Raipur: There were students who may not have heard about the struggle and mental toughness that led Manoj Sharma, who failed in the Class 12 examination, to make his mark as an IPS officer. However, many in Raipur were excited to find the IPS officer of the 2005 batch among them when he recently made a surprise visit to prominent libraries and smart reading rooms in the area.
Sharma, often referred to as the “12th Fail,” is cited as a real-life hero who believes that those who do not put up a resolute fight against the challenges in life may end up as losers. He turned his failure into a stepping stone towards success, displaying sheer grit and determination as he remarkably excelled in the UPSC civil services exams, one of the toughest competitive tests in the country, ultimately becoming an IPS officer. His success garnered him acclaimed recognition, and interestingly, a movie titled “12th Fail” was made about his journey by noted film director and producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra.
Students in Raipur felt inspired by Sharma’s success story, who began his career by joining the Mumbai police as an additional commissioner. He is currently serving as an Inspector General in the Central Industrial Security Force on deputation and was in Chhattisgarh during his official trip. Raipur Collector Gaurav Singh, known for his motivational speaking, took the opportunity of Sharma’s visit to arrange an interaction with students in renowned libraries such as Nalanda Parisar, Kala Kendra, and the Takshashila smart reading rooms, where hundreds of aspirants are often seen preparing for various competitive examinations.
The IPS officer couldn’t conceal his delight at discovering outstanding libraries where so many students spend time and work hard together. In response to a query from students about the increasing difficulty of competing in tough examinations, Sharma suggested that students can intelligently reorient themselves to develop their own pragmatic paths to success. “We didn’t have access to the excellent libraries and other facilities available today for students to prepare for their futures and careers,” he remarked, according to those who met with him.
