Letter to Student Series : Volume 2 Issue 10

My Dear Student Friends,

Greetings!

This is Dr. Ravi Saripalle, Founder, Inspire to Innovate (i2i) Storytelling Movement. Welcome to “Letter to Student Series- Volume 2 and Issue 10”. Hope you enjoyed reading my previous letter (they are available at http://i2itm.blogspot.in/). The goal of these letters is to inspire students across the country and make them Future Ready / Industry Ready.

Hope you had great summer vacation and helped you to learn something useful to your personal and professional life. Few days back, India's most prestigious UPSC 2017 results were out. You know the probability of success in this country's top most competitive exam is always less than 1%! Can you believe? Now you can understand, how much hard work and smart work required to reach this pinnacle! I always salute these toppers who might have kept long hours of hard work. They might have gone through severe social, peer and emotional pressure, exhibited tons of patience, perseverance and persistence! Hats off to these intellectual bravos! In such circumstances, if one is also undergoing financial / physical pressure, the struggle doubles up! What kind of determination required in such circumstances? Can you imagine? In this letter, I would like to write about few such brave intellectual UPSC soldiers who have gone through these hurdles and reached highest echelon. I am firm believer that God also cooperates with such deterministic people.

Six days back, I was reading the NEWS and received lot of whatsapp messages about Gopala Krishna Ronanki, UPSC 3^rd rank, hailing from one of the most backward districts of India, Srikakulam, AP. Infact I belong to a district called Vizianagaram, which is adjacent to this district. Gopala krishna did his bachelor's in distance mode from the University where I passed out. Gopala Krishna is the son of a farmer from Parasamba village, Palasa, Srikakulam. Both parents are agricultural laborers, no electricity at home and no money for private education. He completed +12 from Govt. college, joined teacher training course and became Govt. primary school teacher. He did his schooling in Telugu medium and appeared UPSC in Telugu medium as well. But still, he made it. I wish Gopal Krishna for his amazing success in his professional life. (http://www.srikakulamonline.co.in/ronanki-gopala-krishna/)

Same year (2017), we have another big success story of Ummul Kher. She battled bone disorder,   lived in a slum but cracked UPSC exam. She got 420^th rank. She had 16 fractures and eight surgeries due to her disease. Lived alone in the slum due to some personal circumstances, but thanks to Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust, studied till class 8 & beyond. She earned money through tuitions (again to slum children) and self funded her education. She got some funding through cash awards by participating in various debate competitions, elocutions etc. She was on wheel chair for 1 year due to accident and bone disorder. Kher got JNU Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and earned scholarship worth of 25,000 per month. Rest is the history. Today Ummul is an UPSC ranker. Wish you all the best Ummul. You have put strenuous efforts to reach to this stage. We would like to see you in much bigger role. Thank you Hindustan Times for publishing such an inspiring article. You can see more at http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/parents-disowned-disabled-girl-for-studying-after-class-8-she-cracked-civil-services-exam/story-vouuuC5Q7r3rzt1ItM4jLI.html .

When I read topyaps webpage ( http://topyaps.com/4-inspiring-success-stories-for-ias-aspirants) , I really get inspired. Govind Jaiswal , The son of Rickshaw Puller, got 48^th rank in 2007 UPSC. K. Jayaganesh, worked as waiter but became an IAS Officer. He secured 156 rank. Gopala Sundara Raj , who have experienced poverty, got 5^th rank in UPSC 2012. Rashmi Zagade got 169^th rank in 2010. She came from humble background and received great support from the spouse though he is not highly educated. Congratulations to both wife and husband who became a perfect example as most cooperative and supportive couple.

Nirish Rajput , got 370^th rank in UPSC 2013. Son of tailor, with poor background, he never gave up. Lived in a 300 square feet house in village called Mau, Gohad tehsil, Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh. Inspite of hard struggle, Nirish made it. Thank you India Today for publishing such an inspiring story. (http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/a-tailors-son-in-bhind-cracked-ias-exams/1/269624.html)

Ramesh Gholap is from Mahagoan, Barshi Taluka, Solapur district of Maharashtra. He is son of Gorakh Gholap who runs a cycle repair shop and his mother Vimal Gholap is a bangles seller. Today he is called as IAS Ramu. Ramesh, popularly known as Ramu, got affected by Polio, and used to help his mother in her bangles selling venture. During his 12^th exam, his father demised. He completed his D.Ed and degree in Arts from an open university simultaneously. He became teacher. He took 6 months leave and started preparing for UPSC. In 2012, Ramu got 287^th rank. He did not take any coaching. Same year, he also topped the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) exam, scoring the highest ever marks of 1,244 out of 1,800. It is truly inspiring! Thank you The Better India for publishing such a wonderful inspirational story of Ramesh. If you want to read in detail, please do visit http://www.thebetterindia.com/53325/ias-ramesh-gholap-bangle-seller-jharkhand-joint-secretary/.

