Chandrasen Sagar of Bareilly may not have achieved it, but his daughters certainly did! This highlights how dreams can persevere through generations in certain families.
What could be more remarkable than having three sisters from the same family serving as civil servants? Civil service is widely regarded as a prestigious career path among young people, yet achieving success in these exams is exceptionally challenging. With over 10 lakh aspirants appearing annually, only a fraction—less than 1000 individuals—are selected. Thus, even one family member qualifying for the civil services exam is considered nothing short of a miracle.
Here is a rare and inspiring story from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, where a family has achieved this incredible feat. Mr. Chandrasen Sagar, who served as a Block Pramukh in his locality for a decade, felt immense pride as all three of his daughters cracked the UPSC exam. What makes their achievement even more special is that by succeeding in the UPSC exams, his daughters fulfilled their father’s long-held but unrealized dream.
Early Life
Mr. Sagar holds an MA and LLB degree. His aspiration to become a civil servant remained unfulfilled despite his persistent efforts. Subsequently, he entered politics and steadily climbed the ranks to become a Block Pramukh. Throughout his political career, he nurtured the dream of civil service, not for his own sake but for the future of his children.
Mr. Chandrasen Sagar, along with his wife Meena Kumari and daughters Akriti and Arpit, represents a family with a significant political background. His elder brother, Dr. Siyaram Sagar, served as a five-time MLA from Faridpur, Bareilly district until his passing in July 2019. Mrs. Meena Kumari Sagar has also been involved in Zila Panchayat, Bareilly.
In an interview with Indian Masterminds, Mr. Chandrasen Sagar expressed, “Coming from a political background, I discouraged my children from pursuing politics. It was never a topic of discussion within our household; I dealt with political matters outside.”
Over time, Mrs. Sagar gave birth to five daughters and then a son. In a society that traditionally favors boys over girls, the Sagars faced challenges for many years.
Mr. and Mrs. Sagar welcomed their first child, whom they named Arjit Sagar. Mr. Sagar remarked, “We felt blessed, as the arrival of the first child brings immense joy.” However, after their second child, also a daughter, societal interference and unwarranted criticisms began. Nevertheless, Mr. Sagar expressed his unwavering love for all his children. “Every one of my children is precious to me. I do not distinguish between girls and boys,” he emphasized.
Parenting five daughters and one son….Mr. Sagar’s children – Arjit, Arpit, Anshika, Ankita, Akriti, and Amish – completed their schooling up to class 12 in their hometown of Bareilly. However, due to the lack of colleges offering courses of their interest in the city, they chose to pursue higher studies at various colleges elsewhere.
The Sagar Family
The eldest daughter, Arjit Sagar, obtained her B.Tech from G.B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in Pantnagar, Uttarakhand. The second daughter, Arpit Sagar, completed her B.Tech from Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad, and pursued her Masters at IIM Calcutta.
The youngest daughter, Ankita Sagar, graduated from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University, with Economics Honors. The other two daughters graduated from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi. Meanwhile, Amish Sagar completed his BA in History from Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi.
Mr. Sagar mentioned, “When our children moved to Delhi for their studies, my wife accompanied them. Besides looking after them, she also encouraged them to prepare for civil services exams. She was a significant pillar of support during their preparations. During this period, I lived alone in Bareilly.”
Dreams Fulfilled
In 2009, Mr. Sagar’s dream came true when his eldest daughter, Arjit Sagar, cleared the civil services exam and secured the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) in her second attempt. She currently serves as the Joint Commissioner of Customs, GST, and Central Excise in the Mumbai zone.
The good news continued as his second daughter, Arpit Sagar, cleared the civil services exam in 2014, achieving an All India Rank (AIR) of 378 after facing setbacks in two attempts. She was allocated to the Gujarat cadre and presently holds the position of District Development Officer in Valsad, Gujarat.
The streak of success persisted with Akriti Sagar, the youngest daughter, who cleared the CSE 2015 exam with an AIR of 239 in her second attempt. After marrying Sudhanshu, an IPS officer, she was transferred to the AGMUT cadre. Currently based in Delhi, she works in the health department, overseeing Coronavirus management.
Inspired by Uncle and Elder Sisters…
Mr. Sagar shared, “My wife’s brother was an IPS officer of the 1995 batch from the West Bengal cadre. Having a civil servant in the family added more motivation to our children and served as a significant source of inspiration. His presence played a pivotal role in the success of my children.”
Akriti Sagar, the youngest daughter of Mr. Chandrasen Sagar, shared with Indian Masterminds, “Seeing my father’s inclination towards civil services, all of us were inspired to pursue the civil services exam. When my elder sister, Arjit Sagar, began preparing for the exam in 2003 while studying engineering, I too decided to follow the same path, although I was quite young at that time. After completing my graduation from SRCC, Delhi University, I also started my preparations for the exam.”
She added, “The support of my parents, elder sisters, and uncle has been pivotal in my journey to becoming an IAS officer. My sisters, who are already in service, assisted me in my studies, and my father made significant sacrifices by staying away from the family for extended periods.” Akriti Sagar demonstrated academic excellence from a young age, securing the second position in her state in class 10th and receiving an Ambedkar scholarship worth Rs 50,000. Additionally, she topped her school in class 12th and went on to pursue her studies at one of India’s premier institutions, Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University.
After becoming an IAS officer, she was transferred to the AGMUT cadre following her marriage to Mr. Sudhanshu, an IPS officer from the 2016 batch. She has actively participated in numerous social and women-centric initiatives.
Reflecting on her experiences, she stated, “During my tenure as SDM in New Delhi, I rescued numerous children from child labor and ensured they received assistance under various government schemes. On another occasion, I intervened to prevent a child from being forced into a child marriage.”
Coming from a family of five sisters, she has been deeply involved in various women-centric initiatives. She elaborated, “I have had the privilege to lead initiatives focused on women, including programs under the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ scheme that support mothers who give birth to girl children.”
For these reasons, the Sagar family of Bareilly has become a beacon of inspiration for many.
Pics © IAS Akriti sagar ,Arpit Sagar IAS
You can follow on https://x.com/AkritisagarIAS/status/1426880512044408843,
https://x.com/AkritisagarIAS/status/1426880512044408843
