Success stories often begin with dreams. But some begin with struggles so deep that dreaming itself becomes an act of courage.
In the quiet village of Tarapur in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district, where opportunities were scarce and life revolved around a small two-bigha farm, a young boy grew up watching his parents fight daily battles against uncertainty. There were no influential connections, no coaching institutes, no roadmap to prestigious government services, and certainly no guarantee that education alone could change destiny.
Yet, amid financial hardships and limited resources, that boy carried something far more powerful—an unwavering belief that perseverance could create possibilities where none seemed to exist.
That boy was Bhojram Patel.
Today, he is a 2013-batch IPS officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre and currently serves as Superintendent of Police, Mungeli. But his journey from a government school student in a farming family to one of the state’s senior police officers is much more than a tale of cracking the UPSC examination. It is a story of resilience, discipline, humility, and a lifelong commitment to serving society.
Indian Masterminds interacted with IPS officer Bhojram Patel to learn more about his inspiring journey from rural hardship to the Indian Police Service, and to understand the message he shares with UPSC aspirants.
A Childhood Rooted in Simplicity and Struggle
IPS Patel was born on August 5, 1983, in Tarapur village of Kharsia block in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh.
His father, Mahesh Ram Patel, had studied only up to Class 5, while his mother, Leelavati, never received formal education. The family depended on a small piece of agricultural land for survival. With barely two bighas of farmland, income remained uncertain, and meeting basic household needs was often a challenge.
Life in the village taught him lessons that no classroom ever could.
He witnessed firsthand the difficulties faced by ordinary families—the anxieties of crop-dependent incomes, the value of hard work, and the importance of perseverance during difficult times. Yet despite financial limitations, his home was rich in values.
His father regularly narrated stories from the Ramayan, Mahabharat, and the lives of freedom fighters. Those stories left a lasting imprint on young Bhojram. They taught him about sacrifice, courage, duty, and service to the nation. His mother’s spiritual nature became another source of strength.
Together, his parents created an environment where character mattered more than comfort and values mattered more than wealth.
Looking back, it was this upbringing that laid the foundation of the officer he would later become.
Government School Education and Dreams Beyond Circumstances
Unlike many UPSC aspirants who benefit from elite educational institutions and urban exposure, Bhojram Patel completed his schooling entirely through the Hindi medium in government schools.
Later, he pursued a Bachelor of Science degree from Kirodimal Government Arts and Science College, Raigarh. The path ahead was not easy.
The family’s economic condition did not permit expensive coaching or relocation to major cities. After graduation, he began working as a Shikshakarmi—a government teaching position.
For many, a stable government job would have been the final destination. For IPS Patel, it became the starting point of a larger journey.
Between 2005 and 2013, he worked as a teacher while simultaneously preparing for competitive examinations.
Speaking about that phase of his life, he recalled, “I studied entirely in the Hindi medium. From 2005 to 2013, I worked as a Shikshakarmi. I used to teach children and prepare for my own examinations at the same time.”
Balancing teaching responsibilities and UPSC preparation required extraordinary discipline.
There was no coaching support in Delhi. No structured guidance. No digital platforms filled with resources.
Instead, he relied on self-study, borrowed notes from friends, and built his preparation on consistency and strong fundamentals.
What many aspirants receive through institutions, he created through determination.
And eventually, his efforts bore fruit.
Cracking UPSC Without Coaching
For Bhojram Patel, the UPSC journey was not marked by shortcuts or privileges. It was a story of persistence.
Preparing while working full-time, he studied quietly and methodically. Every hour mattered. Eventually, he cleared one of the country’s toughest examinations and joined the Indian Police Service.
On December 23, 2013, he officially became an IPS officer.
Reflecting on the differences between UPSC preparation then and now, he offered an insightful perspective.
“When we prepared, the biggest challenge was collecting study material. Everything had to be done manually. Today, material is available everywhere. The real challenge now is choosing the right content from the vast amount of information available.”
He believes that while physical difficulties have reduced, mental distractions have increased significantly.
