Stories
Ragpicker Mother's Sacrifice Fuels Son's Journey from Slum to IIT and IFS Officer
M
Moneycontrol•23-09-2026, 15:08
Ragpicker Mother's Sacrifice Fuels Son's Journey from Slum to IIT and IFS Officer
- •Gautam Padibhar, an Indian Forest Service officer, rose from a Mumbai slum to IIT Madras thanks to his mother Sakhubai's unwavering support.
- •Sakhubai Padibhar worked as a ragpicker and daily-wage laborer after her husband's death, enduring hardship to ensure her children's education.
- •Gautam secured All India Rank 139 in the UPSC Indian Forest Service Examination 2022 and now serves as Director of Kanger Valley National Park.
- •A poignant moment captured Gautam's mother visiting his office and sitting in his official chair, symbolizing her sacrifices and his achievements.
- •Gautam credits his mother for instilling in him the determination, fighting spirit, and freedom to dream big, enabling his remarkable journey.
Key Questions Answered
Gautam Padibhar serves as the Director of Kanger Valley National Park in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, after joining the 2023 batch of the Chhattisgarh cadre.
Gautam cleared the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) without formal coaching and secured admission to IIT Madras to complete his BTech degree.
Gautam Padibhar secured All India Rank (AIR) 139 in the UPSC Indian Forest Service Examination 2022.
