How A Specially-abled Bangle Seller Became An IAS Officer

There is nothing under the sun that one cannot touch the pinnacle of success with individual talent. At any time, life can change and all one can do is to set goals high and to march towards it each day of life.

Nobody could know it better than Ramesh Gholap. The 2012 batch IAS officer who started in life as a bangle seller and now nine years later, posted in Jharkhand as Joint Secretary in the Energy Department. Ramesh also known as Ramu faced a lot of ups and downs in life. But that¡¯s didn¡¯t stop him from becoming what he is today, as he told The Better India.

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The story of Ramesh Gholap will surely inspire you in many ways and let¡¯s go through his journey.

His father Gorakh Gholap ran a cycle repair shop, enough to provide an income for his family of four, but the business did not last long as his health suffered from constant drinking. He passed away when Ramu was still in school.

Began selling bangles with his mother

It was then that Ramesh¡¯s mother Vimal Gholap started selling bangles in nearby villages to support the family. And though Ramesh¡¯s left leg was affected by polio, he and his brother joined their mother in her little venture. Ramesh and his brother would yell out loud, ¡°Bangde ghya bangde (Buy bangles!),¡± and their mother would help the women try them on.

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Became a teacher after graduating

Ramesh is from a remote village named Mahagaon in Barshi Taluka, Solapur district of Maharashtra. There was only one primary school and Ramesh went to stay with his uncle in Barshi for education. Despite thriving in academics in school days, Ramesh did a Diploma in Education as it was the only course he could afford. He didn¡¯t stop there and also pursued a graduate degree in arts from an open university and in 2009, he became a teacher.

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Went to prepare for UPSC exams

Seeking inspiration from a tehsildar he had visited during his college times, Ramesh wanted to be one too. After his mother borrowed some money from a self-help group, Ramesh quit his job and went to Pune for six months to prepare for UPSC.

He told The Better India, ¡°The first teacher who met me was Mr Atul Lande. I requested him to write down the answers to a few of my questions, like what is UPSC, can it be taken in Marathi, am I eligible for it, etc. And he told me there was nothing to stop me from taking the UPSC. It is only because of that one statement that I finally did it.¡±

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Ramesh tried for UPSC exam in 2010 but he did not qualify then.

As per a report by The Logical Indian, Ramesh cracked State Institute of Administrative Careers (SIAC) exam, which offered him a hostel and a scholarship. To meet his daily expenses, he painted posters besides focusing on studies.

Now, he is joint secretary in Jharkhand's energy dept

Finally, he cracked the UPSC examination with an AIR of 287. After a few months, his MPSC results were also out where he topped with the highest-ever marks of 1,244 out of 1,800. At present, Ramesh plies his trade as joint secretary in Jharkhand¡¯s energy department.

Ctsy: Ramesh Ghopal

¡°Whenever I cancel the licence of a PDS shop owner who has been black-marketing kerosene, I remember my days when I had to turn off the lantern for lack of kerosene. Whenever I help a widow, I remember my mother begging for a house or for her pension. Whenever I inspect a government hospital, I remember my father¡¯s words when he had left drinking and just wanted better treatment. He would ask me to become a big man and take him to a private hospital. Whenever I help a poor child, I remember myself, I remember Ramu,¡± he told in an interview with The Better India.