PART -1
A father mortgaged his home to educate his daughters, and in return, all four took a magnificent flight toward success! Among them is the illustrious Collector of Aravalli district, Ms. Prashasti Pareek.
Yesterday, it was March 8, marks International Women's Day. On this occasion, I want to share the inspiring story of a woman whose life and struggles exemplify true strength. She and her family did not just talk about women’s empowerment and potential; through their actions, they provided an outstanding example that serves as a beacon for society.
Her name is Ms. Prashasti Pareek.
She is recognized as being in the frontline of dutiful and committed IAS officers. Currently, she is serving with dedication as the Collector of Aravalli district. If we look closely at her challenging journey—rising from a simple middle-class family to becoming an IAS officer—it is impossible for the heart not to be moved and the eyes not to well up with emotion.
The world-renowned 'Pink City', Jaipur, is her birthplace. Her father served in a bank while her mother was a homemaker; both deeply understood the profound value of education. They had taken a virtual vow to ensure their four daughters—whom they considered forms of Goddess Lakshmi—were not only well-educated but also deeply cultured. Since her father worked in a bank, his postings shifted to various corners of the country. His path was arduous and filled with its own challenges, yet he never allowed any shadow of hardship to touch his daughters' upbringing or education.
Prashasti Pareek’s academic journey began in Kota, Rajasthan. From the fourth grade onwards, she moved to a school in Jaipur, where she completed her studies through the twelfth grade. While her father’s job required frequent transfers, her mother always stayed with the daughters, meticulously overseeing their studies. Despite being a homemaker, her mother possessed an extraordinary interest in education and literature—a legacy Prashasti received right from her infancy. As the saying goes, "the child is father of the man," and Prashasti was exceptionally brilliant from the start. It was rare to find a school competition she didn't participate in, whether it was painting, debates, elocution, or essay writing; she consistently secured the top position. Her elder sister also took great care of her, from academics to personal well-being. The indelible impression her elder sister left on her heart during childhood remains preserved with the same deep respect even today.
Even today, a unique spark illuminates her eyes whenever she recalls that historic, golden day: March 8, 1999. At that time, the National Commission for Women had organized an essay competition. She submitted a powerful essay on the theme of the 'evils of the dowry system', which had been prepared under her mother's guidance. Given its striking style and impact, the essay was selected at the national level. On International Women’s Day, March 8, 1999, she was honored in Delhi by the then Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Her parents were also present at that grand ceremony in Delhi. To witness a scholar and the nation's most beloved statesman honoring their daughter—what parents in the world would not dream of such a breathtaking sight? That day became a moment of immense pride and an unforgettable memory for the entire family.
Despite reaching such heights, she never let success go to her head. Instead, she became more vigilant, putting in immense effort to further sharpen her talents. As a result of her passion and disciplined hard work, she continued to receive numerous prestigious honors throughout her academic career, including awards from the then Governor of Rajasthan and the then Chief Minister, Shri Ashok Gehlot.
Due to her brilliant talent during her studies, Prashasti ji was honored by the Chief Minister, the Governor, and the Prime Minister. At that time, her father would say with a smile, "Beta! Now achieve something in life so that even the Honorable President honors you." These words, spoken lightly by her father, were deeply etched into her heart. Destiny had already fixed the date and time—but when, where, and how? Only time would tell.
After completing the twelfth grade, Prashasti ji gained admission to the Government Engineering College in Bhilwara. All four sisters were exceptionally bright in their studies, but managing the educational expenses of four children on a single salary was a formidable task for their father. Prashasti ji’s eldest sister was studying CA along with Law, the second sister was pursuing Management, and the youngest was studying Engineering. Financial constraints were severe. Nevertheless, their father never let the daughters feel the burden. Whenever necessary, he took out loans, but he never compromised on the facilities provided for their education. He gave his daughters the entire sky to grow and expand.
The surrounding society held narrow-minded views. Many people would mock them, asking, "Don't you have a son? What will you achieve by educating daughters this much?" But such negative remarks never affected her father. He would firmly reply, "My daughters are my sons; they are the light of my eyes and pieces of my heart. One day they will bring such fame that even those offering these hollow 'wise' advices will salute them." Her father possessed a modern outlook; through the lens of education, he could clearly envision a luminous future for them.
As soon as she completed her engineering, she secured a position at a prestigious firm like Infosys in Mysore through campus placement. She felt the responsibility of repaying the loans her father had taken, so she commenced her professional career. She completed a year and a half of training in Pune, but the job felt repetitive—the same tasks day after day. It was just going to the office and toiling away on a laptop. There was no real challenge involved. Despite the handsome salary, her heart wasn't in it.
She briefly took up teaching at a college, but her soul was restless to do something "out of the box." The seeds of joining the Civil Services had been sown in her heart long ago. However, nurturing those seeds into a vast banyan tree was no easy feat. It required resigning from her job, moving to a major city like Delhi for coaching, and putting in grueling, back-breaking labor. Even after all that, there was absolutely no guarantee of success. To be among the top 150 out of a million competitors is a task more arduous than chewing iron chickpeas (an impossible feat). She stood at a crossroads: what was she to do?
Her mind was made up. Regardless of the outcome, she was finished with the mundane routine; if she were to have a career, it would only be in the Civil Services. Without a moment's delay, she resigned from her prestigious, high-status corporate job in a single stroke. This was a daring move: the family was burdened with loans, her other sisters were still studying, and her younger sister was determined to move to the US for her Master’s degree. Meanwhile, her father had retired as a Chief Manager from the bank. Ordinarily, such a position yields a significant sum upon retirement, but because he had taken several advances against his salary for his daughters' education, only a limited amount remained. For a middle-class family, this post-retirement phase was a period of great trial. Her father had even taken a loan against his pension to fund their studies. Despite these pressures, her parents and elder sister wholeheartedly supported her decision to quit her job.
The younger sister was set on pursuing her Master’s in the US after engineering, but the costs were staggering. Since her father’s pension was already leveraged for loans, the only asset left was their family home. He firmly decided that no daughter’s dream should remain unfulfilled, even if it meant mortgaging the house to send her abroad. The entire family looked at him in stunned silence; for a moment, the younger sister was even ready to drop her plans. It was then that her father placed his hand on their heads and said, "Beta, I am not spending this money by mortgaging the house; I am investing it. The returns on this will come back to us manifold." Hearing his words, there wasn't a dry eye in the room.
(To be continued)
More to come next Sunday...
An aricle by : Ishwar Prajapati
Engalish version : Pallavi Gupta.
Mo. : 9825142620
