Daijiworld Media Network - Satna
Satna, July 1: Surabhi Gautam's story is a remarkable testament to perseverance, determination, and the power of self-belief. Hailing from a small village in Satna district, Madhya Pradesh, Surabhi defied the odds to become an IAS officer, overcoming the limitations of rural education, a language barrier, and societal expectations along the way.
A brilliant student from the start, Surabhi excelled in her studies throughout school, consistently topping her class without any coaching or tuition. She appeared for her 10th and 12th board exams with just school support and self-study, scoring above 90% in both. Her father, a lawyer, and her mother, a schoolteacher, supported her education wholeheartedly.
After completing school, Surabhi cracked the state engineering entrance exam and went on to pursue a BTech in Electronics and Communication from Bhopal Engineering College. Despite being a Hindi-medium student until then, she topped the university and earned a gold medal.
However, college life brought a new set of challenges. On her very first day, she was mocked for not being able to introduce herself in English. Her struggles with the language often made her the target of ridicule. A turning point came when a teacher asked her a question in English during a class, which she couldn’t understand. Her incorrect answer led to further humiliation, even prompting the teacher to question how she had cleared Class 12.
Disheartened and on the verge of quitting, Surabhi found strength in her mother’s words, who reminded her that giving up would mean letting down not just herself, but the hopes of many other village girls who looked up to her. Motivated by this, Surabhi resolved to master English. She began learning 10 new English words a day, read engineering texts in English, and covered her room with vocabulary notes. Soon, she was even dreaming in English.
Her efforts paid off. Surabhi topped her first semester exams and went on to clear several prestigious competitive exams. She cracked exams for ISRO, BARC, and IES. In 2013, she secured the top rank in the Indian Engineering Services (IES) exam. Her biggest milestone came in 2016 when she secured an All India Rank of 50 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination, officially becoming an IAS officer.
Surabhi Gautam’s journey is not just a story of academic achievement. It is a powerful reminder that no barrier is insurmountable when met with courage, dedication, and an unshakable belief in one’s potential.