The Start of Something Strong
When Varun Baranwal lost his father right after his Class 10 exams in Boisar, his life turned upside down in a blink. The small cycle repair shop that had been supporting his family suddenly became his responsibility, and the dream of continuing his studies began to feel like a big luxury. Yet, amid all the difficulties, Varun chose to believe in hope.
A Mother’s Promise and a Son’s Resolve
His mother stepped in. She ran the shop, trimmed household costs, and insisted: “You continue your studies, I’ll take care of this.” With every repair of a puncture and every fixed cycle, she built the foundation for his dream — while he held his textbooks close in the evenings. Together, they turned poverty into possibility.
Engineering the Dream
Even though he carried a lot of responsibility, Varun managed to get into MIT Pune for engineering. He balanced college assignments, a part-time job, and late-night studying without just getting by—he really did well and graduated with a gold medal. His journey, from working at the cycle shop with engine oil to mastering the gears of academia, was quietly strong and impressive.
From Corporate to the Call of Duty
After joining a multinational company, Varun realized his true calling was somewhere else. Inspired by the social issues he noticed in his surroundings, he chose to go for civil services. He had very little money, no access to expensive coaching classes, and relied on self-study and borrowed books. Despite these challenges, he successfully cleared the UPSC exam, ranking 32nd, and joined the IAS not just as a career, but as a mission
Life Lessons from Varun Baranwal
- Responsibility can be the first step toward leadership.
- Support doesn’t always come in grand gestures; sometimes it’s fixing bicycles at midnight.
- Education is the ladder you carry even when your foundation is shaky.
- Purpose gives you the courage to abandon comfort.
- When you serve a goal larger than yourself, you step into greatness.
Life woven in Tenacity-
My ministry may be many-fold, but my mission began in that humble repair shop,
Varun reflects. His story isn’t about sudden success—it’s about consistent courage. From tightened budgets to high government benches, he reminds us that sacrifice isn’t an obstacle—it’s the soil from which achievement grows.
Ziddh Takeaway-
Varun Baranwal’s journey proves that success doesn’t always begin in classrooms —
sometimes it starts in garages.
His Ziddh was not just to escape hardship, but to honour it. From repairing cycles to reforming systems, he showed that true grit isn’t about rising fast — it’s about rising right.
