A resident of Panchkula, Sukhsohit Singh, cleared the Civil Services Examination in 2008. But, he is a student with a difference. He battled many odds and is the first thalassaemia patient to have cleared the civil services examination. He was pursuing his PhD from Panjab University. For the civil services examination, he had opted for public administration and sociology as optional subjects.
He was one-and-a-half year old when he was diagnosed thalassaemia major in 1985. Doctors informed his parents that he would required regular medication and blood transfusion. But Sukhsohit has never let his ailment come in the way of his mission. His academic track record says it all. He topped the Class XII examination in the Kendriya Vidyalaya’s Chandigarh region. He completed B.Com with honours in Business Economics from Panjab University and secured first rank in Income Tax examination. He secured first position in MA (public administration) and qualified UGC junior research fellowship exam.
Having achieved success in his third attempt, Sukhsohit believes regular study of 15-18 hours helped him achieve the target. Sukhsohit never allowed the disorder to become a hindrance in his success by keeping himself preoccupied with his mission in life. "Disease is inevitable, but weather it causes 'disease' or not is entirely optional, just as pain is inevitable but suffering is altogether optional," exclaimed a jubilant Sukhsohit back in 2008.
However, the tough days were not yet over for him. Sukhsohit, was considered medically unfit, on the basis of New Delhi’s Safdarjung hospital’s report which declared him a thalassemia patient. After receiving the letter of denial from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) for the post, he had appealed to the department for the reconsideration of his medical examination. Sukhsohit told that his ailment in no way will hinder his performance, even though he has opted for non-police services. He wanted the authorities and the medical board to take into account the observation of some senior medical experts at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) who had said that his disease would not prevent him from performing his duty. Various NGOs, including the Thalassaemics India and Federation of Indian Thalassaemics, helped him fight his case. Singh had opted for three preferences- Indian defence accounts services, Indian railway accounts services and railways personnel services.
Finally, he tasted success. After over a year of blood, sweat and tears, Sukhsohit Singh's efforts have bore fruit. He was finally set to be inducted into the Indian Defence Accounts Services (Group A) in September 2010.
His story is truly an inspiration to all of us, the patients of Thalassemia and all the people who are putting in their efforts to fight Thalassemia