It was no small feat to secure such high scores and rank in UPSC, India’s most challenging government service recruitment exam, but Umesh Labana was not a quitter.
A visual disability could not stand as a barrier to this Himachal resident as he decided to set sail towards achieving his goal.
Stephen Hawking’s saying, “Disability need not be an obstacle to success”, rings true for Himachal’s Umesh Labana as he secures 397th rank in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination this year.
Labana is a resident of Kolar village in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh and has been visually impaired since his childhood.
However, his immense determination and willpower enable him to achieve this remarkable feat that has made his village proud.
Umesh’s Struggles and Accomplishments
Labana, 28, did not experience visual challenges since his birth; instead, he gradually lost his vision as he grew old.
He got admitted in class 9 to a government school in his village, and it was then that he realized that he would have to deal with a hundred per cent visual disability.
His sheer will and the complete support of his loved ones pushed him forward and motivated him throughout his journey to achieve his dreams.
This year was Umesh’s third attempt at securing a good rank in UPSC, and he could manage to do so because of all the government aid he received.
His cracking the exam has made his family members proud and included his fellow villagers in the celebrations. The newspaper and media coverage also enhanced their joy and pride.
Umesh’s Story
Umesh shared that his story was not an exceptional one. He started like any other UPSC aspirant from a dead end.
He had previously failed in the 2018 and 2019 examinations, but that failure only fueled his desire to achieve the challenging goal.
Through this accomplishment, he wants the youth to realize that UPSC is not about life or death; instead, people should keep hustling every time they face failure.
He wishes that his success brings hope in the hearts of all the other physically challenged people who restrict themselves due to their disabilities.
His journey from the village to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to pursue PhD in Political Science is nothing less than awe-inspiring and highly motivating.
Because of his parents’ support, one being a school teacher and another exceptional at narrating lessons, Labana could quit formal studies.
After his home-schooling years, his parents tried to get him into various institutes, but nothing worked.
The Experience of Labana
During this time, Labana got to know about Braille books and screen readers for visually challenged people.
He learnt Braille from a highly motivating teacher, Dinesh Sood, who also suffered from the same condition within only three days. After that, he never required second-hand narrations.
His professor, Ajay Srivastava, at Himachal Pradesh University’s Advisory board for physically challenged persons, shared Umesh’s zeal and inquisitiveness at learning and gaining knowledge and congratulated him on his success.
Umesh Labana received much support from his teachers, professors, and friends, who never made him feel distressed about his condition. Instead, they always empowered him to achieve the best version of himself under all circumstances.
Other Achievers
Apart from Labana, four other aspirants —Ishant Jawal, Abhishek Dhiman, Vyom Bindal and Vishal Chaudhary— have made it to the list of Civil Service. They all come from rural areas of Himachal Pradesh.
The most noteworthy achievement is of Ishant Jawal, who secured 80th rank in the All-India list in his first attempt. He is the son of an ex-serviceman Hoshiar Singh and belongs from village Padyalog in the Ghumarwin area of Bilaspur.
