On April 5, Sreedhanya Suresh became the first woman from Kurichiya tribal community in Kerala to have cracked the UPSC civil services exam. The 25-years-old hails from Wayanad district in Kerala. She has cracked the exam in her third attempt and secured a national rank of 410.

Struggle & hardship

Sreedhanya’s parents Suresh and Kamala are daily wage labourers who sell bows and arrows at the market for a living.  When asked about what inspired her to become an IAS officer, she said that after her Post Graduation, she saw Sreeram Samba Siva Rao, an IAS officer for the first time. The way people were waiting for him in a queue and the ‘mass entry’ that he made aspired her to become one, reported The News Minute. She knew that IAS officer is something that she always wanted to become since she was a child and seeing Rao reignited the passion in her.

Childhood

She had a very ordinary childhood. She said that she had a free childhood and her parents let her go everywhere by herself. She said, “There were no restrictions.” After completing school she went to college to pursue graduation. She graduated in Zoology from Devagiri St Joseph’s College in Kozhikode. Later on, she did post graduation from the same subject from Calicut University.

Moments after people got to know about her achievement, congratulations poured from all quarters and media persons started reaching out to her to know her story. She told the media that she belongs from the most backward district in the state and till today there had been no IAS officer from the large tribal population. She hopes that her story becomes an inspiration and motivation for the future generation, reported NDTV. Sreedhanya’s visibly elated mother said that they made sure nothing became a barrier for her studies. She also mentions that Sreedhanya’s result is the outcome of extreme hard work which is now rewarded.

Congratulatory messages poured

Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister of Kerala was one of the first few to congratulate her. He took to Facebook to wish her.

Later on, Rahul Gandhi, Congress President who is contesting from Wayanad on Twitter congratulated her and wished her luck for her future endeavours.

Ms Sreedhanya Suresh from Wayanad, is the first tribal girl from Kerala to be selected for the civil service.

Sreedhanya’s hard work & dedication have helped make her dream come true.

I congratulate Sreedhanya and her family and wish her great successs in her chosen career.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 6, 2019

Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy too congratulated her on Twitter.

Many congratulations to Ms.#SreedhanyaSuresh as she has battled all odds with hard work and determination to be selected for the Indian Civil Services. She is an inspiration to future generations! pic.twitter.com/m8v1XFCipq

— Oommen Chandy (@Oommen_Chandy) April 6, 2019

Of the 759 ranks announced only 182 were female.

The Logical Indian congratulates her on the achievement. We ask our readers to take inspiration from her who showed that will power is the one thing that can help a person to achieve his/her dreams.

Also Read: Serving A 7-Yr Jail Term, This Man Is Helping UPSC Aspirants