Kerala's Sarika AK With Cerebral Palsy Clears Civil Services Exam

Nothing can stop you if you are determined to achieve your goal. Kerala woman, Sarika AK, proved this right after she cleared the civil services exam despite struggling with cerebral palsy. Hailing from the north Kerala district, Sarika cleared the exam on the second attempt securing a 922 rank as per the result announced by the Union Public Service Commission on Tuesday. Read on to know her story. 

Cerebral palsy is a congenital disorder that affects movement, muscle tone and posture. Sarika cannot use her right hand so she uses the left one to operate the motorised wheel-chair she moves around in. She had decided to appear for civil services exams after completing her graduation. But after seeing her result, she was in shock. 

Sarika's joy after clearing the civil services exam

"I had hoped to clear it. I am happy that I have. I do not have the words to express my joy," she said to the media. She extended her gratitude to her friends, family and teachers for their constant support. She said, "My parents were my biggest support."  

But Sarika's path to success was not easy. Each level of the exam brought new challenges. Speaking to the media about the different levels, she said, "All were tough stages."

The struggles Sarika faced during the various levels of the exam

Sarika said that the preliminary exam centre was in Kozhikode and was disabled-friendly. "Therefore, it was accessible," she said. But the main examination was in Thiruvananthapuram. Since it was a week-long process, she and her parents had to live on rent and travel to the examination centre by auto. Sarika's father works in Qatar but he came back for Sarika's exams. 

The main exam was a written exam and Sarika couldn't use her right hand to write. So she had to seek help from a scribe. 

After clearing the main examination, Sarika was invited for an interview in Delhi. She stayed in Kerala House and was disturbed by the winters of the capital. "There the issue was the cold. It was winter in Delhi," she said. 

However, she managed to appear for the interview which went smoothly. The five-member panel who interviewed her were very cordial. She further added, "The interview was fully based on my Detailed Application Form (DAF). They asked about me, my graduation subject and Kozhikode. There were very few questions about current affairs."

Sarika's advice for people suffering from disability 

When asked what advice would she give to people with disabilities, Sarika quoted a line from Paulo Coelho's Alchemist and said, "when you really want something, the whole universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." She also talked about US-based woman Jessica Cox who fulfilled her dream when she became a licensed pilot despite having no arms.