Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s recent film, “12th Fail,” featuring Vikrant Massey and Medha Shankar, has found a special place in the audience’s hearts. The movie is performing well at the box office and making waves on the Disney+Hotstar OTT platform. It is an adaptation of Anurag Pathak’s bestselling novel with the same title.
IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma and his wife IRS officer Shraddha Joshi
The film draws inspiration from the real-life story of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma and his wife IRS officer Shraddha Joshi. The couple has shared their genuine love story, offering inspiration to others. This article will delve into the inspiring success story of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma and his wife.
“12th Fail” is a cinematic portrayal rooted in real-life experiences, centring around UPSC aspirants. The narrative unfolds the journey of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma, who courageously fought against poverty to achieve success. Vikrant portrays Manoj’s character in the film, depicting his aspirations to become an IPS officer and combat corruption and misuse of power.
The movie sheds light on the challenges faced by millions of students attempting the UPSC entrance exam, considered one of the toughest exams in India. While numerous individuals aspire to become IAS and IPS officers, only a fraction succeed in cracking this competitive exam.
Now, let’s dive into the real story of Manoj Kumar Sharma
Did Manoj Sharma fail his class XII exam?
Manoj, originally from Morena in the Chambal region of Madhya Pradesh, hailed from a financially struggling family. His academic journey faced challenges due to a flawed education system that encouraged cheating. Manoj received a third division in the 9th and 10th grades and failed all subjects except Hindi in the 12th grade. During his school days, IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma showed no interest in academics.
Manoj Kumar’s journey from failing in Class XII to becoming an IPS officer
Coming from a financially struggling family, Manoj encountered numerous obstacles. Despite failing his Class XII board exams initially, he persevered, cleared the exams in the second attempt, and went on to pursue higher studies.
His dream of becoming an IPS officer necessitated clearing the challenging UPSC exam. Facing financial constraints, Manoj had to work odd jobs in Delhi to support his family and continue his UPSC preparation. He slept on the streets, went without food for days, and worked as a tempo driver, library assistant, and dog walker to afford coaching fees and study materials. His struggle was relentless.
After three unsuccessful attempts, Manoj Kumar Sharma refused to give up on his UPSC dream. He finally succeeded on his fourth attempt, clearing all rounds of the examination. In 2005, he joined the Maharashtra cadre as an IPS officer and currently serves as the Additional Commissioner of the West Region in Mumbai.
Manoj Kumar Sharma and Shraddha Joshi’s Love Story
During his challenging days, Manoj found his soulmate, Shraddha Joshi, who supported him unwaveringly. Their love story began while taking UPSC coaching in New Delhi. Shraddha, aspiring to be a collector, met Manoj at a UPSC coaching centre in Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar, recommended by a teacher interested in Hindi literature.
Manoj Kumar Sharma’s wife
In a conversation with Lallantop, Manoj openly expressed his belief that one “cannot live without love.” This sentiment became even more profound when he found love in Shraddha, his now-wife, and he was determined to be her ideal life partner.
shraddha joshi Manoj kumar sharma ips wife Shraddha
Beyond his dedication to studies, Manoj actively pursued Shraddha’s affection. Reflecting on the moment they first met, Manoj Kumar Sharma shared that he was captivated by Shraddha Joshi’s name when she introduced herself.
Manoj said,
“Ek toh naam Shraddha, uppar se sheher Almora (One she is Shraddha, and second, she comes from a city called Almora). That day only I felt that there is something special about her.”
He eventually confessed his thoughts to her after falling in love. However, Shraddha turned down his approaches. She said to him,
“Are you mad?”
Manoj persisted nonetheless. He resolved to convince Shraddha that he was the “ideal” companion for her. Manoj revealed,
“When Shraddha refused to even think about it, I asked her, ‘Can we be friends at least?’”
Additionally, he clarified that the notion of befriending her was,
“Keep meeting her and proving that you are the best. She will get married someday, till that day keep assuring you are the best, and hone your cooking skills.”
Since Shraddha was from the highlands and he thought that people from the mountains enjoyed tea, Manoj studied how to make tea in an attempt to impress her.
He shared,
“Shraddha’s life depends on tea, pahaadi aadmi ko sote samay bhi chai chahiye aur uthte samay bhi (A person who belongs to the mountains wants tea when he sleeps and wakes up). So, I was like let’s learn how to make tea,”
Despite his difficulties, Manoj was a good carer for Shraddha; he used to bring meals to the coaching sessions for her because she avoided the institute. The IPS agent revealed,
“I used to make two rotis for her and pack them with achaar and her favourite ‘makka’ namkeen. My first concern was Shraddha should believe that I am a good man”
Anurag Pathak, the author of the book 12th Fail and a close friend of Manoj Kumar Sharma, advised him to put more emphasis on his academics rather than pursuing a romantic relationship.
But Manoj told him,
“Padd toh lenge baad mein bhi par ye ladki nikal jaayegi haath se (I can study later, but I should not let this girl go).”
