GRIT AND GLORY

Rashmi Zagde gives into her emotions as she clears her IAS exam and also manages to secure the 169th rank in the UPSC exam in 2009.

“It feels like a dream. Such nice things don’t happen to small people like us”, she says.

She is the daughter of a Class IV employee and a housewife with a very humble background. While she was in her second year of graduation at Fergusson Collegein Pune, since her financial condition didn’t support further studies, at the age of twenty she was married off to Siddharth Zagde, a neighbour, who had studied upto class IX only. Trusting her parent’s decision she accepted Siddharth who had lived a life of penury ever since he lost his father at the age of seven. His strained life however gave him the impetus to support his wife and realise her dream of doing something significant in life.

Siddharth did odd jobs, working in hotels, selling clothes and footwear across the city as a door to door salesman and passed very difficult days. While visiting government offices he saw the apathy they had for the poor and the illiterate. It was then that a dream was woven and Siddharth wanted his wife to become a high ranking administrative officer who will help the poor and highlight their issues.

With negligible information about the UPSC exam, she started studying in 2003 and failed thrice in a row. She then had a baby girl which temporarily put a stop to her studies. In 2008, she cleared her written exam, made it to the interview, but couldn’t make it to the final list.

It was highly frustrating, as Siddharth lost his flat, sold off his five acre farm to pay for her course, lost everything as they pursued their dream, but success was not in sight. Yet, Siddharth continued to have hope as he took care of his two year old daughter and his wife.

Siddharth kept repeating to her on not losing her focus. He encouraged his wife to seek proper guidance and accompanied her to classes, interviews and programmes. They could not afford to pay the fees of any UPSC classes in Delhi. No help came forward from the family or the local leaders, who in fact, mocked at him for encouraging his wife to appear for the exam.

Siddharth had total faith in her and though a school drop out himself, he started discussing current affairs and quizzed her on general knowledge, that he gathered by reading newspapers and his work experience.

Rashmi finally cleared the UPSC exam in her fifth attempt in 2009 and made it to the final list. Life for the couple has changed since then with accolades pouring in from all quarters.

“I couldn’t sleep for two days”, says Siddharth, overjoyed, “she is the first person in our village to have achieved this. I just hope that my wife is able to serve neglected sections of society and those who need her help.”

Rashmi brims with joy. She is an IAS officer today and is more proud to have a husband to stand by her and her dreams.

Contributed by Harina, Faculty, SBLC, Indore with inputs from Sudhir Suryawanshi, Mumbai Mirror.