For millions of aspirants, the UPSC Civil Services Examination is one of the toughest challenges in India. For Abhishek Sharma, a young man from a small town in Madhya Pradesh, the journey to success was anything but smooth — yet it’s now an inspiring story of grit, poetry and perseverance.
Two Failures & a Turning Point
Abhishek’s father, Ashok Sharma, an English teacher at a Navodaya Vidyalaya, always encouraged him to dream big. Inspired by this environment, Abhishek set his sights on becoming an IAS officer.
But confidence turned into complacency. He took his first two attempts lightly and failed. Disheartened, he considered giving up — until a Hindi poem by poet Arjun Sisodia became his lifeline.
The verse —
“युद्ध नहीं जिनके जीवन में, वे भी बड़े अभागे होंगे,
या तो प्रण को तोड़ा होगा, या तो रण से भागे होंगे” —
stayed pinned to his desk, reminding him daily that struggle is essential and only those who fight on emerge victorious.
A New Strategy, Renewed Spirit
With his family’s constant support, Abhishek transformed his preparation. Instead of counting study hours, he focused on completing daily targets. He also switched to a practical approach — connecting static syllabus topics with current affairs — and reminded himself of his parents’ sacrifices every day.
Choosing Physics as his optional subject, Abhishek built consistency and clarity as his core strategy. His mantra: “Don’t just know what to study, know why it matters.”
The Result: A Comeback Story
In the UPSC CSE 2024 results, Abhishek Sharma secured an All India Rank of 38. His story is proof that failure is not the end but a stepping stone to success.
Today, Abhishek’s journey inspires aspirants across India to never lose hope, stay disciplined, and turn setbacks into comebacks.
