Buxar (Bihar): Greetings have begun pouring in for Garima Lohia, who secured all-India second rank in the Civil Services exam conducted by the UPSC. Garima belongs to Buxar town in Bihar. During the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020, she confined herself to her home in Buxar and started preparing for one of the toughest exams.
In an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat, the UPSC topper Garima said, "In the age of the Internet and social media, it hardly matters if someone is from a small town. Those hailing from small towns are more conscious of their dreams. People from a small town nurture big dreams. So, the small-town mindset was not a hurdle to achieving my dreams. I was focused towards my goal."
A pass out from Wood Stock School in the Buxar district of Bihar, Garima went to New Delhi to complete her graduation. During the Covid-19, she returned home. Garima was not enrolled in a coaching institute. She excelled in the Civil Services exam based on self-study. Speaking about the exam preparation tips, Garima said, "I started with the basic books and also took cues from YouTube videos."
Garima began preparing for the UPSC examination because her mother wanted her to become an IAS officer. "It was my mother's aspiration which tempted me to prepare for the Civil Services exam. Although, it was a casual start. I began going through basic books. But later on, I was focused to crack the UPSC examination."
Speaking about her mother, Garima said, "Her contribution was immense when she was preparing for the Civil Services. It was as if we both were preparing for the exam. My mother was conscious of her daily needs. My father passed away earlier. In the absence of my father, she filled the void and always reminded me about my papa's dreams. So, my mother's contribution was extraordinary while I was preparing for the exam."
