UPSC CSE 2023: Parvathy Gopakumar Secures 282nd Rank Despite Disability; Practiced with Handwriting Books

Among the numerous success stories of UPSC candidates, Parvathy Gopakumar from Alappuzha, Kerala, stands out as a prime example of perseverance, willpower, and the rewards of hard work. Parvathy, who ranked 282nd in the UPSC Civil Services Exam 2023, was determined to achieve her goals no matter what came her way.

Hailing from Ambalapuzha, her journey to success is a narrative of overcoming adversity. Despite losing her right hand in a devastating bike accident while she was in class 7, she went on a remarkable path of adaptability and resilience, as reported by manorama.com.

This could have easily become a hurdle that could have derailed Parvathy’s dreams. However, according to manorama.com, shortly after this incident she began training herself to write with her left hand by practicing cursive writing with the help of handwriting books for LKG students. Though she still struggles with writing as quickly as she would like, Parvathy managed to land the 282nd rank in the highly competitive Civil Services test on her second attempt.

Parvathy chose Humanities in her eleventh and twelfth grades, going against what was expected of a bright student like herself. This choice finally paid off as she aced the Civil Services test.

Parvathy’s father is Gopakumar, a Deputy Tahsildar in the Revenue Department while her mother Sreekala, is a high school teacher.

Sreekala, Parvathy’s mother, was reported by manorama.com as saying that her daughter was “set for big things in life,” and her incredible achievement has now validated that belief.

Parvathy’s journey is one of many motivating stories among UPSC applicants. Similarly, Sandeep Kumar, hailing from the Naxal-affected area of Dumaria Block in Gaya, Bihar, brought glory to his district by achieving the 601st position in the UPSC examination 2024. Sandeep’s constant hard work paid off, as he passed the UPSC3CSE 2024 for the second year in a row.

Following the publication of the UPSC CSE 2023 results on April 16, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the successful applicants and encouraged those who fell short this time. He emphasised the need of perseverance in the face of failures and encouraged them to see the limitless potential that lay ahead, inspiring a sense of hope and determination for their future pursuits.