Contrary to what many people think, physical disability does not necessarily imply lack of ability. This is precisely what Mallavarapu Bala Latha had set out to prove when she first attempted UPSC exams in 2005.
She was 23, disabled and wheel chair-bound but was full of hope and positivity. She cracked the exam and secured 399th rank, but did not opt for a post. Instead, she decided to become a role model for others like her who considered civil services ‘sour grapes’.
“Close to 70 candidates trained by me in the last 10 years are serving the public in different capacities today,” she says with a sense of satisfaction. In 2016, she wrote the Civils exam again and secured 167th rank but did not take any post. “I wanted to prove my point that there is nothing impossible if you are ready to give your best. Youth of the Telugu-speaking Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have enormous talent; they have knowledge but lack in confidence; a slight nudge is needed to help them realise their dreams,” she says.
Persistence, hard work and certain techniques, she says, can work magic. “Syllabus for UPSC is like an ocean and one must know which direction to swim in. The exam, of late, has become more dynamic with inclusion of diverse perspectives. The aspirants should analyse the what, where, why and how of the current events.”
A native of Guntur, Ms. Latha shifted to Hyderabad after her schooling in Vijayawada. “I was a mediocre student till graduation. That was perhaps because I never dreamt big till then. It is all about dreaming big and setting out to achieve it by putting your best foot forward. I want people to look at me and understand that physical limitations can’t stop an individual to achieve his goal,” she says.
The multi-tasking Latha is happy imparting coaching to Civils aspirants in addition to working for the Ministry of Defence and taking care of her little son at home besides other family obligations.
Parents, she feels, should change their perspective. “Most of them expect their wards to complete a specific course and make good money by landing in a plum job. Their plans are sometimes out of sync with the children’s interest or even efficiency. This must change,” she says emphatically.
“Through my work, I want to bring a positive change in youth. I don’t know how far I will succeed, but I want to contribute my bit,” she signs off.
