Vikas Kumar from Bihar's Jahanabad district has proved that physical hurdles can never stand in the way of determination. Despite being disabled in both legs, he cleared the BPSC, considered the toughest examination in the state, and secured the post of Block Development Officer (BDO). In a remarkable twist of fate, the news of his selection arrived on the very day his family was performing the mehndi ritual. On one side were the celebrations of his wedding, and on the other, the moment when years of dreaming finally came true.
Vikas belongs to Dedhsaiya village, about 6 kilometres from the Jahanabad district headquarters. His mother is no longer alive, but the passion and grit within him always stood by his side. It was this spirit that carried him to an officer's chair, and today he has become an example for his village and the entire community. Before his success in the BPSC, Vikas was working as an Assistant Section Officer at the Patna High Court. A job through the day and study in whatever time was left over, this discipline earned him his big achievement.
A journey that began at the village school
Vikas says he was not like other children, yet his family, community and village never let him feel that he could not achieve anything. His early schooling took place at a school near his village. After that, he enrolled in a private coaching institute in Patna to prepare for the IIT. His father stood beside him at every step. Whether it was coaching or school, his father would carry him on a bicycle, dropping him off and bringing him back. This routine had continued since his school days. After clearing the IIT examination, Vikas went to Delhi for a while and threw himself into civil services preparation.
He lost his mother on the 22nd day of his job
Vikas continues, "During Corona I had to return home. After that I got busy preparing for a government job. Around that time I was appointed as an Assistant Section Officer at the Patna High Court. Now, along with the job, I also had to fulfil my dream of becoming a civil servant. I kept trying continuously. I fell short in the interview twice, but even then I did not give up. This time I worked even harder and cleared the BPSC examination to become a Block Development Officer. All of this was possible only because of the support of my parents, my community and the people of my village. When I got the job at the Patna High Court, my mother passed away and left this world on exactly the 22nd day."
Father says the real struggle was Vikas's own
Vikas's father, Ram Uday Sharma, says, "This is his own achievement. We only supported him; the real struggle was Vikas's. He is a mirror for society, and others too need to learn from him."
A bright student since childhood
Vikas's uncle, Mukesh Kumar, says that Vikas is much younger than him. He was disabled, yes, but the family never let him feel it. Whether in sports or in studies, he was treated just like the other children, and the result is the great honour he has now earned. According to Mukesh, Vikas has been a brilliant student right from the start.
