Despite being 80 percent hearing impaired, 26-year-old Vaishali Sharma, an MBBS Graduate from Aligarh Muslim University, achieved 743rd rank overall in the UPSC exam and topped in the physical disability category, reported The Times of India. She scored 970 marks (47 percent). Forty four out of the 1,209 selected UPSC candidates belong to the physically disabled category.
She was the second topper in the physically disabled category last year scoring 825 marks out of 2,025 but wasn’t selected as she couldn’t clear the medical test for being overweight. Defeating all odds she lost weight and got herself certified by the government’s health department but couldn’t make it to the final list.
Disheartened by the entire incident, her family wanted to file a complaint in the court. She told The Times of India:
Though I was shocked by what had happened then, I never gave up and was sure that I would succeed again.
Vaishali had no coaching classes and as it was difficult for her to study in a group, she decided to study by herself.
I spent long hours in the AMU library studying by myself.Vaishali to Times of India
She couldn’t go for her PG in clinical branches in medicine because of her hearing impairment. The hearing aid machine helped her a bit but it was difficult for her to use a stethoscope or answer emergency calls.
She took to lip reading to tackle UPSC interview and managed to score 170 marks out of 275.
I started lip reading and also observed people keenly to understand their body language and expressions.
Vaishali is currently working as a junior doctor in a hospital in Mathura and credits her father and her family for her success.
My family supported me. Whatever I have achieved today is due to their support.Vaishali Sharma
(Source: The Times Of India)
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