28-year-old JNU student Ummul Kher finally realised her dream on Wednesday when she cleared the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam with 420 rank.
After being born with a fragile bone disorder and later disowned by parents for her desire to continue with her studies, 28-year-old JNU student Ummul Kher finally realised her dream on Wednesday when she cleared the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam with 420 rank.
Kher, who hails from Rajasthan came to Delhi when she was five. Her father, a street vendor, used to sell eatables near Hazrat Nizamuddin while the family lived in a slum cluster near Barapullah.
"In that hand-to-mouth income, my father was supporting a family of five. My parents did not want me to continue with studies," she said.
Kher, who has received 16 fractures due to her disease that weakens her bones, studied in Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute for The Physically Handicapped till Class V.
"In 2001, our shanties were demolished in a drive by the Delhi Development Authority and we were rendered homeless. We shifted to Trilokpuri area where I started giving tuitions to slum children to help my family," she said.
Later in 2002, when she expressed her desire to continue with studies her parents protested, and threatened to sever all ties with her, if she did so. "I decided to leave home and shift on my own. I rented a shanty close to my place and joined Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust where I studied till Class VIII," Kher said.
The organisation helped her getting admission in Arwachin Bharti Bhawan Senior Secondary school, Vivek Vihar from where she passed Class XII with 90 percent marks. "I scored good marks in Class XII following which I managed to get a seat in Delhi University's Gargi college and continued to fund my education through tuitions," she said.
Things turned really difficult for her in 2012, when she met with an accident and was confined to a wheelchair for a year due to her bone disorder. "It was very difficult period but I did not give up and continue to fight for my dreams. I always wanted to become a civil servant," she said.
After finishing her graduation, Kher cleared JNU entrance exam for Masters in International Studies. "I cleared JRF-NET and did my M Phil from JNU and now I'm pursuing my Ph.D." she said.
On being asked about her parents, she said, "I don't hold them responsible for the troubles I faced throughout my life. It was due to their ignorance. But now they are old and it's my responsibility to take care of them," Kher said.
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