Differently abled defies all odds, cracks UPSC exam

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 14

Success comes to those who work hard for it, rather than regretting over their limitations, said 25-year-old Karanbir Singh Chohan, who has cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in his third attempt this year.

A differently abled person from birth, Chohan is a strong believer in god. “If god takes something from you, it gives us more in form of other things which we do not see initially,” said Chohan, who is orthopedically handicapped as he suffers from cerebral palsy in the right arm.

“In my case, he gave me grit, right frame of mind and enough intelligence to create a niche for myself,” he said. Chohan scored an all-India rank of 807 in the general category and eight position in the handicap category. He said he wanted to sensitise people to the struggle of differently able persons. “They should be considered equal. They don’t need anyone’s sympathy but only companionship,” he said.

Recalling his experience, Chohan said he used to consistently read for eight to 10 hours daily. “Consistency is the key to success and one should not lose hope,” said Chohan. He graduated in computer science from the prestigious Delhi Technological College. He first attempted the UPSC civil services exam in 2017 after taking a coaching from an institute based in Delhi. Unable to clear the exam in first two attempts, he prepared for another year while staying at his home and cleared the exam this year.

Chohan said he had a childhood dream of becoming a civil servant. After completing senior secondary, he decided to take the computer engineering course after getting inspired by his sister who was among the first girls in the holy city to go an IIT. He said he started preparing for the UPSC in the final year of his graduation.

“I credit my success to my family, especially my father Manjit Singh Chhina, who is a retired bank employee,” Chohan said.