Celebrations have just begun for Joseph K. Mathew, a staff nurse at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Trauma Centre, who was ranked 574 after the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) declared results for the civil services examination 2016 on Wednesday.
Humble background
“I was studying for the next exam scheduled for June 18 till yesterday [Wednesday]. But since Wednesday evening, the celebrations haven’t stopped. Today [Thursday] was a series of small parties, media interviews and a stream of guests, but I am not complaining,” said Mr. Mathew.
The son of a daily wager from Kerala, Joseph said that this was his fifth attempt at the prestigious national exam.
‘Another attempt left’
“I still have an attempt left. I might try again this year to better my score,” he said.
“I came to AIIMS through national selection in 2010. Like any other staff nurse, I wanted to go abroad and work. Delhi, however, exposed me to the UPSC and Civil Services exam. Initially, I wasn’t confident and believed it to be beyond me, but my first attempt helped me realise that it was an achievable target. I took up coaching for my first attempt, but after that it was more of self studying,” said Joseph.
He added that his duty schedule did not allow him to dedicate fixed hours for studying. “I studied as and when I could. Clearing this examination went from being something I couldn’t dream about to becoming an ambition,” said the 30-year-old.
His younger sister in Kerala is a nurse too. “The family is thrilled,” said Joseph, who has been supporting his parents so far.
Waiting for his service to be allotted to him, he added: “I am trying to decide whether I should sit for the exam this year. Though I am happy with my score, I feel that I can improve,” he says surrounded by the nurses at AIIMS who haven’t stopped congratulating him.
Proud moment
Congratulations, meanwhile, have been pouring in from other nurses at AIIMS. “It’s a proud moment for us,” they said.
