How often we tend to blame our failures on the situation or on the environment and eventually give up too soon? But, Sandeep Kumar, son of a rickshaw puller, has proved that if you are determined enough, success will become your slave. The 28-year-old Dalit scholar, who did his BA in Political Science through correspondence, has cracked the civil service exam despite all odds.

Sandeep Kumar lives in a transit camp for slum dwellers displaced from Kathputli Colony in west Delhi. The death of his father fuelled in him the fire to crack the exam and secure a better future for his family.

“I have always wanted to be a civil servant. I believe that to represent my community and to formulate policies that are more inclusive across caste lines, people from the backward classes need to have a bigger presence in the services,” Indian Express has quoted Sandeep Kumar as saying.

Kumar did not have any luxury to attend coaching classes. He used to work as an accountant in Moti Nagar, earning Rs 5,000 a month, but he finally quit the work to focus on the exam. His 10×12 ft makeshift cabin is where he studied for the exams.

“Working and studying simultaneously was quite a task. Since my father died, my brother and I were the breadwinners. We had to run the household and support our mother, who has supported us for years. My brother works in an MNC. He encouraged me to quit my job and focus solely on the exam,” he said.

Kumar’s success has inspired his neighbours, most of whom are children of migrant labourers, to prepare for the exam as well.

Kumar’s rank qualifies him for the IPS and IRS, but not the IAS. “I am very happy with the IPS as well. One of the things I want to do when I join the force is I will be to increase the presence of women in the police force. Several of our neighbours have been harassed by police officers for crimes they have not committed. Seeing such things makes me angry, and I would like to be a part of the long process to change this attitude.”

Kumar says his mother and his two sisters sacrificed a great deal for him. “My mother and sisters often had to sacrifice their dreams for us and I have never liked that. My aim as a civil servant will definitely be to increase opportunity in the public sector for women, as it is the women in my life who have allowed me the access to such an opportunity.” And his proud mother says, “He is a bright boy. I always knew he would achieve something big,” with a bright smile on her face.

This story of Sandeep Kumar is a true example of hard work and determination.