Part-2
As soon as she read the nameplate at the entrance of her house, the wall of emotion Prashastiji had built finally gave way.
ગુજરાતીમાં વાંચવા અહીં કલોક કરો
Aravalli District Collector Prasasti Pareek’s father mortgaged their home to fund the education of her and her three sisters. To fulfill his daughters' dreams, this visionary father viewed this bold step not as an expense, but as a worthy investment of capital—even when society dismissed his wisdom as madness.
Pr Usually, as soon as a daughter reaches a certain age, parents are in a rush to see her married off. However, this family granted their daughter complete freedom. They gave her the perspective to view every situation with positivity; they broke the shackles of tradition and gave her the wings to soar high in the sky.oviding such an open field for daughters to realize their dreams may seem simple or common when reading or hearing about it, but the reality is far from it.
The family had made it clear: there would be no talk of marriage until her goals were achieved. To remain steadfast in this decision while living within a narrow-minded society was truly a revolutionary step taken by the family.
With a steadfast resolve to become an IAS officer, Prashastiji set out for Delhi. Once there, she embarked on what can only be described as a period of rigorous penance. Much like Arjuna, who saw only the eye of the bird, Prashastiji made everything secondary to passing the IAS exam. She detached herself from all family events, whether joyous or somber. To honor the sacrifice of her family—who had staked their everything to fulfill their daughters' dreams—Prashastiji put herself to the ultimate test.
She squeezed the value out of every single minute and second; the world of books became her entire universe. Her determination was so absolute that she even set her email password as *"I WILL BE AN IAS."* Beyond the three friends she lived with, she consistently avoided speaking to any fourth person. It is exactly this kind of obsession that paves the royal road to success.
Even today, when recalling the night before her exam, the vivid scenes of those days of struggle can be clearly seen in her eyes. Every night, she would message her father to tell him what time she needed to wake up the next morning before she went to sleep. Following those messages, her father would call early every morning to wake her, filling her heart with fresh enthusiasm through his inspiring words.
On the night before the exam, however, her father did not receive a message. Naturally, he grew worried when the routine was broken. He called her early the next morning while he was at the temple, his voice laced with concern: "Beta, why didn't you message me before sleeping last night?"
At that moment, a lump formed in Prashastiji’s throat and a flood of tears surged from her eyes. Sobbing, she could only manage to say, "Papa, I haven't slept today. I've been reading all night. I can't work any harder than this."
Her father stood speechless, listening. How could it be that his daughter was unable to sleep all night due to the pressure of the exam? He explained to her with immense love: "Beta! Whatever the result may be, you are already a success to me! You have left no stone unturned in your hard work. Regardless of the outcome, you will always remain the same to me. Beta, the affection we have for you will never diminish because of a result! Even Lord Krishna said in the Gita: 'Focus only on your actions (Karma), and do not worry about the fruits (results).'"
These heartfelt words from her father breathed new life into her mind and soul. The despair that had clung to her all night seemed to shed away in an instant. Her self-confidence soared to new heights, and her mind became as light as a feather. With a sense of peace and freedom from worry, she went on to take her exam.
The results were announced. She had cleared the UPSC, but her posting was in the Indian Railways. Considering her family’s financial situation, she accepted the position and began her training in Lucknow. Yet, though she was now in the Railways, she never let the spark for the IAS within her heart fade away. She poured her entire being into exam preparation alongside her rigorous training. Her desire to see her face on the front page of the UPSC result became an unyielding obsession. She worked day and night with singular focus; that spark had now become a roaring fire. Now, she didn't just see the bird's eye—she saw only the pupil.
The exams concluded, and the wait for the results began with bated breath. Would she achieve an IAS rank, or would she have to settle for the Railway service? Anxious doubts gnawed at everyone, but her confidence was extraordinary. Finally, the results were declared. On June 12, 2014, the sun seemed to rise with a special brilliance. She was in Lucknow at the time. By securing the 21st All India Rank, she made her mark across the entire nation.
For the whole family, that day was like a golden dream come true. It is said that sometimes reality is more thrilling than imagination. Upon hearing the news of their daughter’s glittering success, her parents' joy knew no bounds; an ocean of happiness surged through the family. Tears of joy flooded everyone's eyes. The immense hardships the father had endured his entire life for his daughters' education were forgotten in an instant. He went door-to-door throughout the neighborhood, distributing boxes of sweets. With every box he gave, he proclaimed, "My daughter has become an IAS officer!" How could a father contain his emotions at such a moment? After all, Prashastiji was the first person in their entire community to crack the IAS.
This success was a stinging slap across the faces of those who had offered the hollow advice, "What will you achieve by educating your daughters?" This victory was not merely about an exam result; it was the victory of a father's unwavering trust, having staked everything on his daughter. It was a victory of her mother’s profound faith and the warmth and support provided by her sisters during life's most fragile moments. Ultimately, it was the victory of the rigorous penance undertaken by Prashastiji herself!
The photographs of the candidates holding the Top 50 All-India ranks are featured on the front page. Holding the 21st rank, Prashastiji’s photograph earned a majestic spot on that very page. When she first landed at the Jaipur airport after the results, she was stunned by the sight outside. A massive crowd had gathered with drums and trumpets to welcome her. She was given a grand reception, adorned with so many garlands that her face was nearly hidden, while flower petals showered down from all directions. The atmosphere echoed with chants of victory.
She reached home while acknowledging the greetings of hundreds of people along the way. In her neighborhood, the atmosphere was as festive as Diwali. Amidst this surge of joy, her eyes froze on the nameplate at the entrance of her house. As she read it, the dam of emotions in her heart finally broke. Seeing his daughter so overwhelmed, her father too could not restrain his tears. Father and daughter embraced each other tightly and wept to their heart's content for a long time. It felt as if time had stood still. These were tears of pure joy.
On the nameplate outside the house, above his own name, her father had proudly engraved: 'Prashasti Pareek (IAS).'
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