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In contrast to Neha, Sandeep Kaur had grown up seeing her father saluting the ‘sahibs’ and had thus always aspired to become one herself.
For Sandeep, daughter of a peon employed in Morinda sub-tehsil, the journey to making it to the IAS was tough. But it was her determination that paved the way.
Sandeep, who has secured 138th position at the all-India level, is the eldest of her three siblings and a pillar of support for her father.
“Although my father was far from influential, he always dreamt big. He had been an immense source of inspiration. During my childhood, he would cuddle me saying that I was born to fulfil his dreams. He had once told me that he wanted to see me on a position where people would salute me and that became my driving force,” said Sandeep.
Sandeep, who is a civil engineer from Panjab Engineering College, had a one-point goal in her life - to join the civil services.
Sandeep said though she had got many job offers, she had dedicated herself to preparing for the civil services. Finally, after several attempts (she refused to reveal how many), she had made it.
“Every time I failed, I gathered myself to prepare with more vigour. Whenever I felt low, I saw my father whose eyes wished to see me at the top,” she said.
Having achieved her dream, Sandeep says she wants to work against female foeticide, which she says is a major problem in Punjab. “If you ask me what more than anything has been my cause for joy, it is the fact that I have proven to people that my mother made no mistake by giving me birth and providing me with all the facilities,” she said just before leaving for a gurdwara.