IBM Engineer to IPS Officer: Rahul Lodha lived in dharamshala, survived on food from gurudwara, yet cracked UPSC

IPS Rahul Lodha

Rahul Kumar Lodha seemed to have a perfect life. After graduating as an engineer, he landed a job at IBM, a dream for many. But a single conversation with friends changed everything. They were debating problems in the country's system when one friend challenged him: "If you really want to fix something, stop criticizing from the outside. Get inside the system and change it yourself."

Those words struck a chord. Rahul realised that real change doesn't come from complaining but from contributing. He decided to leave his high-paying tech job and embark on the challenging path of the UPSC Civil Services Exam.

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The journey wasn't easy. With no guidance or connections, he arrived in Delhi with little more than determination. His first nights were spent in a Gurudwara at Chandni Chowk, followed by stays in Dharamshalas while he figured out his next steps. Without the means to afford formal coaching, he developed a unique strategy, he would wait outside coaching centers and ask students about the books they were studying. He diligently noted down every recommendation and built his own study plan through sheer resourcefulness.

His hard work paid off. In 2011, he cleared the UPSC exam and became an IPS officer. But his success story has a sweeter subplot, a love story that began during his preparation days.

While studying in Delhi on a scholarship, he met Shubhi from Jodhpur, who was also preparing for the UPSC. They became friends, sharing notes and supporting each other through the ups and downs of the journey. After his third attempt, Rahul confided in his mother about Shubhi. His mothers' simple yet profound advice was, "If she is the one, go ahead and propose. Whatever happens, let it be good."

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He took the leap and proposed to Shubhi over the phone. She said yes. Their families met, and marriage was decided, even before his UPSC results were announced. When the results finally came, it was Shubhi who gave him the life-changing news, he had made it to the IPS.

Today, SP Rahul Kumar Lodha serves in Bhopal, not just as an officer but as a living example of how determination, love, and a willingness to step into the unknown can transform dreams into reality. His story reminds us that sometimes, the biggest risks lead to the most meaningful rewards.