Mumbai: Twenty-five years ago, a newborn baby girl was dumped in a dustbin at Jalgaon railway station in Maharashtra. The infant was visually impaired, and there was no information about her parents or the reason for her abandonment. She was placed in a rehabilitation center specializing in blind and deaf children. Today, the same girl, has achieved extraordinary feat.

Mala Papalkar

Mala Papalkar has passed the Maharashtra Public Service Commission examination and secured a position as a clerk-cum-typist in the secretariat. She is supported by 81-year-old Padma Shri awardee Shankar Baba Papalkar. He not only gave her his surname but also guided her throughout her journey and taught her Braille.

Mala told The Times of India, "God sent an angel to save me, take care of me, and bring me to where I am now." Mala expressed her determination to continue her journey, saying, "I will not stop here. I will become an IAS officer by taking the UPSC exam." Her confidence is clearly evident.

Education

According to reports, Mala completed her primary education at a school for the blind and achieved high marks in her Higher Secondary Examination. In 2018, she graduated from Amravati University and later earned a Master of Arts degree from the Vidarbha Institute of Science and Humanities. She studied using Braille and required assistance to write her exams. Professor Prakash Tople Patil from Dhule later took responsibility for her education.

Professor Amol Patil prepared Mala for the MPSC exams and offered essential guidance. Although she did not succeed in the Tehsildar exam over the past two years, she passed the MPSC Clerk exam this year.