Daijiworld Media Network – Maharashtra (MS)

Maharashtra, Dec 30: Jayant Mankale’s journey is an inspiring tale of resilience and determination. Despite facing the challenges of losing his eyesight and losing his father at a young age, he maintained his focus on achieving success in life. His story reflects not only personal strength but also the unwavering support of his mother and sisters who sold pickles to fund his education.

Hailing from Beed in Maharashtra, Mankale pursued mechanical engineering at Amritvahini College of Engineering and later secured a job as a maintenance engineer in a private firm in 2015. However, his life took a challenging turn when he was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic disease leading to gradual vision loss. By 2015, he had lost 75% of his vision.

The financial burden on the family increased as they relied on his late father's pension, which was insufficient to meet their needs. To bridge the gap, Mankale's mother and sisters took the initiative to sell pickles in Pune to support his education.

In 2015, Mankale faced a significant setback with the loss of his vision. Despite the adversity, he resolved to clear the UPSC exam, viewing it as the only pathway to achieving something significant in his life. Financial constraints prevented him from accessing audio books or screen readers, but he found alternative ways to stay informed. He relied on All India Radio, television news, and debates in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha as valuable study materials. Additionally, he listened to speeches by renowned Marathi writers on YouTube.

Mankale's dedication and hard work were evident in his preparation for the UPSC exams. Despite financial limitations and the inability to access traditional study materials, he never read a NCERT book or referred to handwritten notes due to his vision loss. Instead, he put in extra effort, demonstrating his commitment to achieving his goal.

After his first attempt in 2018 resulted in an All India Rank (AIR) of 923, Mankale remained determined to become an IAS officer. He continued to persevere, intensifying his efforts, and in 2020, he achieved an impressive AIR of 143.

Jayant Mankale's story teaches us that with unwavering determination and a clear vision, success is inevitable. His resilience in the face of adversity serves as an inspiration to others, proving that challenges can be overcome with dedication and hard work.