How many people have you come across who leave their well-paying cushy jobs to try their hand in civil services, with the uncertainty of even clearing the UPSC CS examination? Well, we bring to you one such person, Ms. Pooja Yadav, who left many sought-after jobs abroad to become a civil servant.
Indian Masterminds presents glimpses from the life and journey into civil services of IPS officer Pooja Yadav.
EARLY LIFE
Born on 20 September 1988, to a family in Haryana, Ms. Yadav completed her schooling in her district. After completing her graduation, she went on to do her M.Tech in Biotechnology and Food Technology
She came from a financially backward family but that did not stop her from nurturing big dreams. Her parents did everything that they could to support their child. She was good at academics and her parents always knew that she would do something big one day and make them proud.
LEAVING HER JOB IN GERMANY
Right after completing her post-graduation, Ms. Yadav received a good job opportunity in Canada. She left India and settled there for work. Soon after, she received an even bigger job opportunity in Germany. She moved to Germany and worked there for a few years.
But even though the officer was receiving extraordinary job opportunities continuously, her heart didn’t seem to be in the right place. When she came across any news from India related to the plight of common people facing some issue or the other, her heart went out to them.
“I wanted to do something for my people but couldn’t understand how. It wasn’t possible to sit seven seas across in another country and make plans to help the ones in need in India. I started reading about the government and other authorities of the country and realized the power that a civil servant holds. They can bring happiness and relief into not just one or two but millions of people’s lives. That’s when I made up my mind to do the same and get into civil services,” Ms. Yadav had said while speaking to the media.
WORKED AS A RECEPTIONIST AND GAVE TUITIONS
Ms. Yadav said goodbye to her well-paying job in Germany and came back to her native place in India where she started preparing for UPSC Civil Services Examination. But with no job at hand and not many savings in the bank, it became difficult to sustain herself.
Therefore, in order to earn some money, she started working as a receptionist in a hotel which provided her with a meager wage. She also started giving tuition to children of nearby localities to earn more money and support her family, all the while preparing for UPSC Civil Service Examination.
CLEARED IN THE SECOND ATTEMPT
Ms. Yadav made her first attempt in the year 2017 but was unable to crack the exam. This left her feeling disappointed and, also, a little uncertain about her future, since she had already left her job and had a family to support. But her parents stood by her and gave her the encouragement that she badly needed.
They coaxed her to make a second attempt and not lose her heart with just one failure. She listened to them, and much to her happiness, she was able to crack UPSC CSE 2018 with AIR-174 and became an Indian Police Service officer.
MESSAGE FOR ASPIRANTS
In a message to UPSC aspirants, Ms. Yadav said, “UPSC exam preparation can be a long and tedious process. You may feel disappointed at times, but there is no need to worry. You need to give time to your hobbies along with your preparation. By this, you will be able to keep your mind fresh and your output will be much better.”
She had a special message for women aspirants: “Society can demotivate you at times, but you should not let your attention wander. Once you pass the exam, then there is no discrimination, and everyone is treated equally.”
