In a story that embodies the power of perseverance, a former food delivery executive from a remote Jharkhand village has cleared one of the state's toughest competitive examinations. Rajesh Rajak, hailing from Lalodih village in the Kendua area of Hazaribag district's Barkatha block, has successfully passed the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examination 2023. He is now set to serve as a superintendent in the Jharkhand Jail Service.
A Life-Altering Tragedy and Unwavering Resolve
Rajesh's life took a difficult turn in 2017 when his father, who worked for a private company in Mumbai, passed away. The tragedy left the family emotionally devastated and in severe financial distress. Rajesh had just completed his intermediate education at the time. "With the head of the family gone, continuing education became a major challenge," Rajesh recounted.
To keep the household afloat, his mother, Janki Devi, took up work as a cook at the upgraded middle school in Turkbad. His elder brother moved to Mumbai to work as a daily wage labourer. Despite the crushing economic crisis, Rajesh was determined not to abandon his academic dreams.
The Gruelling Path of Struggle and Self-Reliance
Rajesh's educational journey began at the upgraded middle school in Turkbad. He later passed his matriculation from Project High School in Gaida. Driven to study further, he moved to Hazaribag. There, he lived independently, gave tuition classes to younger students, and managed to complete his graduation.
As financial pressures intensified, Rajesh shifted to Ranchi. To support his family and himself, he took up work as a delivery boy with leading food aggregator platforms, going door-to-door to earn a livelihood. He stayed in a Ranchi lodge where several other residents were preparing for competitive examinations. This environment, he says, helped keep his own academic aspirations alive even as he struggled daily to make ends meet.
Turning Setbacks into Success
Rajesh began his focused preparation for the JPSC when advertisements for the 7th to 10th JPSC cycles were released. His path was not smooth. In his first attempt, he cleared the preliminary examination but could not qualify for the mains. He faced repeated failures in other competitive exams as well, all while battling persistent financial hardship. However, he never allowed disappointment to weaken his resolve.
His perseverance finally paid off in the JPSC Civil Services Examination 2023. Out of 342 successful candidates, Rajesh emerged victorious, securing the 271st rank and selection for the post of superintendent in the Jharkhand Jail Service.
His mother, Janki Devi, proudly recalled her son's relentless struggle. "My son achieved this success through relentless struggle and hard work. This achievement is not only a matter of pride for me as a mother, but also for our village, society, and the entire region," she said.
Rajesh credits a youth from a nearby village, who had earlier cleared the JPSC and joined the police service, as his biggest inspiration. "I struggled hard, but family support was there," he added, acknowledging the pillar behind his success.
