This is not any fairy tale, but the amazing success story of the son of a marginal farmer in the remote Khajuri village of Gulbarga district who has struggled to finally achieve success.
S.D. Sharanappa, who finished 86th in the recent Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, has been selected for the Indian Police Service (IPS) and is an example of how one can achieve the impossible through sheer perseverance and hard work.
Mr. Sharanappa, the elder son of Shivanand and Sridevi, is completely self-made and says he never thought he would attempt, let alone clear this examination. It was only during his postgraduate studies in Agriculture at the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University at Coimbatore, did he first think of taking up the examination. He passed the examination in his second attempt.
Different turn
Mr. Sharanappa, who studied up to fifth grade at the Government Primary School at Khajuri, and later joined the Jawahar Navodaya Residential School at Shahapur in Gulbarga district, told The Hindu that he was just another student till he completed his higher secondary. After that, his life took a different turn with him joining B.Sc in Agriculture at Raichur.
He recounted the difficulties his parents had to face to make both ends meet, with their small landholding. Mr. Sharanappa had to find an alternative source of income to pay for his education even while he was well into his graduate studies. “I used to get Rs. 500 a month when I was studying B.Sc, from the Jindal Fellowship. That took care of living expenses and fees,” he said.
Mr. Sharanappa also said he received a scholarship for his postgraduate studies, thereby not depending upon parental finances.
After his post-graduation, Mr. Sharanappa joined the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, for his Ph.D in Genetics and Plant breeding. “It was during this period that I decided to appear for the UPSC examination,” he said.
Mr. Sharanappa said, “My economic condition did not allow me the luxury of coaching classes. I prepared on my own. I passed the preliminary examination in 2007, but could not clear the mains. I tried again in 2008, and finally was successful”.
He said he would never forget the day the results were announced. “I dedicate my success to my maternal uncles and my teachers who have helped shaped my personality,” he said with gratitude.
