This is the story of how determination spells success. Coming from a poor family of bidi labours, 22-year-old Dhananjay Wanjari, is perhaps the youngest IAS aspirant in the country to have cleared the civil services exam this year.
A resident of Kamtha (Birsi) village, about 15 km from Gondia, Dhananjay lost his father when he was four. His mother, Sumabai, a bidi labour toiled for her upbringing. He passed his matriculation from GES High School, Kamtha and graduated from D B Science College, Gondia.
Later he went to Bhopal and Delhi for post-graduation and preparing for UPSC examination. Only last year he joined as lecturer at Susil Ismail College in Mumbai.
A beaming Sumabai said, "It is very difficult to supplement family income and pursue education at the same time. But Dhananjay did it with diligence. He took each hurdle as a challenge and cleared it with determination."
Sonabai said Dhananjay used to roll bidis since childhood along with his aunt Rampyari, but was very ambitious. Sonabai fondly recalls that he wanted to be an officer since childhood.
During a brief telephonic conversation with TOI, Dhananjay, who is presently in Mumbai, said his achievement means that there is no dearth of talent in rural parts of the country. "It is how one perceives opportunities and makes the most of them that determines success," he said.
