There is no greater feeling than that of making your parents proud by taking their legacy forward. Gauri Prabhat is one such child who followed her parent’s path and made it to the final list of selected UPSC CSE 2022 candidates, in top 50. Daughter of IRS officer Himalini Kashyap and IAS officer Prabhat Kumar, Gauri cleared the exam with AIR 47.
Although having civil servant parents was an advantage as they could provide the right kind of support and guidance, her journey was not without challenges. It was finally perseverance that saw her through! In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, the soon-to-be IAS officer shared her UPSC journey.
PARENTS NEVER FORCED HER
Her parents never forced her to become a civil servant like them. It was their dedication towards public service that got Gauri interested in that field. When she shared her wish, her parents not only supported her emotionally, but took up the role of mentors in her journey.
“My father has always been a very honest and hardworking officer. I have seen the opportunities he has had to help the people, solve their problems and alleviate their sufferings. This instilled in me the desire to do public service, too”, said the topper. She also emphasized that her parents always believed in her and was the source of confidence during her preparation journey.
CAME BACK STRONGER AFTER EVERY FAILURE
Before finally cracking the exam, Gauri had to face two failures. First time, in Prelims and next time, in the interview round. She feels lucky to have had a strong support system consisting of her family, professors, and close friends, who helped her bounce back stronger every time.
When asked how she dealt with the setbacks, she replied, “Indeed, it was a challenging journey. However, the one thing that helped me overcome failures was remembering my true motivation to sit for the exam. I wanted to productively put to use my education in serving the people of my country.”
SCHOOL STUDY HELPED IN UPSC
Gauri studied diligently during her school days. Having a good command over the school-level books helped her in her UPSC preparation and she didn’t have to take help of coaching.
She did her Graduation in Economics from the prestigious St. Stephens College of Delhi University. She also did her post -graduation in Economics, and so it was an obvious choice for optional.
USEFUL TIPS FOR ASPIRANTS
She advises UPSC aspirants to be honest with themselves, and to keep asking themselves about their real motivation to sit for the exam, as well as the efforts they have put into their preparation. This had helped her to remain committed towards her goal even in the face of setbacks.
On the use of social media, she said, “I used social media in a regulated way to take breaks during my study schedule. Used wisely, it can be helpful in unwinding. If one is disciplined and is able to rightly balance studies with other things, then there is no need for a ‘complete no-no’.”
Lastly, she advises aspirants to focus on basic books and newspapers for both Prelims and Mains. As for interview, she says three things are important – DAF, current affairs, and the optional subject.
