing, I am back. The main reason to write this piece of article is because I myself had read many articles written by others. I was a big reader of “my days at made easy”, ESE experience of many candidates. Also I read many excellent articles in Quora. Now writing them is easy, tying them is bit hard, proof reading and making presentable is tough.

I have a specific theme for this article. This article is for those guys who have specs. I have Myopia with power >4D. For those who don’t know what myopia is, its problem to see far distance things properly as normal human can. For me the power is 4D in one eye and 5.5D in other. And I am not physically handicapped. So most of the PSU’s don’t engage people >4D. After Btech, I was distraught for not getting into L&T or IOCL because of Myopia. I decided to go to Mtech in IIT and fortunately I got good college and very good faculty. However, I was pained to see L&T coming again for seniors. I was praying to God to give me something. And I am not making this up to make the article dramatic. One day I was in library searching for some research articles and I fumbled upon the ESE brochure at olden times (i don’t remember the year). I glanced upon it and found medical fitness. It said that eye power was up to 8D for some services. This happened in Mtech first year. That was turning point for me. Because of the myopia problem, I never considered ESE as an option even when I was preparing for GATE. I never regret it as I wanted to complete Masters and that too i completed it under a renowned Guide. I started searching more and eventually found out the ESE medical file. Now it had declared Myopia>4D (non pathological) as fit for all services other than IRSE in case of civil engineering.

That was the turning point and from that time onwards, I started my preparation vehemently. I never went to any trip organized, never went out for any festival. Just started my day by running a 2.2Km every day and after that it was library all time. My first attempt took me till interview and second attempt pulled it off.

During my first medical exam at Chennai, I along with other written qualified students was called. There were two girls. They started the test around 10 o clock. They started with chest Xray, urine test. Then they measured the height and weight. After that came the dreaded eye test. I along with two other spectacled candidates was referred to special medical board of three ophthalmologists. They put something in our eyes to dilate and it hurts like anything. They did a computer eye testing and handed receipt to us. Some guys didn’t bring their eye prescription and they heard earful from the doctors. The receipt was attached to a document. Then they put power glasses and made us to tell where slit of ring was. Then they flashed torches in our eyes and looked into our souls. We were asked to exercise our eyes. Look up and down now left and right. After that they watched eye from a gizmo. We were asked to read the ishara plates for color blindness. They were skipping it fast and with that entire torch light flashed before, the letter were bit dizzy. However I managed to read most of them. After that it was a lunch break. We had a good vegetarian lunch from nearby restaurant. I was bit more relaxed right now as the main over deal was over.

After that came the unexpected general body test. The people said that here is the place where you had to be naked and get your balls grabbed. I was feeling uneasy now. The people, who went in, came out and cracked some wise jokes. I went in. Doctor asked me to remove my shirt and all. He checked m chest wrist and heart beat. Then he asked me to remove everything. He pressed it and asked to cough facing sideways. I coughed my lungs out. Then he asked about piles and all. Then after putting pants he asked me to walk and sit. I did as he said. He left the room and asked to get dressed and move out. I did Google out what the ball grabbing test was and it turns out that he was not grabbing my balls but checking a specific vein in there. If there was some problem in those veins, it could be life threatening.

The last part was meeting MD. He basically asked about general things, what you are presently doing and all. He finally checked everything and filled all forms. And while he was filling form I got a look into medical board report. Fit for all services except IRSE due to Myopia >4D. This was during first medical test. However, i couldn’t get a rank in ESE 2014. All was similar in second medical test of ESE 2015 except i didn’t get to meet MD or my Special medical board report. Weeks later, i got a speed post that Medical board had declared you fit for some services only due to Myopia > 4D and if you have any objection file for second medical board. The letter did not specify which services. I was naturally tensed as why this has happened. I posted a reply approving the medical board decision and asking specifically for which services i am declared unfit. After a month or so, a letter arrived saying that I would not be considered for second medical board as I had no objection to first medical board findings. It also gave reply for my question” Fit for all services except IRSE due to myopia>4D (non pathological)”.

Second Letter from the medical board intimating fit for all service except IRSE

Main list of candidates medical status

 Finally I breathed in relief. I had endlessly searched for an article that would support me during the preparation as well as after medical. I got good help from the blog articles written with respect to interview. I hope this article helps those who are in same dilemma as I was.

ESE medicals and my first flight-I

                    

My painting skill with MS Paint

My medical examination for ESE 2015 was at Chennai. Train tickets were not available and booking tatkal was difficult and risky. So, I had to take a flight. I was always averse to change. I needed a strong force to change myself. The fact that there were no train seats available tilted decision in favour of flight. I booked two tickets using cleartrip.com. Round trip in spice jet saved me some money. It was my cheapest option available. Preparation for flight was filled with all types of questions. What will I wear? What items are included in cabin baggage? How much early should I reach the airport? Which items are banned in airport?

