https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

“I Just Wanted to Breathe Again”: The Man Who Fought Death and Made It to UPSC

Struck by COVID at the peak of his UPSC prep, Devanand Telgote spent months on ECMO, unsure he'd live, let alone write an exam. What happened next is extraordinary
Indian Masterminds Stories

April 2021. The second wave of COVID-19 had brought India to its knees. Amid this national chaos, one young man from Akola, Maharashtra, was chasing a dream in Delhi: to clear the UPSC Civil Services Interview. But just as Devanand Telgote was preparing to take the next big leap, life halted abruptly. The interview got postponed. He returned home, unaware that what awaited him wasn’t just a delay but a full-blown fight for survival.

“MY CHEST SEVERITY SCORE WAS 20. THAT’S 80% LUNG DAMAGE.”

On the journey back to Akola, Devanand contracted COVID-19. Initially, doctors were hopeful. His chest severity score was around 10, and medications began. But strangely, his RT-PCR tests kept returning negative even as his health declined. Days later, his lungs were nearly destroyed.

“My chest severity score rose to 20. I was on a ventilator, and even that wasn’t enough. It was ECMO after that. Twice,” He shared exclusively with Indian Masterminds.

He was flown to KIMS Hospital in Hyderabad with the help of senior IPS officer Mahesh M. Bhagwat, Telangana’s ADGP (Law & Order), who personally stepped in. What followed was a four-month-long battle inside the ICU.

“I couldn’t even lift a finger. I didn’t dream of becoming an officer. I just wanted to see the world again,” said Devanand, describing that phase in a tone soaked in quiet disbelief.

FRIENDS, FAITH, AND THE FIGHT TO JUST BREATHE

As Devanand’s lungs struggled, something else quietly worked in the background: the support of people who believed in him. Friends raised funds. Mr. Bhagwat visited him regularly. His brother showed him photos and messages, trying to keep the fading light of hope alive.

“At one point, I had become hopeless. But when I saw how many people had gone out of their way to help me, that changed something. I felt like even if I die, let me try taking just one more step. It became a tribute to everyone who stood by me,” he told Indian Masterminds.

Doctors had warned the family: motivation is essential for survival. And somewhere, the idea that others believed in his return kept him going.

“WILL I EVER BE NORMAL AGAIN?”

Recovery was not just physical. It was emotional. Psychological. Every breath reminded him of how fragile life was. “The most important thought in my mind was, will I be able to become a normal person again?” he admitted. “I couldn’t hold my breath or walk without feeling tired. My entire worldview shifted.”

But slowly, his strength returned. In 2022, still recovering, he decided to take the UPSC Prelims again. Not with any grand hopes. Just to see where he stood.

He cleared it.

TWO MONTHS. ONE DREAM.

The exam he finally cracked, the Indian Forest Service, was one he approached with quiet intensity. “I stayed in Delhi and prepared for 2–3 months with complete focus. I followed the strategies of Forest toppers. In the Civil Services Mains, I hadn’t completed the paper. So in Forest Mains, I made sure I wrote everything. That made the difference.”

This time, he wasn’t just hoping for a rank. He worked for it. And it paid off. All India Rank 112 in the Indian Forest Service, in his first interview attempt.

THE POWER OF A MENTOR

Throughout his journey, one person kept showing up: IPS officer Mahesh Bhagwat. During the illness, during recovery, and later, during the exam phase.

“Last time, I scored 135 in the interview,” Devanand shared. “This time, Mahesh Sir called me before the interview. He gave me two hours, discussed likely questions, and cleared all my doubts. One day before the interview, he called again to check on me. My score went up to 185.”

Mahesh Bhagwat’s mentorship wasn’t limited to academics. It was deeply human. Devanand remembers how Sir would call or visit during his ICU days. “It kept me inspired. I felt I just need to hold on a little longer. Someone’s there for me,” he shared with Indian Masterminds.

“EVEN WHEN I WALKED IN THE HOSPITAL, OTHERS FELT HOPE.”

Devanand’s recovery became a source of hope for others, even inside the ICU. “Many patients who had given up would start walking after seeing me. That thought kept me going, that I could inspire someone else.”

Now, as an officer, he shares the same advice he once lived through: “If you’re going through something difficult, health or personal, talk to those who care about you. You’ll always find someone who knows your worth. And if you can, stay connected to a mentor. That helps you keep going.”

LIFE IS MUCH BIGGER THAN ANY EXAM

Perhaps the most powerful lesson Devanand leaves us with isn’t about UPSC at all. It’s about perspective. “Even if you don’t clear the exam, the study you do for UPSC helps in life. It changes you. Makes you a better person. But if you’re finding it too hard or boring, don’t beat yourself up. Life is bigger than any exam.

He never set out to be a role model. He just wanted to breathe again. But in doing so, Devanand Telgote gave others a reason to believe that comebacks aren’t scripted. They’re lived.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Nitish Kumar
Bihar: CM Nitish Kumar Vows to Create 1 Crore Jobs for Bihar Youth in Next 5 Years, Highlights Major Development Milestones
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Government Approves Rs 1,390 Crore for Four New Medical Colleges and Healthcare Projects
Pushkar Singh Dhami CM
Uttarakhand Government Launches Free Pre-Recruitment Training for Agniveer Aspirants Across All Districts
Airports Authority of India AAI
PESB Finds Candidates Unsatisfactory for AAI Member (Operations) Post, Calls for New Selection Process
justice-photo
Next CJI of India: Find Out Who’s Set to Become the New Chief Justice – Full Story Inside
IPS Ratan Lal Dangi
Who Is IPS Ratan Lal Dangi? Chhattisgarh Police Officer Accused of Harassment by SI’s Wife; IG Anand Chhabra Assigned Probe - Full Story
Yogi Adityanath Ayodhya visit in Diwali
UP: CM Yogi Adityanath Orders Fire Stations Every 100 Km on Expressways, Approves 1,020 New Posts in Fire Services
SDM Chhotu Lal Sharma
Who Is SDM Chhotu Lal Sharma? The 2015-Batch RAS Officer Caught in Yet Another Scandal After Slapping Petrol Pump Employee
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
IDES Saquib Alam
Beyond IAS and IPS: The Inspiring Work of an IDES officer | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Nitish Kumar
Bihar: CM Nitish Kumar Vows to Create 1 Crore Jobs for Bihar Youth in Next 5 Years, Highlights Major Development Milestones
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Government Approves Rs 1,390 Crore for Four New Medical Colleges and Healthcare Projects
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
IDES Saquib Alam
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT