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This blind man fought for 3 yrs to become an IAS officer

In this ongoing series, we bring you 30 stories of struggle, survival and success to inspire you.

Professor-turned-IAS aspirant Ajit Kumar fought a 3-year battle to claim his rightful place in the Civil Services. This is his story.

"My prolonged illness took away my eyesight forever. But it was not my biggest challenge," shares Ajit Kumar Yadav, who recently received appointment letter for the Indian Administrative Services (IAS).

Even after securing a rank of 208 among 791 successful candidates in the Civil Services examination, Ajit was denied an IAS appointment due to his blindness.

But he was not deterred by this. He fought a three-year legal struggle to get his rightful place.

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'I never took my blindness as a physical challenge'

Ajit lost his vision completely at the tender age of five after suffering from acute diarrhoea.

But he went on to complete his schooling from Springdale School in New Delhi.

"In spite of being differently-abled my confidence was always high and I never get bogged down when faced with any difficulty. I always stood first in class," shares Ajit.

Ajit had no access to computers in the 1990s and only few technical aids were there.

Braille books were available on very limited topics. Immediately after completing his Master's in Political Science from Ramjas College, Delhi University, Ajit began teaching at a government school in Haryana. Then he cleared UGC NET-JRF and joined Shyamlal College of Delhi University as Assistant Professor.

"I never took my blindness as a physical challenge but society has a different thinking about a person who is physically handicapped. In the college lectureship interview I was asked how I will manage students in class. I proved those doubts wrong when students used to come even on Sundays to attend my classes!" he shares.

"One day in 2005, I heard the Prime Minister say that the doors of IAS must be opened to visually impaired citizens. That very moment I realised what I wanted to do with my life," says Ajit.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier

'I never took my blindness as a physical challenge'

Ajit had no access to computers in the 1990s and only few technical aids were there.

Braille books were available on very limited topics. Immediately after completing his Master's in Political Science from Ramjas College, Delhi University, Ajit began teaching at a government school in Haryana.

Then he cleared UGC NET-JRF and joined Shyamlal College of Delhi University as Assistant Professor.

"I never took my blindness as a physical challenge but society has a different thinking about a person who is physically handicapped. In the college lectureship interview I was asked how I will manage students in class. I proved those doubts wrong when students used to come even on Sundays to attend my classes!" he shares.

"One day in 2005, I heard the Prime Minister say that the doors of IAS must be opened to visually impaired citizens. That very moment I realised what I wanted to do with my life," says Ajit.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh