(Success Story) UPSC Topper 2015 - Sandeep Kumar
For
Sandeep Kumar, son of a rickshaw puller, the journey to realising his dreams has
not been an easy one. The 28-year-old Dalit scholar, who did his BA in Political
Science through correspondence, has cracked the civil service exam despite all
odds.
Kumar says the death of his father fuelled in him the fire to crack the exam and secure a better future for his family.
“I have always wanted to be a civil servant. I believe that to represent my community and to formulate policies that are more inclusive across caste lines, people from the backward classes need to have a bigger presence in the services,” he said. Kumar lives in a transit camp for slum dwellers displaced from Kathputli Colony in west Delhi.
Kumar did not have the luxury to attend coaching classes. His 10×12 ft makeshift cabin is where he studied for the exams. He used to work as an accountant in Moti Nagar, earning Rs 5,000 a month and studying after work. He finally quit to focus on the exam.
“Working and studying simultaneously was quite a task. Since my father died, my brother and I were the breadwinners. We had to run the household and support our mother, who has supported us for years. My brother works in an MNC. He encouraged me to quit my job and focus solely on the exam,” he said.
Kumar’s success has inspired several neighbours, most of whom are children of migrant labourers, to prepare for the exam as well. However, Kumar is not very content as his rank qualifies him for the IPS and IRS, but not the IAS.