She had no money to buy newspapers, tale of Wayanad tribal woman who cracked civil service exam

Pozhuthana (Wayanad): Tribal areas anywhere in the country are notorious for backwardness despite several government initiatives to uplift the community members. The results of the Civil Service Examinations 2018 may go a long way in spurring government efforts to promote education among the tribals as one among them – 26-year-old Sreedhanya Suresh from Kerala – has cleared the challenging public test for recruiting candidates to the higher echelons of the central government.

Sreedhanya was ranked 410 out of the total 759 candidates (577 men and 182 women) who cleared the prestigious examination. She will be the first person from Wayanad district in Kerala to become an IAS officer if selected. Going by the rankings and previous appointments of Scheduled Tribe candidates, Sreedhanya is likely to be drafted to the the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who is the UDF candidate for the Wayanad constituency for the Lok Sabha elections, congratulated Sreedhanya on Saturday. “Sreedhanya’s hard work & dedication have helped make her dream come true,” Rahul tweeted. (sic)

The Kurichya community member, who lives in a dilapidated hut in Idiyamvayal, Pozhuthana, is the daughter of daily-wage labourers Suresh and Kamala. Her parents did not even have money to send their daughter for the interview. She reached New Delhi with Rs 40,000 borrowed from friends.

Buying newspapers to help her preparations was a challenge, they said.

"I am from the most backward district in the state. There are no tribal IAS officers from here event though there is a considerably large tribal population. I hope this will be an inspiration and motivation to the future generations to overcome all hurdles," Sreedhanya told media.

“I am delighted my success will encourage many from the Adivasi community. Many obstacles were overcome to reach here. I thank everyone who helped,” the UPSC exam winner added.

She cleared the exam in her second attempt. 

Malayalam medium student

Sreedhanya studied in Malayalam medium schools all through. Her primary education was at Thariyodu St Mary’s UP School, Nirmala High School and Government HSS. She earned Bachelor’s degree in Zoology fromDevagiri College, Kozhikode, and Master’s from the Calicut University in 2014.  Subsequently, she worked as a tribal promoter in Wayanad for two years.

She decided to pursue Civil Service after meeting Wayanad District Collector Sriram Sambasiva Rao in 2016. The power of that designation and the respect it erans made her dream of the IAS. She resigned her job the same year and enrolled for training for civil service exams in Thiruvananthapuram. 

Her siblings are Sushita, an attender at Ottapalam Court, and Sreerag, a student at Meenangadi Government Polytechnic College.

Odds and perils on way

Sreedhanya celebrated the UPSC victory with her friends in Thiruvananthapuram with her left hand in gauze. She was injured recently after she was thrown off her feet when she touched a live wire while trying to charge her laptop at home. The incident happened soon after she returned from the UPSC interview in Delhi. Her house lacks proper electrical wiring.

CM praises winner

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan congratulated Sreedhanya on Friday. "Sreedhanya fought social backwardness and passed the civil services exam with flying colours. Her achievement will inspire other students in the future," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in his Facebook post.

He also congratulated other students from the state who cleared the exam. A total of 29 Keralites have cleared the examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) .

Sreelakshmi topper in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: In the UPSC rank list released yesterday, R Sreelakshmi from Kodungalloor, Aluva, tops candidates from Kerala with the 29th rank. She has a Master’s from the London School of Economics. She prepared for the UPSC exams while doing her project at Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram. She is the daughter of retired SBI employee VA Ramachandran and B Kaladevi of Prasanna House, at Sahajagrammam, Kadungalloor, Aluva. 

Her sister R Vidya is an assistant professor at the Malayalam University, Tirur.  

Other rank holders from the state are: 

* Renjina Mary Varghese (49): A native of Badiyadukka, Kasaragod. She is now in the Indian Ordnance Factory Service after doing Chemical Engineering. Her parents VA Varghese and TJ Theressa are private school teachers.

* Arjun Mohanan (Rank 66): He completed BTech Mechanical Engineering with first rank from Kannur Government Engineering College. His father Mohanan of Kotten House is a former  employee of Payyannur Cooperative Store. His mother P Raji is a teacher at JM UP School, Cherupuzha.  

* Jishnu K Raju (132): A Reserve Bank of India employee in Mumbai. He is the son of Jagatha and P Raju of Kanikkonna House, in Bhagavatipuram, Chempazhanthi, Thiruvananthapuram. Raju is a KSEB contractor.

* P Nidhin Raj (210): A native of Ravanishwaran, Kasaragod. He is a BTech from Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, Kottayam. His parents are Ekkal K Rajendran Nambiar and P Latha.

* P Vishnuraj (234): Currently undergoing Indian Forest Service training in Dehra Dun after ranking 92nd in UPSC Exams last year. Son of late PK Rajan and Kamala, Pattatt House, Thrissur.

* Suraj Shaji (288): Son of Shaji Mrutyunjayan and Anila of Kaippallil House, Karanma, Koyyappalli, in Mavelikkara.

* Veena S Sudhan (299): Daughter of retired Lieutenant Colonel PP Sreesudhan and Sreelatha of Tharayil House, Kandallur, Kayamkulam.

* Arya R Nair (301): Daughter of retired Labour Joint Commissioner G Radhakrishnan Nair and retired teacher Sujatha. Intellience Officer at Intelligence Bureau, Madhya Pradesh.

* Suraj Ben (321): Son of retired headmaster KP Rajan and Bindu, Kallarakkal House (Aiswarya), Mannur, Moovattupuzha.

* Dr Nirmal Ousepachan (329): Son of Ausepachan and Vineetha, of Christ Bhavan, Thumboli, Alappuzha.

* PP Archana (334): Son of late KE Jeevaraj and PP Geetha, Payyannur. Plus two from Edatt Kendriya Vidyalaya, BTech from Kannur Government Engineering College. A temporary employee with the KSEB.

* S Gautham Raj (353): Son of Padinjattathil Somarajan Pillai and RS Sushamadevi from Marunnur, Chavara. 

* P Muhammed Sajjad  (390): Son of Malappuram Karuvarakkundu native Parammal Abdurahiman Sullami, retired teacher, and Kadija.

* MP Amith (405): A native of Thannirpanthal, Vengeri. Son of retired army man Marathappally Mohanan and Prema. He was undergoing IRS training in Delhi after ranking 792 last year.

* T Farash (421): Eldest son of Ismail Sherif and Thoyyiba of Thodukara, from Puthalam, Arikode, Malappuram.

* Swetha Sugathan (461): She was the top-rank holder from Kerala in last year’s Indian Forest Service exam and 34 overall. Daughter of Kamattathil KS Sugathan and Bindu from Chalakkudy, she is BTech graduate.