Jaladhar Mallick, belongs to Thalakodi village in the coastal Jajpur district, 120 kilometers from state capital Bhubaneswar, lives in a thatched house, got 11^th Rank in UPSC. Studied in local government schools, graduated from Cuttack's Ravenshaw College, post graduation and M. Phil in Sociology from Jawaharlal Nehru University. Inspite of so many challenges, Jaladhar got this amazing success. Thank you  IANS & http://iasexamportal.com/civilservices/topper/Bishnu_Charana_Mallick  for posting an inspirational story.

Mutyala Raju Revu , resident of Chinnagollapalem, a remote island village in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, is another inspiration to many aspirants. Comes from marginal farmer's family, no proper education and medical facilities to the place where he stays (cut off by Godavari and Krishna rivers), became state topper in Common Entrance Examination for Polytechnic (Electrical Engineering), First rank in Engineering Common Entrance Test in 1998, secured all-India third rank in GATE 2002, completed B-Tech from the NIT, Warangal, and ME from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, in Signal Engineering. Secured first rank in Indian Engineering Services 2003. He took electrical engineering and mathematics as optional in UPSC. Finally, topped the UPSC 2006. What an inspirational story! Thank you Rediff.com for publishing such a great story which motivates many aspirants across the country. http://www.rediff.com/news/report/civil/20070516.htm. 

Vaishali Sharma, MBBS from Aligarh Muslim University, with 80% hearing loss, trained herself to read your lips. Last year, she became 2^nd ranker in physically disabled quota but rejected due to overweight. This year, she shed weight, became topper. Due to impairment, she did not take her PG further as she has to use stethoscope and cannot handle emergency calls. She studied body language and expressions very much. Her family gave complete support in all facets of her life. Wish you all the best Vaishali Sharma and I am sure you are an example for determination. Thank you times of India for publishing an inspiring story (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/girl-with-80-hearing-impairment-shines-in-upsc-2nd-year-in-a-row/articleshow/59023346.cms?from=mdr).

My Dear Friends, Appreciate your valuable time. See you in my next letter. Thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity to write to you and help me to learn, unlearn and relearn. I personally thank all websites, authors who are publishing / writing such an inspiring stories for common good and contributing for better world. Positive Storytelling and Letter Writing are powerful tools to establish vision in our life. Please do write to someone you trust / your mentor regularly. You can also reach to me at sdindia2020@gmail.com I am happy to respond to your letter.

With Best Wishes,

Dr. Ravi Saripalle

Request you to answer the following five questions and calculate your Future Readiness.

1.         I read / hear stories of amazing people           

 (A) weekly once (10 marks)           (B) monthly once (5 marks)           
(C) Irregular reading (2 marks)       (D)Not Interested (0 marks)

2.         I write letter / mail to my mentor (other than parents) for guidance (professional / personal)

(A) every 6 months (10 marks)      (B) yearly once (5 marks)               
(C) Irregular writing (2 marks)      (D)Not Interested (0 marks)

3.         I practice my passion or natural intelligence (to know your intelligence https://goo.gl/vgyD54) 

(A) weekly 4 hours (10 marks)       (B) weekly 2 hours (5 marks)        
(C) Irregular practice (2 marks)      (D)Not Interested (0 marks)

4.         I manage my academics with consistent percentage or grade 

(A) A Grade and above  (10 marks)            (B) B Grade and above  (5 marks)   (C) C Grade or below (2 marks)                  (D)Consistent Failure (0 marks)

5.         I do physical activity and maintain good health  

(A) weekly 4 hours (10 marks)       (B) weekly 2 hours (5 marks)        
(C) Irregular practice (2 marks)     (D)Not Interested (0 marks)

Check Your Score and Title

I wish you should be either Performer (your score should be between 40-50) or Challenger (your score should be between 25-40). You should not give any scope to be  Lounger (relaxed) with 10-25 score or Laggard (slower than desired) with score less than 10.

About Author:    Dr. Ravi Saripalle is Founder of Inspire to Innovate (i2i) Storytelling Movement and Director, Center for Innovation, GVP College of Engineering (A), Vizag, AP, India. As part of Inspire to Innovate (i2i) Storytelling Movement, Dr.Ravi is trying to instill inspiration through spreading positive stories of amazing people in the form of short stories, embedding them in the form of letters (epistolary form) and sending them to thousands of schools, colleges, universities districts administration across India. Also conducting Storytelling Workshops in select institutions. Providing customized mentoring to inspired students. Dr. Ravi is having 18 years of experience in Industry, Consultancy, Training, Mentoring and Research. Prior to this current mission, Ravi worked with Wipro Technologies for more than a decade.  Ravi can be reached at sdindia2020@gmail,com or http://i2itm.blogspot.in/ or https://www.facebook.com/i2istorytellingmovement/  

Previous letters are available at http://i2itm.blogspot.in/

Disclaimer: The goal of this i2iSM letter series campaign is to inspire students / youth through storytelling and develop innovative leaders to build strong nation. In this process, I have taken several data points from various websites, NEWS articles, books, videos etc. I sincerely thank all the editors for providing such an insightful stories and information. To the best of my knowledge, I tried to acknowledge all the sources. I sincerely apologize for any omissions, grammatical mistakes and hurting any reader’s sentiments. I request all the readers to understand the spirit behind this effort. This effort doesn’t involve any commercials. Letter series is for free distribution.