Rags to riches stories are the most inspiring as the aspirants, who prepare for the UPSC, witness several highs and lows in life. But, one common thing is their unwavering dedication and perseverance to continue despite several obstacles.
One such inspiring UPSC success story is that of IAS Nirish Rajput who sold newspapers, did every possible odd job, and battled adversities to realise his dream.
Hailing from Madhya Pradesh’s Bhind district, Nirish was born into an extremely impoverished family. His father was a tailor and hardly earned enough to feed the family. So, Nirish would sell newspapers to extend a helping hand to his father.
As his family couldn’t afford fees in a private school, he attended a government school. Later, he went on to pursue BSc and MSc.
Realizing his amazing talent and intelligence, a friend requested him to teach at one UPSC coaching institute and promised to offer study materials in return. Nirish devoted two years of his life to the institute and brought name and fame for it. However, his friend betrayed him after getting success and fired him. This came as a huge setback for Nirish who was earning well for his family.
Without being dejected, he decided to leave for Delhi to start UPSC preparation. With limited resources and money, he could not afford coaching in well-known institutes. He made friends with students who attended coaching and took notes from them for his preparation.
With great determination, he studied for approximately 18 hours a day. However, his first three attempts turned into failures, leaving him in shock. However, instead of succumbing to his failures, he continued to prepare for the fourth attempt.
His unflinching commitment eventually paid off and he cracked UPSC with an impressive AIR-370. IAS Nirish’s journey from extreme poverty to a civil servant is a testament to the value of hard work, persistence, and passion.