Clearing the Civil Services Exam (CSE) conducted by UPSC is a hard nut to crack. Touted to be one of the toughest exams for a reason, it demands years of dedication, determination, and hard work. India’s brilliant minds also prepare for years to clear the exam.
Here’s an inspiring story of an inspiring woman Ummul Kher, who battled against all odds to become an IAS officer. Hailing from Rajasthan, Ummul grew up in Delhi’s Trilokpuri slum. Her father used to sell clothes in a store.
From a young age, Ummul had a rare disorder of fragile bone disorder. She had at least 16 fractures and had to undergo 8 surgeries in her lifetime due to the disease. However, she always wanted to do something big in her life despite her financial constraints.
She never gave up hope. She took tuition classes to add to the income of her family. At a very young age, she began to earn money to cover her educational expenses. She was assisted by an NGO to complete her Class 10.
After her 10th, her family did not want her to continue her studies. However, she ran away from her family and lived in a slum where she again took up tuition and completed her Class 12. She scored an impressive 91% in her Class 12 and went on to graduate from Gargi College under Delhi University, a DNA India report reported.
She then went on to pursue her MA at JNU’s School of International Studies before being accepted into the MPhil/PhD program at the same institution. She also began her UPSC preparation at this time and successfully secured AIR-420 to become an IAS officer.
Her inspirational journey of struggle is a source of motivation for Civil Servant aspirants who are going through hard times now.