In a tale that tugs at the heartstrings, Ramesh Gholap, a boy from a humble village in Maharashtra, defied polio, poverty, and profound loss to conquer the UPSC and emerge as an IAS officer.
His journey, woven with resilience and maternal love, stands as a beacon for aspirants battling odds.
Born into straitened circumstances, Ramesh’s left leg succumbed to polio in childhood. His father’s modest bicycle repair shop crumbled under the weight of alcoholism, plunging the family into destitution. With no other recourse, Ramesh’s mother took to peddling bangles on the streets, her young son by her side, his polio-affected limb a painful symbol of their struggles.
Tragedy struck deeper when Ramesh’s father passed away during his Class 12 days. Stranded without even two rupees for the bus fare home, the grief ignited a fierce determination within him. “That moment shattered something in me, but it also kindled a fire to achieve,” Ramesh later reflected.
His mother became his unwavering pillar, toiling from dawn until dusk while urging, “Son, never abandon your studies; it’s your strongest weapon.” Post-12th, Ramesh pursued a teaching diploma, moonlighting as a village tutor to support the family and complete his BA. Dreams of IAS glory beckoned, prompting him to quit his job in 2010 for full-throttle UPSC prep. Failure in his first attempt only steeled his resolve.
With villagers’ borrowed funds pooled by his mother, Ramesh relocated to Pune for self-study, clocking 12-14 hours daily sans coaching. Perseverance paid off in 2012: securing the 287th rank under the PwD quota, he donned the IAS mantle, transforming hardship into hope.
Ramesh’s saga whispers a timeless truth — if dreams are grand and grit unyielding, no barrier can bar the path.