Passing UPSC, the toughest exam of the country, is a coveted aspiration of many. Rarely is it ever passed on anyone’s first attempt if ever, and also requires years of studying and dedication to achieve. Madhopatti village from UP however, churns out IAS officers like the factory line, as it is the hometown of nearly 51 IAS, IPS and PCS officers.
This feat led to the small village being known as an ‘IPS factory’, producing more IAS, IPS and PCS officers every year. What’s even more impressive is the fact the village only has 75 households. Not only this, it achieves this without any coaching centres in the village itself. It is an educational hotspot, with its officers exceling in various fields such as space, atomic research, judicial services, and banking. Some of the village residents are also working at ISRO, BARC and even the World Bank. Most notable of the village’s ‘alumni’ are four IAS siblings - Vinay Kumar Singh, Chatrapal Singh, Ajay Kumar Singh, and Shashikant Singh.
But what makes this village such a magical factory where dreams are mass produced? Delving into its past, it was found that Freedom fighter Thakur Bhagwati Din Singh and his wife Shyamrati Singh started educational initiatives in the village in 1917. With the initial focus on girls, Shyamrati soon started teaching boys as well. Perhaps the seeds of learning sown in 1917 bloomed into a full grown blossoming garden of educational ethos, pervasive within the village community.