Dr. Vikas Divyakirti
A good student has always had the backing of a good teacher. Mentors are important in shaping an individual’s mind towards the best direction. There are many inspirational mentors who are pushing the young youth of India towards success. Civil service exams in India are some of the most difficult exams to pass, and having an effective teacher gives you an additional advantage. There are wonderful teachers and educators who are helping UPSC aspirants to crack this exam. But today in this article, we will talk about Vikas Divyakirti, a prominent inspirational teacher who has changed the lives of many students for the better. Let us find out how Vikas Divyakirti cracked UPSC through Vikas Divyakirti’s success story.
Vikas Divyakirti’s Biography: From Humble Beginnings to a Nation’s Mentor
Early Life
Vikas was born in Bhiwani, Haryana, on December 26, 1973, to a middle-class family. His parents valued education, as they themselves were highly educated. His father was a Hindi literature professor, and his mother was a teacher in Bhiwani. His family believed in the importance of education and motivated Vikas for the same. He studied at Halwasia Vidhya Vihar, which was a Hindi-medium school, and later on completed his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Delhi. He completed his Master of Arts in 1995 from Hindu College, Delhi. He also acquired degrees in sociology, English literature, LLB, M.Phil. and a Ph.D. in Hindi literature from Delhi University.
Vikas Divyakirti’s success story starts at an early age, wherein he showcased an interest in politics and became an active member of ABVP. Even though he had financial challenges, he started working odd jobs to provide for his family. During his student years, he was awarded various prizes, especially for his public speaking skills. While he was good in education, he had a major setback in the English language.
Vikas Divyakirti’s UPSC journey
Vikas Divyakirti, after completing his master’s degree, started teaching at Panna Girdharlal Dayanand Anglo Vedic College and was an assistant professor at the University of Delhi.
He successfully cleared the UPSC exam in his first attempt in 1996, where he ran 384. He went on to get training at the Institute of Secretary, Training and Management, where he was inducted into the Central Secretariat Services by the government of India. He was serving there as a section officer in the Department of Official Language in the Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi.
When we talk about how Vikas Divyakirti cracked the UPSC, it is his determination as well as his personal study approach. He focused on deep conceptual understanding as well as advised an effective study plan. He believed in strategically prioritising a concept and devoting time to practice and revision.
Drishti IAS founder’s journey
After resigning from his post, he decided to continue teaching, and in the year 1999, he founded Drishti IAS Coaching Institute, which was located in Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi. He had borrowed around 15,000 to add rent and chairs in his classroom. His first batch had only a few students who were impressed by his teaching style in Hindi. Eventually, Drishti IAS became a prominent name in UPSC coaching centres in India.
The Drishti IAS founders’ journey had always been in promoting the idea of simplifying topics and delivering the content in Hindi, which ensured the understanding of students from non-English-medium backgrounds. They focused on making complex subjects practical and relatable, which ignited interest in his students.
Vikas Divyakirti’s success story also has another chapter. It is his YouTube journey in November 2022. He launched his YouTube channel, which currently has over 4 million subscribers. He went on to create multiple other channels like Drishti IAS, Drishti IAS English, Drishti Judiciary, Drishti PCS, Drishti Teaching Exams, Drishti IAS Shots, Drishti Welfare Foundation, etc.
A major milestone in Vikas Divyakirti’s biography will be his appearance in the movie 12th Fail, where he played himself. He was also part of writing the script of the film.
Personal Life and Other
Divyakirti married Dr Taruna Verma, who is also associated with his IAS coaching centre. They have a son together. He believes in maintaining a personal diary and enjoys travelling as well as cinema. To further his journey in movies, he also studied filmmaking as a hobby at FTII in Pune.
Drishti IAS founder’s journey hit a major milestone when he was nominated for Padma awards in 2023. A major contribution to Vikas Divyakirti’s success story is his resonance towards the spiritual philosophy of Osho. He is also a follower of Arya Samaj.
The Drishti IAS founder’s journey also hit a setback due to his controversial statement about Ramayana. Then, in the year 2004, the basement of his coaching centre was sealed due to the violation of norms by the municipal corporation of Delhi.
Even after multiple setbacks, Vikas was resilient and was able to overcome hardships and became one of the most beloved teachers in India.
