When I was preparing for the IAS, one of my biggest fears was spending my life in tier-2 or...

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When I was preparing for the IAS, one of my biggest fears was spending my life in tier-2 or tier-3 towns. I was somehow convinced that having a nice cafe or shopping mall is necessary, otherwise, how are you going to take a break in life?

Last year, I remember clicking a notification on my mobile with trembling hands. It was supposed to have my place of posting for my field training as a BDO. I was a little tense about how I would manage in a remote block away from Kolkata.

But after spending 2.5 months in a block, something changed!

It taught me that our perception of needs vs wants is often not very accurate. I realized that maybe it's possible to have a life where you don't need a break! I feel small towns help you move in towards the goal!

Moving to Delhi afterward as an Assistant Secretary only confirmed it. While I navigated the city rush, my husband, Gourav was posted in the hills of Himachal. Every video call was a reminder of the peace that had been left behind.

Small towns have a charm that doesn’t hit you at once. But once it does, it stays. What I once saw as a drawback of the IAS is becoming one of its most beautiful perks - clean air, no traffic, fresh fruits and vegetables, low cost of living and more.

It’s not a bug anymore. It’s a feature :) A feature that keeps you grounded, connected, and strangely… more yourself. Because in small towns: The public feels more like a community. Buildings feel more like home. Office staff feels more like family.

And you feel more like you!

Pic: Small town life

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