Train Accident to UPSC Success: Suraj Tiwari lost both legs and a hand, still cleared Civil Services with 3 fingers

Suraj Tiwari lost both legs and a hand still cleared Civil Services with 3 fingers

In January 2017, Suraj Tiwari's life changed forever. The 29-year-old, then working at a private company in Noida, was travelling home to Mainpuri when he fell from a moving train. When he woke up days later in AIIMS, he had lost both legs below the knees, his right hand and two fingers on his left hand.

For many, such a tragedy would have marked the end of their dreams. But for Suraj, it was only the beginning.

As doctors explained the extent of his injuries, Suraj made a life-changing decision. "I realized my life does not end here," he said in an interview. "God saved me for a reason." Rather than giving in to despair, he chose to redefine what was possible.

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But more pain was to come. Just months later, in May 2017, his brother Rahul died by suicide. It was, as his family described, "the darkest phase of his life." With his family drowning in debt from his medical treatment and relying solely on his father' income as a tailor, Suraj faced overwhelming odds.

Supported by his parents, who had already lost one son and were determined not to lose another, Suraj found strength. His mother, Asha Devi, stood by him, while his father, Rajesh Tiwari, supported him in every possible way.

Suraj enrolled in Jawaharlal Nehru University to pursue an MA in Russian language. On campus, he became a familiar sight, moving in his automatic wheelchair with books piled in his lap.

Preparing for the UPSC exam presented extraordinary challenges. With only three fingers on his left hand, writing was difficult and slow. But Suraj turned these limitations into motivation. He developed his own methods of studying and writing, often working late into the night.

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On the day the UPSC results were announced, Suraj's determination and hard work paid off. He had cleared the exam on his first attempt, securing an All India Rank of 917.

For his family, the news brought unimaginable joy.

Suraj Tiwari's story is more than a tale of academic success. Through unimaginable loss and physical adversity, he proved that with courage, support and unwavering determination, anything is possible.