In 2008, Ms. Jessica Cox became the world’s first licensed armless pilot. She was  born without arms. Yet, she not only obtained a pilot’s license but also became the first armless black belt in the American Taekwondo. Her achievement, despite her circumstances, serves as a beacon of hope for millions of girls around the world like Sarika AK from Kerala. She too created history by clearing the UPSC CSE this year despite the challenges posed by cerebral palsy, a congenital disorder affecting movement, muscle tone, and posture.

Drawing inspiration from her remarkable journey, 23-year-old Sarika achieved a milestone by passing the UPSC CSE – 2023 in her second attempt. She is the first candidate in UPSC history to clear this prestigious exam despite suffering from such a debilitating disease.

Her story is one of courage, perseverance, and triumph over adversity, inspiring everyone who hears it to believe in the power of resilience and sheer will.

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Indian Masterminds presents Sarika’s struggle to success.

CHALLENGES

Sarika’s battle with cerebral palsy is a testament to the indomitable human spirit. Eminent scientist Stephan Hawkins is the poster boy of cerebral palsy. This condition,  which impacts movement and posture, would have deterred many, but not Sarika. This debilitating condition has rendered all but three of her fingers immobile and deprived her of the use of her right hand.

She uses the remaining two fingers to move around in a motorised wheelchair. From travelling to exam centres and facing the challenges of a week-long Mains examination, Sarika overcame each obstacle with resilience.

JOURNEY SO FAR

She began her preparation after completing her graduation. She was selected for the Chithrashalabham Project. The project aims to offer complimentary civil service coaching to students with disabilities. She joined the online batch as she couldn’t be physically present at the academy.

She couldn’t clear the exam in first attempt most year. But, she could decidethe exam pattern. That’s why she cleared it this year with AIR 922. She belongs to the OBC category and is classified under the PwBD-1 category.

She recounted, “I traveled to Delhi for the interview with my wheelchair. My father, who works abroad, accompanied me for the mains exam and my interview.”

REACTION ON RESULTS

Reacting on the result day, she said, “I was very excited. I don’t know how to explain that moment. Its yet to sink in.”

She decided to go for civil services immediately after graduation. She expressed, “I didn’t want to confine myself to just staying at home. I wanted to aspire for something significant and achieve more. My parents have made many sacrifices for me, and I wanted to repay them. As a differently-abled individual, I believed that civil services offered the most conducive environment for us to work.”

Sarika’s ambition solidified after reading ‘Collector Bro: The Quixotic ‘Thallals’ of a Civil Servant’ by IAS officer Prashanth Nair, which delves into good governance and the connection between officials and citizens. “It was inspiring and heightened my sense of trepidation,” she explains.

BACKGROUND

She hails from Kozhikode, Kerala. Her father works in Qatar. He came back for Sarika’s exams. Her mother is a homemaker. She has a younger sister who studies in 12th.

Sarika completed his graduation in English Literature from Calicut University and would commute to college in an auto-rickshaw, accompanied by her mother who assisted her with a manual wheelchair.

UPSC PREPARATION & SCRIBE

Sarika enrolled in Absolute IAS Academy’s online program in 2022, conducting her entire studies from home in Kozhikode.

She typically studied at night as she herself more focused during those hours.

Until her graduation, she used to write by herself. However, during the UPSC exams, she encountered a speed issue and was concerned that she might not finish the paper on time. Consequently, she opted to use a writer.

Reflecting on her experience, she mentioned that the preliminary exam center in Kozhikode was disabled-friendly, making it accessible for her.

However, the main examination was held in Thiruvananthapuram. Given the week-long duration of the process, Sarika and her parents had to rent accommodation and commute to the examination center by autorickshaw.

INTERVIEW

Her interview went quite well, primarily focused on her Detailed Application Form (DAF). The five-member panel conducting the interview was friendly and welcoming.

They inquired about her background, her field of study during graduation, and her hometown of Kozhikode. There were only a few questions regarding current affairs.

MESSAGE

She quotes a line from Paulo Coelho’s Alchemist and said, “When you really want something, the whole universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

Apart from that, she aims to prioritize addressing the issues faced by differently-abled individuals and marginalized communities.