“Once all struggle is grasped, miracles are possible,” said Mao Zedong. We all have come across this quote once in our life but there are only a few who embodied it. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) toppers Anil Bosak and Niranjan Kumar are among those few. 

It wasn’t their last attempt for India’s one of the most prestigious and difficult exams, and they were certainly prepared that this won’t be their last, but what they know was that giving up was not an option. Both the candidates share certain similarities, they both are from Bihar, both faced financial struggles and both refused to let go of their dream.

Here’s everything to know about UPSC 2020 toppers Anil Bosak and Niranjan Kumar.

Anil Bosak, Rank 45

Anil Bosak, a native of the Kishanganj district in Bihar cleared the UPSC exam in his third attempt. He secured rank 45 this time.

Bosak is an engineering graduate from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.

Anil’s father Binod Bosak makes a living by selling clothes on his bicycle. 

“He first qualified for the IIT. We were very happy. I thought now he will work. But he said he will prepare for the UPSC. His teacher also helped him a lot, he even offered to help monetarily,” Binod Bosak told NDTV.

Bosak attempted the UPSC exam twice before this. y. Last year he got rank 616 but he said he will appear again in the test.

Niranjan Kumar, Rank 535

Niranjan Kumar comes from a remote village in Bihar’s Pakri Barawan. Niranjan used to assist his father in selling khaini, in a small shop that his father, Arvind Kumar owns.

Niranjan’s father’s monthly earning was a meagre Rs 5000, which was insufficient for a family of 6, which includes Niranjan, his two brothers, one sister and mother. 

When his father was unable to support his education, Niranjan cleared the Jawahar
Navodaya Vidyalaya exam as education is free there.

After that, to complete his intermediate level education
from Science College in Patna, Niranjan tutored children to earn some money to pay the modest yearly fee of Rs 1200.

Niranjan then did a mining engineering course
from IIT-ISM by taking a student loan of Rs. 4 lakh that he repaid after getting a job as an assistant engineer (mining) at Coal India Ltd. in 2011

Niranjan also cleared the UPSC exam in 2016 with 728th rank after which he got Indian Revenue Services (IRS).