From Kerosene Lamp to UPSC Glory: Anshuman Raj's Journey of Perseverance
In a small village in Bihar, a young boy named Anshuman Raj made a habit of studying even when the electricity was unreliable. The light in his room was often dim, and the circumstances were frequently uncertain, but his commitment remained unwavering: he kept reading, kept revising, and kept pushing forward. This boy would later achieve a remarkable feat, clearing the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2019 with an All India Rank of 107.
A Childhood Built Around Limitations
Raj's story originates in the Nawanagar block of Buxar district, where life was characterized by ordinary hardships rather than dramatic breakthroughs. Reports indicate that in his early years, he studied under the glow of a kerosene lamp, as his family navigated financial stress following losses in his father's rice mill business. His mother, a government school teacher, served as the steady anchor of the household, providing stability amidst the challenges.
Such an upbringing does not guarantee success automatically. Instead, it makes every small academic step more demanding in terms of effort. For many, conveniences like a stable study table, regular power supply, extra coaching, and spare time are taken for granted. However, Raj's early life was shaped by the opposite reality, where discipline had to compensate for the lack of comfort. He learned to rely on perseverance to overcome obstacles that others might never face.
Schooling That Kept Moving Forward
Raj's educational journey was a gradual climb, not a sudden leap. He attended Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Buxar up to Class 10 and later continued at JNV Ranchi for Class 12. This path underscores a commitment to public schooling and sustained effort, contrasting with the fast-track routes that some UPSC aspirants pursue. His story endures because it resists polish and remains authentic, highlighting the years of uncertainty before the rank list was announced.
It is easy to turn a civil servant into a symbol after their success, but it is more honest to remember the period when nothing was guaranteed. For Raj, each stage of life depended on the next exam, the next revision session, and the next attempt, making his eventual achievement all the more significant.
The UPSC Breakthrough
The official UPSC result for the Civil Services Examination 2019 lists Anshuman Raj at rank 107. He reportedly reached this milestone after four attempts, adding substantial weight to his accomplishment. This was not a single clean sprint but a long apprenticeship in failure, repetition, and self-correction. The civil services exam is notorious for its lengthy preparation cycle and high selectivity, making a rank more than just a number—it becomes a record of time spent alone with books, notes, mock tests, and doubt.
In Raj's case, the result carries the added force of his background: a boy from a modest rural home in Bihar, breaking into one of India's most competitive examinations. His success challenges the common assumption that circumstances dictate one's fate early and forever. Instead, his life suggests something more stubborn and useful: while circumstance can slow a person down, it does not always have the final word.
More Than a Success Story
Raj's narrative is not about a magical night of study under a lamp but about years of steady work in imperfect conditions. It emphasizes endurance, a family that prioritized education despite strain, and a student who persisted when conditions were far from ideal. The effort involved may not have looked spectacular in the moment, but it became remarkable only after the results arrived.
This story has staying power because it resonates with universal themes of resilience. A lamp can flicker, a room can go dark, and a family can struggle, but a routine built on discipline can keep moving through all of it. For Raj, that persistence eventually translated into a result sheet, a rank, and a transformed life. The boy who studied by limited light did not merely escape the darkness; he learned how to keep reading within it, inspiring countless others to do the same.