“Earlier, struggles were physical. Today, the bigger challenge is keeping the mind focused. Information is everywhere, but maintaining clarity and concentration has become much harder.”
Training and the Beginning of an IPS Career
After selection, IPS Patel underwent training at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad.
The academy transformed a determined aspirant into a professional police officer, equipping him with the skills required for one of the country’s most demanding services.
His first field posting came in Raipur, where he served as Station House Officer (SHO) of Dharsiwa Police Station.
The assignment exposed him to the realities of policing at the grassroots level and gave him firsthand experience in handling public grievances, crime prevention, investigations, and law-and-order challenges.
From there, his journey continued through a series of significant responsibilities.
He served as CSP in Durg and later as ADC to the Governor. The Governor’s Secretariat offered a completely different perspective.
Speaking about that experience, he said, “Serving as ADC to the Governor gave me state-level exposure. I had the opportunity to work closely with Governors like Anandiben Patel and Anusuiya Uikey. I visited Gujarat and other states, observed governance systems, and gained experiences that continue to help me understand situations even today.”
He added, “Coming from a farmer’s family and then living in the Governor’s House gave me a unique perspective. I had seen district realities since childhood, and later I got an opportunity to understand governance at the highest levels.”
Learning Governance from Both Ends of Society
One of the defining aspects of Bhojram Patel’s journey is his ability to understand both grassroots realities and administrative systems.
Growing up in a village gave him an understanding of people’s everyday struggles. His later assignments exposed him to policy-making and governance structures. This combination shaped his approach to public service.
“I belong to this state. I come from a farming family. Since childhood, I have seen the problems people face in districts. I realized that if you genuinely want to bring change, you need public participation. Good work becomes meaningful only when people become part of it.”
That philosophy continues to guide his policing approach today.
Leadership Across Multiple Districts
Over the years, Bhojram Patel served in several important assignments across Chhattisgarh.
His first posting as Superintendent of Police came in Kanker. He subsequently served as SP in Gariaband, Korba, and Mahasamund.
He also served as Commandant of the 15th Battalion of the Chhattisgarh Armed Force in Bijapur. Each posting presented unique challenges.
Some districts demanded strong law-and-order management. Others required community confidence-building. Several assignments involved rural crime prevention, force management, public outreach, and governance coordination.
Across all these responsibilities, one thing remained constant—his emphasis on people-centric policing.
A Message for Today’s UPSC Aspirants
Having experienced both the old and new eras of UPSC preparation, Bhojram Patel often reflects on the changing challenges faced by aspirants.
One issue particularly concerns him—the growing emotional distance between young people and their families.
“Earlier, whenever we faced problems, we would talk to our parents. That emotional support made us stronger. Today, many young people try to fill that gap through mobile phones or social media. It may feel comforting temporarily, but it does not build inner strength.”
He believes that family support remains invaluable.
“Parents need to be more sensitive, and children should stay connected with their families. Even a simple daily conversation can make a big difference.”
For aspirants, his advice remains practical and straightforward:
“Prepare under proper guidance. Study previous years’ UPSC question papers carefully. Understand the pattern of the examination. Avoid unnecessary distractions and maintain a single-minded focus.”
He further adds, “One common mistake is constantly changing strategies. Choose one reliable source of guidance, trust the process, and remain consistent.”
From Tarapur to the IPS: A Story Larger Than Success
Bhojram Patel’s journey is remarkable not because he became an IPS officer.
It is remarkable because he never allowed success to separate him from his roots.
The son of a small farmer who studied in Hindi-medium government schools, worked as a teacher, prepared without coaching, and rose through determination continues to carry the same values that shaped him as a child.
His story reminds us that greatness is not determined by where one begins.
It is determined by the purpose with which one moves forward.
From a two-bigha farm in Tarapur to leading districts across Chhattisgarh, Bhojram Patel’s life stands as a testament to the transformative power of education, discipline, humility, and service.
And perhaps that is the most enduring lesson from his journey—that true success is not measured by the position one holds, but by the lives one touches along the way.
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