IPS Manoj Kumar Sharma, whose life and success inspired the critically acclaimed film- 12th Fail, said he had to drive an auto-rickshaw and worked as a peon in a library to support his studies.
While speaking at ABP Network's Ideas of India Summit, Sharma said, "I used to drive an auto-rickshaw in my village to support my studies. I came to Gwalior, I got a work in the library for which I was paid Rs 350. Though I was a peon in the library, but I got to study a lot of books there."
The '12th Fail' real-life star, who came from a small village in the Morena district of Madhya Pradesh, worked very hard in life against all odds, to crack the prestigious UPSC examination and became an IPS officer.
The IPS officer reflected on his struggle to learn English and develop his communication skills.
"My problem was that I didn't know how to speak, how to speak in English. When everyone used to go from the library, I would close the library and give speech. I used to try and learn like this," Manoj Kumar Sharma said.
"Any student who comes from villages or small towns, they have a huge problem with English. English is not taught in the villages and there are no convent schools. I had to face the same issue," he added.
Manoj Kumar Sharma's Struggle With English
Sharma recalled a very interesting incident where he wrote an essay on "terrorism in India," while the question was on "tourism in India."
"I remember when I went to write (UPSC) Mains examination, I was very afraid of English that there was a qualifying paper. I had prepared the topic of terrorism for the subject... I wrote the essay on the topic "terrorism in India" and happily came out of the examination," he said.
"But when I came out, I got to know that the topic was on "tourism in India," he further added.
The IPS officer also said that while he was living in the village, his vision was to pass the 12th standard and learn typing so that he could support his family.
During the session titled "Courage and Compassion: The Incredible True Story of an Unlikely Hero," he recalled his friendship, struggle and also his meeting with an officer in the village, which made him rethink his ambitions in life.