UPSC ace Anu Kumari is proud to be an inspiration for women
Two years ago, when Anu Kumari, 31, a resident of Delhi’s Rohini, phoned her father in Sonipat expressing her desire to quit her corporate job to prepare for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), her father replied, “Padhai ke liye main tumhare saath hoon.” Back then, little did Anu realise that she was one of the few lucky women to get family support for a mid-career education, but today, she is proud to be the second rank holder in UPSC 2018 and the ambassador of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign.
Recently, when Anu was felicitated by the Old Students’ Association of her alma mater, Hindu College, her successful story stood as a shining example of sheer determination. “I had been working in the business planning and administration department of a corporate company for over eight years. I was drawing a good salary, but wasn’t satisfied with my work, and wanted to help people,” recalls Anu. “My colleagues suggested that I take up work in a NGO, but I felt opportunities were limited there. That’s when I thought of UPSC,” she adds.
The journey wasn’t without its struggles — in 2016, when Anu left her son, Viaan, under her mother’s care, he was just two-and-a-half years old. “He had turned four when I met him properly in March 2018 — the day I appeared for my interview. When I saw my son that day, I was teary eyed and all I could do was hug him tight,” she recalls not having met Viaan properly all this while.
The second challenge was the road back to studies for Anu, an MBA in finance. “Going back into study mode after all these years was quite a struggle. Herein, my masi played a crucial role. I stayed and studied at her place,” she says, adding that while she received support from her parents, winning the same from her in-laws was tough, initially. But by and by, she says, “I was able to convince them. Gradually, they, too, started believing in my dream.”
Though Anu was sure that despite just the two attempts she had due to her age, she could crack it. But she never imagined she would make it to the top 10. Even after the results were out, I didn’t think it was a big deal for me to have accomplished this until the next evening of the result day, when I went to attend a family wedding and a lot of elderly, from villages of Haryana, blessed me for my achievement. Placing their hand on my head, one of them said, ‘Aisi teen chori ho jayein toh bhi kam hai’.”
Today, Anu gets phone calls from women of all age groups. “They’ve been going through different times in life, some are divorcees, some want to quit their careers but are unable to. I feel happy that I’m able to guide them.”
When I saw my son that day (after her UPSC interview), I was teary eyed and all I could do was hug him. ANU KUMARI
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