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.
