When Brijesh Parmar from Sirohi, Rajasthan, received the news of his selection in the Rajasthan Administrative Services (RAS), it surprised not only his village but also many people who had known him during his school years.
Today, Brijesh’s story is inspiring thousands of young aspirants across Rajasthan. But what makes his journey remarkable is not just the destination—it is the path he took to get there.
He failed Class 12. He failed the first year of his graduation. He pursued professional dance when most people expected him to focus on academics. Yet, within a few years, he emerged as a successful RAS candidate, proving that a person’s future is not defined by their early setbacks.
Growing Up Without Direction
Born into a middle-class family, Brijesh’s father serves as an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) in the CISF, while his mother is a homemaker. Due to his father’s frequent transfers across the country, the family spent long periods apart.
Academically, Brijesh performed well during his childhood and consistently ranked among the top students in school. However, when it came to making important career decisions, he lacked guidance.
Like many students, he followed the crowd.
When it was time to choose a stream in Class 11, he saw his peers opting for science and chose the same path without understanding whether it suited his interests or abilities.
The consequences were immediate.
He failed Class 12.
Instead of reflecting on what had gone wrong, he found himself drifting further away from academics.
“I didn’t even know why I had chosen science. I simply followed others. Looking back, I realise how important self-awareness is while making career decisions,” Brijesh Parmar shared in a conversation with Indian Masterminds.
After failing Class 12, he shifted to arts and enrolled in a BA programme. Yet his frustration with studies continued. During his first year, he often submitted examination papers within thirty minutes and walked out of the examination hall.
Eventually, he failed the first year of his BA as well.
Finding Himself Through Dance
While academics were struggling, another passion was flourishing.
Since childhood, Brijesh had loved dancing.
When he expressed his desire to pursue professional dance training, his father supported him wholeheartedly. That decision changed the course of his life.
Brijesh joined the Professional Dance Certification Course (PDCP) at The Danceworx, the renowned dance company founded by celebrated choreographer Ashley Lobo in Delhi.
The experience exposed him to a completely different world.
He trained intensively in Contemporary, Jazz, Ballet, and Modern Dance while learning from international choreographers from countries including the United States, Germany, Italy, Mexico, and Israel.
“Dance taught me discipline without making it feel like discipline. It showed me how excellence is achieved through daily practice,” he recalls.
His talent soon earned him a place in Navdhara India Dance Theatre, one of India’s most respected contemporary dance companies. Later, he was selected to work with celebrity dancer and choreographer Shakti Mohan’s team.
For Brijesh, dance was much more than an artistic pursuit. It built confidence, broadened his worldview, and helped him discover his own potential.
The Lockdown That Changed Everything
Then came the COVID-19 lockdown.
Like millions of others, Brijesh returned home and found himself with time to think deeply about his future.
While browsing educational content online, he stumbled upon videos about UPSC and Rajasthan Administrative Services.
The more he explored, the more intrigued he became. At the same time, he began watching lectures by educator Dr. Vikas Divyakirti.
Those videos sparked something within him.
“I realised how little I knew about the world. That curiosity pushed me towards civil services preparation,” says Brijesh.
For the first time, he saw a career that aligned with both his ambition and his desire to contribute to society.
Learning Everything from Scratch
The transition from professional dancer to civil services aspirant was not easy.
Most of the subjects were completely new to him. Concepts that many aspirants had studied for years had to be learned from scratch.
Yet Brijesh approached preparation with the same commitment he had once brought to dance training.
There were difficult days. “Out of seven days in a week, there were usually two days when I felt completely demotivated. But I never allowed those days to define my journey.“
Gradually, things started changing.
His scores in mock tests improved. His understanding deepened. Most importantly, his confidence grew stronger.
Soon, he began securing Rank 1 positions in his coaching institute.
Those performances convinced him that clearing the examination in his first serious attempt was possible.
“I always believed I was capable of achieving something significant. Failures never reduced my confidence because I treated them as temporary events, not permanent labels.”
A Father’s Constant Support
Throughout the journey, one person remained his biggest source of encouragement—his father.
Whenever self-doubt crept in, Brijesh would call him. His father never allowed him to lose faith.
That emotional support became particularly valuable because many people had already formed opinions about him based on his earlier failures.
For years, he was viewed as someone who lacked seriousness and direction.
But Brijesh continued working silently toward his goal.
The Call That Made Everything Worthwhile
When the RAS results were announced, Brijesh immediately called his father.
Before the results, he had often told him, “Papa, this time I will become a DSP or Tehsildar.“
This time, it was no longer a dream.
His father’s response remains one of the most cherished moments of his life.
“Beta, aaj tune mera maan rakh liya.”
Those words captured years of sacrifice, trust, and belief.
The news spread rapidly through his village, among friends, and across Rajasthan. Many were astonished. Others felt proud.
Young aspirants, especially those struggling with setbacks, found inspiration in his story.
Success Beyond Examination Results
For Brijesh, Civil Services was never only about securing a government post.
He believes administrative service offers an opportunity to create meaningful change at scale and contribute to social development.
Today, having cleared the RAS examination twice consecutively, he carries a simple but powerful message for aspirants.
“The fear of losing prevents many people from even attempting their best. Winning and losing come later. First become an excellent player.“
His journey demonstrates that careers do not always follow a straight line. Sometimes, a failed student becomes a professional dancer. Sometimes, a dancer becomes a civil service officer.
And sometimes, the very failures that seem like dead ends become the experiences that prepare someone for extraordinary success.
Brijesh Parmar’s Success Formula
According to Brijesh, four elements played the biggest role in his success:
- Big thinking
- Self-confidence
- Right guidance
- Consistent hard work
“Never settle for small dreams. If your ambitions are small, your efforts will also remain small.”
For thousands of young aspirants facing self-doubt, Brijesh Parmar’s story serves as a reminder that success is not reserved for those with perfect academic records. It belongs to those who are willing to learn, adapt, and keep moving forward despite setbacks.
From failing examinations to clearing Rajasthan Administrative Services, Brijesh’s journey is proof that a person’s greatest comeback often begins where others think the story has ended.
