In a world that often appears to be dominated by difficulties and obstacles, a few stories arise that not only inspire but also redefine the boundaries of hard work, dedication, support and love. One such real-life story is that of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma and his wife, IRS official Shraddha Joshi, a journey that unfolds against the backdrop of challenges encountered in life. The cinematic depiction of this couple’s lives in Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s “12th Fail” starring Vikrant Massey and Medha Shankar not only sheds light on their individual challenges but also eloquently captures the essence of their shared journey.
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While Sharma was a ’12th Fail’ who eventually paved his way to his goal of clearing UPSC to become an IPS officer, Joshi, who was born on March 5, 1979, in Almora, Uttarakhand was an academically bright student throughout her education. She was also a merit holder in her class 12 and received the 13th rank in the state board exams back when Uttarakhand was a Part of Uttar Pradesh. She then went on to pursue a Bachelor’s in Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery at Gurukula Kangri in Haridwar after finishing high school. Her parents, both teachers, wished for her to become a doctor at first. Joshi, on the other hand, discovered her true calling for civil service while working as a doctor in a hospital in Uttarakhand.
Shraddha and Manoj first met at a UPSC coaching centre in Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar, where a teacher facilitated their introduction owing to Shraddha’s interest in Hindi literature. She was equally impressed when she learned that Manoj had passed his prelims without any coaching. During their preparatory days, the two fell in love and constantly stood by each other as their strongest pillars, and the couple eventually married once Sharma was selected for the Indian Police Service.
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After clearing the PCS exam in 2005, Shraddha Joshi was appointed Deputy Collector in Uttarakhand. However, with the support of her husband, she retook the test in 2007 and passed, eventually joining the Indian Revenue Service.
During an interview with Lallantop, Sharma amusingly revealed a facet of Shraddha’s lifestyle, stating, “Shraddha’s life depends on tea, pahaadi aadmi ko sote samay bhi chai chahiye aur uthte samay bhi.” (A person from the mountains wants tea when she sleeps and wakes up)
In the same interview, Joshi revealed how her world was diametrically opposite that of Sharma’s, who hailed from Morena in Madhya Pradesh, situated next to Chambal, infamous for its ravines ruled by dacoits. “I come from the hills of Uttarakhand where people have not seen guns. On the other hand, at our wedding people were seen walking around with Dunali’s (double-barrelled shotguns) and firing shots in the air.”
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She also reminisced about the ‘Pani Wala Aloo’ from their rally-like wedding where they had invited 1,500 guests but roughly 4,000 people turned up. Recalling a moment when faced with a rush of unanticipated guests, Sharma had cleverly suggested blending water into the ‘Aloo’ to ensure there was enough food for everyone.
The story of Shraddha and Manoj’s life delicately weaves together the threads of their journeys, showing how fate brought two people from worlds that are poles apart together in the pursuit of love and a common goal – serving the nation.
Shraddha Joshi is an IRS officer of the 2007 batch while Manoj Kumar Sharma is a 2005 batch IPS officer in the Maharashtra Cadre.
Professional Life
IRS Shraddha Joshi is currently the Managing Director of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, a position she has held since 2022. She was appointed Managing Director of Mahila Economic Development Corporation (Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal) in Maharashtra in 2018 and served in that capacity on a deputation basis for 4 years.
Since joining the Indian Revenue Services, she has worked on tax regime implementation in a variety of departments including Service Tax, Central Excise, Customs, and others. She thereafter served in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) department on tax investigations.
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