Success stories: 3 Sirmaur dist youths excel in state administrative exam
In a moment of pride for Sirmaur district, three youths have cleared the Himachal Pradesh Administrative Services (HPAS) examination, the result of which was announced late on Monday evening by the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission.
Sanjay Kumar Tomar has been selected as District Panchayat Officer, Aastha Chauhan Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and Karan Thakur District Food Supply Controller. Their success comes after years of relentless effort and perseverance. A brief profile of the three is as follows:
Sanjay Tomar: Hailing from the Aan Bhoj region of Sirmaur, Sanjay Tomar cleared the examination in his fourth attempt. A resident of Danda village, Tomar believes that victories are born out of struggles against failures. Dedicated to his goal since 2018, he cleared the Executive Officer (Urban Development Department) examination in 2021 and began his career as an Executive Officer in Baddi Nagar Parishad. He continued preparing for the exam alongside his professional duties.
Currently serving as the Executive Officer in Nahan Municipal Council, Tomar attributes his success to consistent self-study, relying on old notes, newspapers and competitive examination books. Born to late Bishan Singh Tomar, a police officer, and Urmila Devi, Sanjay’s family includes a brother, Arjun Singh, a Range Officer in the Forest Department, and two sisters, Nisha and Archana Tomar.
“I studied for six-seven hours daily, focusing on revising my concepts and staying motivated. Hard work and determination are the keys to success,” says Sanjay.
Aastha Chauhan: Coming from Kedarpur in the Paonta Sahib sub-division, Aastha Chauhan cleared the HPAS examination in her third attempt. Currently working as an assistant in the State Bank of India’s Amboya branch, she managed her preparation alongside her job and family responsibilities. A graduate in economics (honours) from Delhi University, Aastha began her preparation in 2020, joining online classes from a UPSC coaching institute in Delhi while continuing self-study.
Aastha credits her success to her husband Sagar Chauhan, a CRPF officer in Chandigarh, her mother and her younger brother Alokit. Taking three months’ leave from her bank job to focus on her preparation for the HPAS mains exam, she worked tirelessly to achieve her goal.
“It was a challenging journey to balance work, family and studies, but my family’s unwavering support kept me motivated,” she said.
Karan Thakur: A resident of the remote Ronhat area of the Shillai constituency, Karan Thakur cleared the examination in his fifth attempt. Growing up in his maternal grandparents’ village, Azaroli, Karan completed his higher education from the PG College, Nahan. After working as a training officer in a private company in Kala Amb for eight months, he left the job to focus entirely on his dream of becoming an HPAS officer.
Karan’s success is a testament to his determination and self-reliance, as he cleared the examination without any formal coaching. Supported by his parents, grandparents and siblings, he devoted his time to self-study and consistent preparation. “My family’s belief in me and their sacrifices motivated me to keep going. Hard work always pays off,” he says.
Karan has been selected for the post of District Food Supply Controller and aims to serve the state with dedication and integrity.