Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Farkhanda was born and educated in the backward Balaghat district and Neelesh’s farmer father could not afford to send him for coaching. Vivek had completed his entire education in Hindi medium and Prateek Sisodia had to quit sports due to an injury and switch to academics.
Yet, all of them successfully overcame the challenges to crack the UPSC Civil Services Examination. And they come from small towns and villages of Madhya Pradesh.
On the sidelines of a function, organised by the department of higher education in the city on Wednesday to felicitate candidates from the state who have cracked the Civil Services Examination 2024, Free Press talked to them to know what kind of challenges they faced.
Difficulty accessing resources
Farkhanda Qureshi from Balaghat secured AIR 67 said, coming from a backward district like Balaghat, accessing books, mentors and guidance was a challenge for me. I lived in Delhi for just about 6-7 months. Then, Covid-19 lockdown was imposed and I had to return to Balaghat, where I prepared for the examination for the next 4-5 years.
I got success in the fourth attempt. My father is an advocate and my mother is a homemaker. My parents supported me both financially and emotionally. As an IAS officer, I want to work for the education of women and for securing primary and secondary health care, especially in districts like Balaghat, to them.
Farkhanda Qureshi |
Moving from sports to academics
Prateek Sisodiya from Ujjain secured AIR 753 said, the biggest challenge for me was transitioning from the field of sports to academics. I was a Wushu player and had won a gold medal in the sport for the state. I had decided to make a career in sports.
But fate had something else in mind. A knee injury forced me to abandon sports. I had never been a serious student, skipping school most of the days. But sports had taught me discipline and hard work and these two qualities helped me crack the Civil Services Examination.
I took two-year residential coaching at Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi. It is a myth that only students from prestigious institutions like IITs can crack the examination.
Prateek Sisodiya |
Couldn’t afford coaching
Neelesh Kumar from Seoni secured AIR 621 said, I come from Hinotia, a small village in the Seoni district. I did my schooling in village schools. My father is a farmer and my mother is a homemaker. This was my third attempt. I prepared for the examination without taking any coaching.
The major challenge I faced was the financial condition of my family. My father could not afford to send me to Delhi for coaching. My objective is to use my education and position for the welfare of society.
Neelesh Kumar |
Could clear Patwari, constable exams
Vivek Yadav from Chanderi, secured AIR 413 said, my father is an employee in the municipal committee and my mother stitches clothes at home. My main challenge was that I completed my entire education in Hindi medium. And resources for preparations for the examination are not available in Hindi. I appeared in constable and Patwari recruitment examinations but failed to clear them. My uncle, who is a police inspector, kept me motivated. My hometown Chanderi is already famous. I want to make it more famous.
Vivek Yadav |
