He was a film enthusiast who showed little interest in studying, often planning to watch the first day first show of new movies rather than hitting the books. Despite barely passing class 10th with a third division, and facing disbelief from his family and relatives, he proved everyone wrong. Through hard work and the unwavering support of his father, he not only became a gold medalist at Allahabad University but also rose to the esteemed rank of IPS officer, receiving the President’s Police Medal twice. This is the inspiring journey of IPS officer Mr. Anil Kumar Rai, who served as the Inspector General of Basti Range, Uttar Pradesh, and as DIG, PAC in the state.
Mr. Rai, now retired, serves as a testament to the power of perseverance, showing that success can be achieved one step at a time. In a conversation with Indian Masterminds, the 2002 batch IPS officer shared his journey. He said, “If you compete with others, you will lose hope and confidence, but if you compete with yourself, no one can stop you from moving forward. I have always believed that diligence is more important than intelligence for achieving success. Just as the sun gradually rises in the sky, anyone capable of hard work will rise from the ground.”
ROLE OF FATHER
Mr. Rai comes from a humble background and was raised in a joint family. He attended a government school where students had to bring sacks to sit on and clean their own classrooms. He finished class 8th at a Junior High School. When he reached class 9th, his father left the village for work, leaving no one to guide him. As a result, he barely passed class 10th.
In intermediate, he went to stay with his father, who motivated him to study again. He managed to pass class 12th with a second division. Though his marks weren’t great and his family didn’t support further studies, his father believed in him. He encouraged Mr. Rai to take the entrance exam for Allahabad University, and Mr. Rai got in.
Despite his family’s protests, his father took him to the university. Mr. Rai recalls, “My father came to drop me off. He was emotional and told me to honor his decision and study hard. He also advised me to move slowly but surely toward the top. These words stayed with me, and I never looked back.”
Mr. Rai graduated with 71% and topped the university in his post-graduation. These achievements strengthened his self-belief, making him realize that with effort, he could achieve anything.
DENIED SCHOLARSHIP
After completing his post-graduation, Mr. Rai wanted to pursue a PhD. He had a subject and topic in mind, but his family couldn’t support him for another three or four years. So, he applied for a UGC scholarship and secured the first position in the exam. However, he couldn’t get the scholarship because he had a third division in class 10th. “I didn’t believe in this rule. I thought they denied me because I came from a weak family, while the boy who got second place received the scholarship,” said Mr. Rai. This experience sparked his interest in civil services, and he decided to take the PPS exam.
He was selected as a DSP and aimed to pursue UPSC CSE. However, fate had other plans. His father passed away, leaving no financial support for the family. Mr. Rai joined as a DSP and took on the responsibility of supporting his family. Even though he didn’t appear for UPSC CSE, his exemplary work as a PPS officer led to his induction into the IPS in 2002.
JOURNEY AS POLICE OFFICER
Mr. Rai served as a police officer for 35 years, a career that significantly shaped his personality. He believes there’s no profession like the police for connecting with the public and providing immediate relief. Each law and order situation is unique, making the job challenging but also enriching. “Now that I am retired, I am satisfied with the journey. I don’t regret not appearing for UPSC. I am happy that the government chose me as an IPS officer and allowed me to serve for more than a decade,” he concluded.
