UPSC, termed as the toughest exam in India, is often cracked by those from very humble origins, ones who have battled poverty as well as ordeals to achieve their dreams. One among many who dreamt of being a government service official is Vishal Kumar from Bihar. Vishal hails from a financially underprivileged family and his life took a tragic turn when he lost his father during his ninth grade. His father, a labourer, had been the sole breadwinner, providing just enough for two meals a day. After his father’s passing, the family’s financial situation deteriorated significantly. In the face of these hardships, the responsibility of supporting the family fell entirely on his mother. She began raising goats and buffaloes, struggling to make ends meet.
As the eldest of three siblings, Vishal bore the weight of his family’s aspirations. His father had dreamt of a different life for him, one free from the struggles of labour and wanted him to pursue education to become successful. Financial constraints and a lack of resources for proper schooling made Vishal doubt his ability to fulfil his father’s dream. In this difficult time, he found a mentor in Gaurishankar Prasad, his guru. Gaurishankar not only assisted Vishal with his studies but also provided financial support, including covering his tuition fees and helping him stay on track toward achieving his father’s vision.
In 2011, Vishal achieved a remarkable milestone by topping the district in his intermediate examination. This success fueled his ambition to pursue a career in engineering, prompting him to prepare for the IIT-JEE examination. He enrolled in Abhyanand’s Super 30 coaching program in Patna, which was founded by Anand Kumar and former Bihar DGP Abhyanand, who established his coaching centre in 2007. Under their guidance, Vishal excelled and successfully passed the JEE exam, securing an impressive rank of 7,000. In 2013, he gained admission to IIT Kanpur, where he completed his engineering course. After graduating, Vishal landed a good job, significantly improving his family’s financial situation and fulfilling his father’s dream of a better life.
Vishal got a job, but after some time he got bored of the job and joined an institute in Kota as a teacher. From here Vishal changed his mind and he started preparing for UPSC while staying in Kota. When Vishal appeared for the UPSC exam for the first time in the year 2020, he cleared the prelims exam but could not clear the mains. After facing disappointment with his first attempt at the UPSC exam, Vishal found himself feeling frustrated and unsure of his next steps. Seeking guidance, he consulted his guru, Gaurishankar Prasad, who advised him to leave his job and dedicate himself entirely to UPSC preparation. Taking this advice to heart, Vishal committed the next year to intense study and focused preparation. In 2021, his hard work paid off when he reattempted the UPSC exam and achieved an AIR 484, successfully passing the examination.
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