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Wheelchair-Bound Woman Aces UPSC Exam with Rank 483
7 Mar
Summary
- Athira Sugathan overcame a 2016 accident leading to amnesia.
- She achieved rank 483 in the UPSC CSE 2025 on her fourth attempt.
- Her sister's sacrifice was crucial to her civil service aspirations.
A road accident in February 2016 left Athira Sugathan, then a dental surgery student, wheelchair-bound and suffering from amnesia for two years. Despite these severe challenges, Athira has achieved rank 483 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025, marking her success on her fourth attempt.
Initially forgetting her studies, Athira regained her memory through Ayurvedic treatment and completed her Bachelor of Dental Surgery course with the help of a caretaker. Her inspiration to join civil services grew in 2020 while volunteering with an NGO, motivating her to advocate for the differently-abled on a larger scale.
Athira prepared for the UPSC exam with support from her parents and a specialized academy program for physically challenged students. Her younger sister, Anagha, deferred her own degree to care for Athira, a sacrifice Athira deeply acknowledges. Athira aspires to be an IAS officer, viewing her life in a wheelchair not as a limitation but as a catalyst for dreaming big.
