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
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
Policing, Trust, and Investment: Insights from IPF - Indian Masterminds
Indian Police Foundation Marks 10 Years, Discussion on How Policing Builds Investor Confidence
Madhya Pradesh football training
Mini Brazil to Germany: Vicharpur’s Young Footballers Get CM Mohan Yadav’s Blessings on Vijayadashami Week
bureaucracy news
Centre Announces Key Bureaucratic Appointments & Deputation Extensions: Neeraj Surendran, Arun G, Anand Mohan Among Key Names
PM Modi CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar Receives Rs. 10,219 Crore from Centre: A Festive Gift On Vijayadashami to Fuel Development & Welfare, Backed by GST Reforms
Chhattisgarh government
Chhattisgarh CM Charts Development Roadmap: Push for Capital Expenditure, Biometric Attendance, & Transparent Governance
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Gets Rs. 3,462 Crore Boost from Modi Government: Here's How CM Sai Pledges To Spend It!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Ankit MPPSC 2024 Rank 3
From Village Dreams to Deputy Collector’s Chair: Meet Ankit, MPPSC Rank 3 Hindi Medium Topper
Ankit, a Hindi-medium aspirant from Balaghat, secured Rank 3 in MPPSC 2024 and became Deputy Collector...
Social Media
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...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT