Father's Dream Fulfilled: Sandeep Kumar's Emotional Journey from Naxal-Hit Bihar to IAS Glory

Inputs by : Guru Chandra Sekhar

New Delhi, August 10, 2025 – In a heartrending tale of resilience fueled by a father’s enduring inspiration, Sandeep Kumar from the Naxal-affected village of Dumaria in Bihar’s Gaya district has risen to become an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. Overcoming profound loss and financial hardship, Kumar’s path from helping at his family’s small grocery shop to securing All India Rank (AIR) 266 in the 2024 UPSC Civil Services Examination is a poignant tribute to his late father’s dream.

Born into a humble family, Kumar grew up in a region scarred by socio-economic challenges and Naxal insurgency. His mother, Renu Devi, and elder brother, Nitish Kumar, run a modest grocery shop that sustained the family through tough times. The devastating loss of his father, Shambhu Prasad Gupta who instilled in him the aspiration to serve the nation through civil services – and his grandfather in 2017 left the family in financial distress. Yet, it was his father’s memory that became the emotional cornerstone of Kumar’s relentless pursuit.

Kumar’s academic journey began in local institutions, completing his schooling at Janta High School in Dumaria and furthering his studies at Gaya College, Gaya. His intellectual prowess earned him a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Bombay, a milestone that sharpened his analytical skills and laid the groundwork for his UPSC ambitions.

After graduating, Kumar briefly worked in a startup for three months before joining PACE IIT and Medical Academy as a mathematics faculty until June 2019. This role allowed him to support his family while preparing for the UPSC exams, a dream deeply tied to his father’s vision. Relying primarily on self-study, Kumar’s UPSC journey showcased remarkable perseverance across multiple attempts. In 2020, he cleared the prelims and mains but couldn’t succeed in the interview. Undeterred, he continued his efforts: in 2022, he secured AIR 697, joining the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS); in 2023, he improved to AIR 601, qualifying for the Indian Police Service (IPS); and in his sixth attempt in 2024, he achieved AIR 266, earning him a coveted IAS position.

“Every step of this journey was for my father, whose dream for me to serve the nation kept me going through the darkest times,” Kumar said, his voice heavy with emotion. His consistent improvement, culminating in success on the sixth attempt, reflects not just his dedication but also the emotional weight of fulfilling a promise to his late father.

Kumar’s triumph resonates deeply in Bihar, where his story inspires countless others from similar backgrounds. As he prepares for IAS training, he aims to honor his father’s legacy by contributing to rural development and uplifting marginalized communities. His journey underscores the transformative power of education and the enduring strength of familial bonds, proving that a father’s dream can light the path to extraordinary success.