Among the tales of triumph that unfolded with the UPSC CSE 2023 results, Ms. Vasundhara Chaudhry of Prayagraj found herself overcome with tears of joy as her name figured the list of achievers. For her, this victory wasn’t just personal; it was a fulfilment of her mother’s dreams and sacrifices. Raised by a single mother who toiled tirelessly to provide the best opportunities despite facing numerous challenges, Ms. Chaudhry initially pursued a path in academia, having already cleared the UGC NET exam with JRF twice.
It was her mother who wished for her to be a civil servant and Vasundhara did it for her. She secured AIR 814 in the UPSC CSE 2023. Ms. Vasundhara who is currently pursuing PhD, has also been Josh Talks speaker and runs her own YouTube channel which focuses on English literacy.
Reflecting on her journey in an interview with Indian Masterminds, Vasundhara shared, “My mother raised us single-handedly through many hardships. Words cannot capture the depth of what this achievement means to us, especially to my mother.”
FOR MY MOTHER
Born in Prayagraj and brought up in Delhi, Vasundhara and her brother was raised by her mother, a Science teacher. “My mother was the sole earning member. While we had immense support from my maternal grandparents specially my nani and my Hanuman ji-like three mamas but still, she faced some hard times. My mother sacrificed her life and several opportunities to provide us the stability upon which we could build our lives.”
Vasundhara consistently excelled academically, demonstrating a strong aptitude for studies. Following her completion of a BA (Hons) in English from Lady Shri Ram College, she pursued a Master’s degree in English from JNU. Amidst financial struggles within her family, she felt compelled to support her mother, prompting her to seek employment from the onset of her college years. She explored various avenues, from content creation for online shopping platforms to roles in educational technology companies, in search of stability. Despite successfully clearing the written exams for SSB and CDS, she faced challenges advancing further.
Inspired by her mother’s dedication to education, Ms. Vasundhara pursued a career in academia. She cleared the UGC NET exam and secured a position as an Assistant Professor of English at the College of Vocational Studies, Delhi University. Despite her achievements, she found herself yearning for greater fulfillment. Encouraged by her mother’s unwavering belief in her potential, she decided to pursue the UPSC CSE, driven by a desire to fulfill her mother’s aspirations and explore new horizons.
ACADEMICS TO UPSC
In her first attempt in October 2021 she couldn’t clear the Prelims. Vasundhara blames her judgement for this failure. She had already cleared many exams including UGC NET, CDS, and SSB. So, she went for Prelims without much preparation. Due to the lockdown the gap between 2021 and 2022 Prelims was too short. Besides, there were so many things going on and she only got two months-time to prepare and couldn’t clear it again. “Attempts do create a mental burden on every aspirant. So, I advise all the aspirant to use them wisely. When I couldn’t clear prelims twice, I was really disappointed. I decided to give my 100% this time. I am really grateful for everyone who supported me through this journey, especially my family. It was their blessings that I cleared it”, she told Indian Masterminds. Ms. Chaudhry’s mother and nani- two women who played a huge role in her achievement and her life.
PHD ON BHAGVAD GITA
Vasundhara is currently pursuing PhD on Bhagavad Gita and India’s Freedom Struggle: Sri Aurobindo’s Writings. Her thesis looks at how the Gita as a literary text played a pivotal role in shaping the freedom discourse of India, specifically in the pre-Gandhian era, by using Sri Aurobindo’s commentary on the Gita and his other autobiographical, political and literary writings.
Asked the reason to choose this topic she said, “ Through out my higher education, the focus on Indian texts and ancient Indian philosophical systems of knowledge was largely missing. PhD gave me that freedom to choose my topic and learn about these myself. Although it was difficult as I did not have much training in either the philosophical and literary systems of ancient India or Sanskrit, I decided to stick to my guns. On top of that, reading Sri Aurobindo’s commentary on the Gita energised and motivated me to continue my mammoth task!”
NEXT GOAL
Even though her attempts are left but she is thinking of joining the service, which will be allotted to her. She wants to enjoy this success a bit and know about the bureaucracy with the closest encounter and then plan her next attempt.
