“Learn everything that is good from others, but bring it in, and in your own way absorb it, do not become others.” — Swami Vivekananda

 

*The following content is just a simple explanation of the quote, not the model answer.

Swami Vivekananda's quote emphasizes the importance of learning from others while maintaining one's own identity. In simpler terms, it means that we should be open to learning from diverse sources, but we should not blindly follow or imitate them. Instead, we should internalize and adapt information to fit our unique circumstances and beliefs.

For civil servants, this quote suggests that while it's essential to learn from best practices from around the world, they should also adapt these practices to the Indian context. They should consider the country's specific needs, cultural nuances, and legal framework.

A civil servant might study the efficient public transportation systems in cities like Singapore or London. However, when implementing such systems in India, they would need to consider factors such as the country's vast population, diverse geography, and economic conditions. They would need to adapt these models to fit the Indian context, ensuring that they are effective, efficient, and culturally appropriate.

By following Swami Vivekananda's advice, civil servants can become more effective and innovative in their work, while also preserving India's unique identity and cultural heritage.