For many, being selected from a tough competition and getting selected for the civil service can be the greatest joy. This is also the case for 23-year-old Lokendra Bohara from Achham. But the success he has achieved is exceptional. Bohara, who completed his studies as a Health Assistant (AHEV) and prepared for the civil service, passed seven written exams conducted by the commission in different provinces from December 2002 to August 2003.

Lokendra of Mangalsen Municipality-4, Nawabis, passed the Gandaki Province AHEB (Fourth Level) examination for the first time. Immediately after that, he appeared in the written examination of Koshi Province AHEB (Fourth Level), Gandaki Province AHEB (Fourth Level), Karnali Province AHEB (Fourth Level), Koshi Province AHEB (Fourth Level), Nepal Police Technical Assistant Director of Police (CMA-Fourth Level) and the Federal Public Service Commission AHEB (Fourth Level) national examination. Lokendra, who appeared in 7 examinations, gave interviews in only three places. First, he appeared in Gandaki and got selected in the alternative in the interview.

Second, he passed the Gandaki Province AHEB (Fourth Level) and was posted in Raghuganga Rural Municipality of Myagdi. At that time, he did not go to Myagdi after his name appeared in the interview of Karnali Province AHEB (Fourth Level). After that, he did not go to give interviews for Koshi Province Health Assistant, Koshi Province AHEB, and Nepal Police Technical Assistant Inspector (CMA). 'I am currently working at Kalikot District Hospital after getting my name out in Karnali Province. I decided to work here because it is close to home.' He is preparing to give an interview for Health Assistant (Level 5) of the Federal Public Service Commission.

Lokendra, who has been working as Health Assistant (Level 5) at Kalikot District Hospital under Karnali Province since 20 Bhadra, has achieved such success with no small amount of hard work and preparation. He said, 'I did not think that I would get my name out in all these places. If I continue my studies and have confidence, it will not be difficult to pass the civil service.'

Lokendra's success did not come easily. Lokendra, who has lived a struggling past full of deprivation and sorrow, has been full of twists and turns. After studying at Radha Secondary School in Mangalsen Municipality-4 until class 6 and Shodasha Secondary School in Ward 5 until class 9, he left school at the age of 13 and went to India in search of work. ‘After class 9, I didn’t feel like studying. I had given up thinking I couldn’t study,’ Lokendra recalled those days, ‘I didn’t even feel like sitting in class. I used to sit on the back bench. Thinking I couldn’t study, I left school in class 9 and went to India at the age of 13 to work.’ 

Lokendra has 4 brothers. The eldest brother lives in India. Lokendra, who went to India on his trust, got a job as a cleaner in a bookstore in Pune city. ‘I was paid 6,000 rupees per month. I suffered a lot for two years. I even regretted quitting my studies,’ Lokendra said, ‘I didn’t even think that I would study again. My mother and brother started calling me to come home and study even for us.'

His brother Arjun Bohara, who works as a health assistant, also dreamed of his brother studying and getting a government job. 'One day, my brother said he should study. He said he should go back home. It was sad working in India. I returned home from there,' Lokendra recalled the time he came to Nepal from India, 'I was ashamed to study again in the school I had left in grade 9. I thought my younger siblings would tease me.'

Lokendra's brother Arjun used to work at a cowshed in Mahottari, Madhesh Province. He went to the same place where his brother was. He said, 'My brother called me to study there in grade 9. Since I was weak in mathematics and English, I studied under his brother's supervision.' He did his SEE in 2076 from the same Tribhuvan Secondary School. ‘Due to Covid, the school had given me the SEE marks through internal evaluation,’ he said. After SEE, I went to Dhangadhi and studied for three years as a health assistant.’