In a quiet corner of Jaipur’s Shastri Nagar lives 23-year-old Manu Garg, a name that’s now etched in the country’s imagination. This year, when the results of the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024 were announced, Manu secured All India Rank 91 — not just a number, but a story that broke barriers and lit hope for many.
Manu was born visually impaired. A condition that often invites sympathy from society, but in Manu’s case, it lit a fire that would carry him through some of the most challenging years of his life. He never saw the world with his eyes, but that never stopped him from dreaming of changing it.
WHEN THE WORLD TURNED DARKER, HE TURNED BRIGHTER
Though born with limited vision, it was during Class 8 that Manu began to lose the remaining light. “I used to sit in the front row but still couldn’t see the blackboard,” he recalls. Multiple visits to doctors finally diagnosed him with a rare genetic disorder that causes the retina to deteriorate. It wasn’t sudden, but each passing day came with more loss of sight and more questions from the world around him.
But for Manu, the loss of vision didn’t mean the end of ambition. His world may have turned dark, but inside, something began to shine even brighter: the will to do something meaningful.
A MOTHER WHO BECAME HIS EYES
In the toughest phase of Manu’s life, one person became his anchor — his mother. A single parent, she was his reader, teacher, friend, and biggest strength. “She sat beside me for hours, reading out every line, every chapter,” Manu shared with the media.
She helped him paint the world in words. With no experience in Braille, Manu depended entirely on audio. “She became my sight. She helped me imagine what I couldn’t see,” he stated.
There were days when the pain of not being able to do simple things would overwhelm him. But she never let him give up. “Even when I couldn’t believe in myself, she did. That made all the difference.”
CLASSROOMS WITHOUT VISION, BUT NOT WITHOUT PURPOSE
Manu completed his schooling from the renowned St. Xavier’s School in Jaipur and then went on to pursue Political Science at Hindu College, Delhi University. There, he didn’t just study — he excelled.
He was among the top rankers in his batch and emerged as a star debater, winning over 150 debate competitions across the country. “Debating was a way for me to be seen. It gave me a voice in a world where people often look away,” he says.
From Delhi University, he moved to JNU for a Master’s in International Relations. Currently, he is pursuing a PhD at the Centre for South Asian Studies, JNU. His academic journey is filled with moments of deep struggle, but also of quiet pride.
TECHNOLOGY — THE FRIEND THAT OPENED DOORS
Without vision and with limited access to traditional study materials, preparing for UPSC was never going to be easy. But Manu adapted.
“I didn’t know Braille. So, I turned to technology,” he explains. With the help of screen readers, TalkBack tools on his phone, audio PDFs, and OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software, he built his own way of studying.
“Most materials aren’t available in formats we can use. I had to depend on friends, WhatsApp voice notes, and converting PDFs. Sometimes I’d stay up all night just to get one chapter done,” he says.
FAILING ONCE, AND RISING HIGHER
Manu’s first attempt at UPSC in 2023 didn’t go as planned. He cleared the prelims but couldn’t make it past the Mains. “It hurt. I was shattered,” he admits. But once again, he didn’t stay down for long.
He took a few days to gather himself and then went back to the drawing board. He chose Political Science and International Relations as his optional paper — a subject he had always loved and understood deeply. This time, he didn’t focus on the number of hours but on daily targets. “Some days I studied till 3 am. Some days I took a break. But I never let the goal out of sight.”
A SMALL ROOM, BIG DREAMS, AND HER VOICE
Through it all, his mother remained a quiet force beside him. She would read out books, help organise study materials, motivate him through his low days, and remind him that no dream is too far. “She gave up her life for mine,” Manu shared.
His voice softens, “I owe this to her. Every bit of it.”
NOT SYMPATHY, JUST A FAIR CHANCE
Manu doesn’t want to be seen as a hero or an exception. “I don’t need people’s sympathy. I just want equal opportunities,” he says. His aim is clear: to join the Indian Administrative Service, and work for causes close to his heart — disability rights, education for the poor, and empowerment of women.
What he wants most is a more inclusive world; one where people with disabilities are not brushed aside, but embraced and empowered.
Today, Manu’s story is travelling across the country — from small towns in Rajasthan to metros like Delhi. But to him, the real victory is when another child, facing a similar challenge, believes that it’s possible to dream.
He still listens to audiobooks, comedy podcasts, and finds happiness in simple joys. “Whenever I feel low, I play a funny podcast. Laughter helps me get back,” he says, smiling.
Behind Rank 91 is a boy who never saw a sunset but believed in the sunrise. A son who turned his mother’s sacrifices into success. A student who didn’t ask for sympathy, just a chance.
And today, the entire country stands up to applaud Manu Garg — not because he couldn’t see, but because he helped all of us see the power of courage, love, and belief.
