“Difficulties in life are meant to make us better, not bitter.” – Dan Reeves
India’s civil services constitute an equivocal narrative: lakhs aspire, only a few succeed. Some narratives transcend marks and ranks- stories of grit, unshakeable will, and a spirit that refuses to bow down to fate. In this article by TheHinduzone.com, we will discuss about IAS Suraj Tiwari’s Inspirational UPSC Journey. The journey of IAS Suraj Tiwari is an extraordinary one of a child from a sceptical background who lost two legs and one arm in a train accident and cleared one of the world’s hardest examinations, the UPSC Civil Services Exam.
Early Life: Beginning in Mainpuri
Suraj Tiwari is from Gharanajpur, a small locality in Kurawali Tehsil, in Mainpuri district of Uttar Pradesh. Suraj Tiwari’s father, Rajesh Tiwari, is a tailor. Rajesh is a humble, high-spirited man who inculcated in his offspring certain values of determination, simplicity, and discipline.
Suraj did his early schooling at Maharshi Parashuram School, his hometown. He passed his Class 10 from SBRL Inter College, Mainpuri, in 2011, and Class 12 from Sampoornanand Inter College, Aram Sarai, Bewar, in 2014. From an early age, Suraj was academically inclined, but no one could have imagined that the boy studying under modest conditions would one day make it to the prestigious list of India’s future bureaucrats.
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The Turning Point: 24th January 2017
January 2017 brought the most harrowing phase of Suraj’s life. Suraj, then a B.Sc. student, was travelling by train. On 24th January, while journeying through Dadri, he met with a horrifying accident that changed his life forever. In a moment of misstep or mishap- still shrouded in fragments of memory and trauma—he fell from the moving train.
The consequences were brutal. Suraj lost both of his legs, his right arm, and two fingers on his left hand. For any human being, for a young dreamer student, it could have been more or less than a death blow. Thereafter came months and months of hospitalisation. Following those were days where pain, helplessness, and despair would be the dearest companions of Suraj. Yet while that day left its mark upon the very body of Suraj, his soul refused to renew life.
The Real Battle
Most people would have thrown in the towel. I guess that when one’s very possessive independence over the physical has been snatched away, the glimmer of continuing the fight hardly gets visibility in one’s subconscious.
But not Suraj. Suraj, supported by his family and more so by his father, started rebuilding his life. Suddenly, physiotherapy, a great deal of medical care, and some sort of emotional healing entered his routine. While his body had irreparable losses inflicted upon it, the mind was now preparing for a bigger conquest. Eyes were now set on the Civil Services Examination by UPSC examination which tests, apart from intelligence, patience, and consistency, put together.
The UPSC Journey
What he has achieved in the end could be called phenomenal, given that he never went to a coaching institute. While all aspirants were going to Delhi and Hyderabad and spending lakhs on fees and study materials, Suraj opted for self-study. He studied at his home, many a time with physical discomfort, at his own pace and rhythm. The boy created methods on the basis of his strengths: he made notes, and he solved problems. Most importantly, he never allowed his disabilities to become a reason to limit himself.
Clearing UPSC is not easy. It demands awareness of current affairs, matters about optional subjects, essay writing skills, ethics, and finally, interviewing skills. Suraj gave justice to all that and more, not so much with books but a greater amount with the force of willpower.
UPSC CSE 2022: The Historic Result
In the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2022, he emerged with Suraj Tiwari at an All India Rank of 971. This wasn’t just a number. It became a statement for a world that disability is not a lack of ability. That in a system where resources matter, more counts resilience. That no accident, be it a tragic one, can put a full stop to a mind that dares to dream. Suraj did not just pass an exam; he made history in terms of courage.
Beyond Books: The Mental Battle
Coming from beyond the glory of rank 971 is a mental battle that very few can identify with. Imagine writing down pages of answers with but a few fingers, sitting for long hours without legs, fighting phantom limb pain, and yet keeping up the spirit to show up for the study every single day.
There were days when Suraj said pain would make him want to stop, pain both physical and emotional. But he would follow it by reminding himself about his greater goal-to serve the nation, to be an officer, not despite his challenges but because of how he overcame them.
Inspiration for Millions
The story of Suraj is more than a tale of individual triumph. It is indeed a rallying call to the differently-abled, those students coming from very backwards families, and anybody who at some point has been told “No, you cannot.”
In a world where there are so many distractions, confusion, stress, or lack of resources, Suraj’s journey reminds the world of what really should matter: grit, focus, and undying belief in oneself. Estimating that coaching must be pricey, he breaks this myth. Discipline and guidance of any sort-could be a book, an internet resource, and time-will work perfectly.
Lessons from Suraj Tiwari’s Journey
- Physical Limitations Do Not Define Potential
Despite his loss of limbs, Suraj never allowed his dreams to be crushed. He showed how capacity lies with the mind. - Self-Study Can Lead to Success
It is a culture dominated by coaching, yet Suraj demonstrated it is motivation and deliberate self-study that clears even the UPSC. - One Attempt Is Sufficient-If It Is One Hundred Per cent Focused
Suraj managed to crack the exam in his very first attempt, which was possible because of his clarity and focused preparation. - Pain Can Be Power
Instead of pain becoming a hurdle against him, he used it as a lever for his purpose. - This Support System Matters
Behind every strong individual, there probably exists a stronger family. Suraj’s father and family have supported him in every step of his journey.
The Coming Light
As a civil servant, Suraj is expected to bring with him not only administrative acumen but also empathy, experience, and a firsthand knowledge of the struggles people go through. His story cannot possibly fail to alter the lives of many, especially in terms of disability rights, inclusion, and education.
We hope that the impact of his service will be as powerful as the impact of his story- and that his story will find its way to every single household, every student, and every soul ready to put down their stone of hope.
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Conclusion
Suraj Tiwari’s story ultimately reminds us that life can beat us, but it is up to us whether to stay down or rise. The name of Suraj shall echo through every single aspirant who has ever doubted themselves and every single struggling being as an example of what comes into existence when excuses are replaced with hard work. Success doesn’t come to those who have been blessed with everything; success is bestowed upon those who make the best out of what they have.
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