            The planning started three days ago. I did extensive search on internet regarding what are procedure for flying. I found out that liquid had to be small container. It was said to prevent explosion at low pressure. So I ditched my toothpaste. I didn’t want myself to be spontaneously on fire. It was better if I didn’t brush a day or two. I was always selfish and didn’t care about others agony (i don’t even chew mouth fresheners). They said that cabin baggage was restricted to 7 kg. I took minimum clothes and required medical papers. Finally the day arrived. It was Saturday. My plane was only on 4:30 pm. I left my place at tollygunj (Kolkata) at 10 o clock. I wanted to go there sufficiently early. Around 12 o clock I reached there. I thought that it would take lot of time to clear security. I anticipated that even if I am bit early, I would pass time by staring at the aeroplanes. I saw a VMB (variable message board) outside of domestic departure showing all the plane timings. Now you might think why I wrote VMB. It only because it’s almost two years since my Mtech, and only in blogs or pass time, I could use my technical knowledge. Most of my current job work is to liaison and I am not very good at it either. I went to the spice jet counter. I was awestruck by the tidiness of the terminal. Before entering a CISF jawan checked my ID proof and my flight details.

            The terminal was clean. There was lots of glass used in the construction. Most of the inside shops were of glass and the items were displayed in see through glass. I walked the length of the terminal. The coffee shops were expensive. My inner spendthrift demon had me all agitated to buy that coffee. But my frugal upbringing and my mission ahead had me in check. It’s not every time my will power wins. And when it does, it does no mistake of being humble about it. And believe me, after medical I spent like hell.

            The thing that no one misses is the breathtaking air hostess in their impeccable dress. From far, all looks like Barbie dolls. However on closer look, I felt the excess make to be a testosterone retarder. Sometimes the lipstick looks out of place. And if you remove the whole makeup, you could feed a district full of poor people with all natural extracts used in it. And if it’s not natural, I might just use it to repaint the whole Howrah Bridge.

The indigo had blue uniform and the spice jet had the red one. I thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful sight. But after two or three hours of waiting alone, even the beautiful air hostess becomes eye sore. Any way to pass time, I decided to check out the bathroom. Taps auto detecting the hand motion to discharge water and automatic hand dryer failed to impress me. The loud noise of hand dryer was too much for me and no means I will use it again.

            I pestered around the spice jet counter to give me boarding pass. Around 1:30 pm they agreed. I went to one of the guy and gave my online ticket. He asked for an id and after that gave me red color boarding pass. I went through the security gate where again CISF jawans were stationed. After checking was over, I signed relief. I went to secure airport area. The sight there was splendid. It was akin to the time when Alice entered the wonderland. The mighty aeroplanes moving with all human engineering defying the humongous weight that tries to bring it down, to fly higher than the clouds. These gigantic machinery made my day. Finally the boarding time came. We were asked to be in a queue. They checked our tickets and let us in.

            The on board air hostess welcomed us. I was jubilant to get in aeroplane. I went in sat at the window seat allotted to me. Air hostess showed all the safety measures and like an obedient student, I watched it carefully. Even before the start of the flight, I was thinking about what will happen if plane crashes into sea. I was fantasizing about taking all the drowning people (most importantly the beautiful ones) and saving the day. In reality, I had just learned swimming .I don’t even have stamina to swim 200 m, let alone taking someone else to safety. But none the less, I am a dreamer dreaming pathetic one like these.

            Even before the climax of my dreams, the plane started moving. I was excited like an 8 year boy. I watched carefully as the aeroplane moved towards the runway. Finally it reached the runway. It stopped for some time. The engines were in full throttle. The sound was audible even inside the plane. And then it just cut loose off all the bounds and started its run. After few seconds, it lost touch of the ground. I could still feel the jittery feeling in my feet. And in no time it just soared so high that Kolkata airport was no more than a jigsaw puzzle. From above nothing really matters anymore. All land, golf course water bodies were likes pieces of puzzle fitted together by a huge hand. And in a minute, we were above the clouds. Above the cloud was something like scene from the old Mahabharata movie. In childhood I always remembered the potion when Brahma with his three heads sat on his palace. The palace was all smoky. Now I knew where the idea of smoky palace came from. Those directors had traveled in aeroplanes in those days and were amazed when they too got above clouds.  They might have thought that nothing was more majestic and heavenly than the view from above clouds. This was my theory regarding why old mythical serials have Devas and Devi in the smoky palace. After two and half hours, we finally arrived at the destination. Chennai here I come. The landing was much more interesting than the takeoff. When plane landed, I could feel a lump in my throat. Partly it was due to the plane’s deceleration. And mainly it was because this journey has come to an end. I needed more courage to carry on forward. 

(If you still feel like reading after going through this painfully ” long article” and not becoming a myopic, read part II. Else take rest and be sure to come back and read part II, where I will discuss about my medical experience)