Fighting against all odds: Pawan Kumar’s UPSC success brings hope to his family for a better life

By Ishwi SinghFirst Published Apr 17, 2024, 9:56 AM IST
Highlights

After experiencing two setbacks, Pawan stopped taking coaching classes and turned to self-study. Two consecutive failures did not discourage him as he had faith in his dreams and dedication. When he found his name on the list of successful candidates for UPSC CSE 2023 exams, his happiness knew no bounds.

Bulandshahr: UPSC exams are renowned as the most competitive exams in India. Aspirants from diverse backgrounds appear for the exams in hopes of serving their country. Among lakhs of aspirants, only a few manage to accomplish their dreams. Pawan is one of those candidates who grew up in poverty. His father, working as a farmer, struggled to make the ends meet. Today, Pawan has cleared the UPSC exams by securing an impressive 239th rank. Let’s read about his inspiring journey. 

Who is Pawan Kumar?

Pawan hails from Raghunathpur village in the Uncha village development block area of Bulandshahr. His father, Mukesh Kumar, works as a farmer, while his mother, Suman, is a homemaker. Pawan has four sisters and one brother. His eldest sister, Goldie, began teaching at a private school after completing her graduation, while another sister, Srishti, is currently pursuing her higher studies. The youngest sister, Sonia, is in twelfth grade. 

Pawan completed his schooling from Navodaya School and pursued his graduation in Allahabad. After completing his degree, he began preparing for Civil Services at a coaching center in Delhi.

UPSC journey

Pawan Kumar attended coaching classes in Delhi for a while, but since affording the fees was challenging, he resorted to self-studying after that. Despite facing disappointment and frustration after failing the UPSC exam twice, he persevered and eventually achieved success on his third attempt. He mentions that his family's income solely relies on farming. His father does farming on four bighas of land, through which he supports his children’s education. Due to financial constraints, the family lives in a makeshift house. The roof, made from plastic material, starts leaking when it rains, making it difficult to protect the books. 

Overcoming failure

After experiencing two setbacks, Pawan stopped taking coaching classes and turned to self-study. This change in his study strategy helped him achieve his dream. He utilized online resources like YouTube and other relevant websites and continued preparing for the exams. Two consecutive failures did not discourage him as he had faith in his dreams and dedication. When he found his name on the list of successful candidates for UPSC CSE 2023 exams, his happiness knew no bounds. 

Family’s hope

Despite these challenging conditions, Pawan's parents remained steadfast in encouraging their son, ensuring he did not lose hope. Pawan attributes his success to the unwavering support of his parents and siblings. His mother and sister expressed their immense happiness for Pawan’s achievement. This success is not just about achieving a dream, but it’s also about enduring hardships and providing a better life to one’s family.

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