Meet IAS Officer who once couldn’t even afford bus fare to attend father’s funeral, cleared UPSC with AIR-287

There was a time when he couldn’t even afford bus fare to attend his father’s funeral. His mother had to sell bangles door-to-door to support the family. Today, he is one of the most coveted IAS officers of the country.

Well, we are speaking about IAS Ramesh Gholap. His inspiring journey from a nobody to an IAS officer is a powerful example of determination, resilience, and hard work.

Born in a below-poverty family in Mahagaon of Maharashtra’s Solapur district, Ramesh had to face many challenges growing up. His father ran a modest bicycle repair shop. However, his condition deteriorated due to alcoholism, pushing the family to extreme poverty, reported DNA.

With no other option, his mother had to sell bangles to support the family. Ramesh, who was affected by polio, also helped his mother sell the bangles on the streets. That’s when Ramesh made up his mind to improve his family’s condition no matter what.

According to DNA, he studied hard day and night in his school in Barsi, Maharashtra. Things turned worse after his father passed away in 2005. He had to borrow money from a neighbour to attend the final rites. This bone-chilling moment was a turning point for Ramesh, as he realised that education was his way out of poverty.

He was determined to do something big in life. He focused on his studies and also worked to support this mother. He went on to complete his degree in Arts from an Open University. He went on to become a teacher to earn a livelihood for his family.

However, his dream was big. A chance meeting with a tehsilar during his college years inspired him to dream even bigger. So, he decided to pursue UPSC. However, his journey wasn’t a cakewalk either. He faced setback after his first attempt in 2010 failed to yield good results.

He appeared once again and finally cleared UPSC with AIR-287, fulfilling his dream of becoming an IAS officer. Today, IAS Ramesh serves as the Joint Secretary in the Jharkhand Energy Department, a testament to his perseverance and hard work.

His success story is an inspiring reminder that with dedication, one can overcome even the toughest challenges.