Vijay Sharma with daughter Mamta Sharma
Sharma’s first attempt to clear a govt recruitment exam was in 1999. Over the next 27 years, he cleared written exams several times, but could not cross the interview hurdle. He has been teaching there for almost 26 years.
“I cleared the PGT exam four times and the TGT exam six times,” Sharma said. “My father was also a govt teacher,” he said. Sharma — a father of five — was selected as a TGT Sanskrit teacher and received his appointment letter from UP CM Yogi Adityanath at an event in Lucknow. He is now slated to join Shamli’s Ailum Inter College. Sharma continued to work as a teacher at a private school near Baraut While preparing. “Both he and my mentor, Professor Kamla Agarwal, inspired me right through. Whenever I could not clear an exam, I tried to improve myself. At times, while preparing, I used to skip meals, until I managed to solve question papers on time.”
His daughter, Mamta, added: “Seeing my father prepare for years — since my childhood — to get this teaching job was a huge inspiration for me as well.” “It’s a proud moment for our family. My daughter cleared the exam along with me. Sharma’s sons are serving in UP Police.
Her name is currently on the waiting list, but I am hopeful she will get her appointment letter soon,” Sharma told TOI on Friday.