Till about six years ago, the Mishra family of Uttar Pradesh’s Pratapgarh district was just like the millions of families spread across the length and breadth of India. All these families carry similar characteristics: hard working parents with bright children who are unsure of their footings and prospects, perhaps waiting for the lady luck to smile upon them.
In most such families, dreams die early. But this Mishra family turned out to be remarkably different. Not one or two, but all of his four children cleared the UPSC during a span of three years!
The four siblings consist of two brothers Yogesh and Lokesh, and two sisters Kshama and Madhavi.
One wonders if such a feat has ever been replicated elsewhere. But what is obvious is that the famed Mishra family has now become an inspiration for countless families.
The illustrious family’s patriarch, Anil Mishra, worked as a bank manager at the Gramin Bank. With his wife, the family of six lived in a cramped, two-room house. Life certainly was a struggle for the elder Mishra. But he was unfazed in his determination to provide the best possible education to his children. His eyes were full of dreams.
And lo and behold, the Mishra family’s fortunes changed, as if by a magic wand.
The eldest son of the family, Yogesh Mishra is currently serving as the Administrative officer in the Ordnance factory of Shahjahanpur, UP. One of the daughters, Kshama, is the SP of Kodagu district in Karnataka. IAS Madhavi has been transferred to Hazaribagh Municipal Corporation recently, and the youngest brother, Lokesh is serving as the SDM of Sadar, Ranchi.
Long, Hard Days of Struggle
If there is one thread which goes through this success story, it’s that all the four siblings went through bouts of hard times to achieve their golden dreams.
Speaking about their childhood, Yogesh told Indian Masterminds, “We came from a middle-class family. However, we all were outstanding in studies from the beginning, so somewhere our father always had this wish that we will make him proud. Eventually, hiswish come true, and we were able to achieve what we are today.”
Yogesh, with his brother and sisters, went to a primary school in the district and later to the Government Inter College for secondary education. All of them scored good marks in their 10th and 12th and then started working towards their career. Recalled Yogesh, “ My sisters have always wanted to be an officer so they started preparing for UPSC exam while simultaneously pursuing Graduation. On the other hand, my brother Lokesh and I went on to prepare for the IIT entrance. I missed the opportunity of getting admission in IIT because of the rank and got the admission in NIT Allahabad instead. Lokesh though cracked the exam and got admission in IIT.”.
After completing the B.tech, Yogesh and Lokesh started working, but they were not satisfied with their respective jobs. They knew the potential they had and wanted to achieve big. At the same time, their sisters Kshama & Madhavi too were working hard to crack civil services. Kshama even got into the UP state services, and Madhavi was able to clear Indian Economic Service but could not succeed in UPSC. This was hard for the family and especially for Yogesh. He somehow knew that his sisters are deserving but lacking somewhere. So, he also decided to give a shot to it and eventually, Lokesh also joined him.
There was a period for around two years when all of them were preparing and had no jobs. That created financial pressure on their parents. Remembering those days of hardship, their father Anil Mishra told Indian Masterminds, “My sons were earning well but suddenly they left their job. We were not prepared for it, but we had to get through this. We curtailed our expenses and took other measures as well so as to live within our means. It would be a lie if I say that negative thoughts did not cross our minds during this particularly hard period. We all knew the uncertainty of this exam but somehow my wife and I both were able to keep our hopes high. We always told them that if you all are tenacious about your aim then no one can stop you from achieving your goal. I am really happy that because of their sheer hard work, they have reached this position. I feel proud when seniors applaud them and their achievements are published. I think this is the only happiness any parent can think of.”
The First Break
Yogesh was working as a software engineer in a firm situated in Noida when he decided to start preparing for UPSC. He had only one attempt left and did not want to mess it. He opted for sociology as the optional subject and started studying day and night. In 2014,he cleared the UPSC and got selected as the IAS officer from the reserve list.
Yogesh’s success worked as a catalyst for his three sisters and brothers. And withing next two years, they all cracked UPSC!
Talking about the role of her elder brother Yogesh in their life, Madhavi said, “He was a mentor and guide to all of us. His success was a game-changer and motivated us in many ways. He not only helped us in the preparations but also boosted our self-esteem whenever we felt low. He was the one person we needed and he supported us all the way.”
Madhavi was the second one to crack the civil services exam. She got selected in the 2015 batch and was assigned the Jharkhand cadre.
In 2016, Lokesh and Kshama were selected for IAS and IPS, respectively. Lokesh first trained in Bihar cadre and served as an SDM of Chhapra; later he was transferred to Jharkhand. Talking about Kshama and Lokesh, Madhavi said, “My elder sister is like a second mother to us. She is very supportive and caring. Her dedication towards the duties is inspiring and something to learn from her. Lokesh is very different. He is the youngest of all but still, he is the most calm and poised man you will ever meet.”
‘We All Idolise our Father’
When asked why she chose civil services, Madhavi said, “mainly because of our father. He inspired us without lecturing about good or bad things. He just lived his life and set an example. We all idolise him and wanted to see the shine in his eyes.”
A proud Anil Mishra chips in : “My children have achieved more than I ever imagined, but this is not the end. The most difficult journey has now started. They have to prove themselves in every position they are assigned. I am really happy that they are already working in the direction. I always tell them that people remember you for your work.”
