Rank-holders prove medium of instruction and coaching centres don't matter
It is a tale of two candidates who overcame different odds to emerge successful in the all-important Civil Services examinations, whose results were announced on Friday. While one has proved that poverty is not an impediment to success, the other has shown that there is absolutely no need for coaching centres to clear the country's top examinations.
Both of them have brought pride to their families. Gopala Sundara Raj of Ramanathapuram secured the 5th place at the all-India level and the first place at the State level and R.V. Karnan of Sri Ram Nagar in Karaikudi in Sivaganga got the 158th rank.
Mr. Raj comes from Mavila Thoppu, a tiny village near Kilakarai. His mother S. Rajammal and father S. Shanmugavel could not study beyond standards III and V respectively.
Though they thought of putting him in English medium school since the early stage, their abject poverty did not allow them to do so.
However, the perceived disadvantages of having studied in the Tamil medium in no way affected his performance in the Civil Services examinations.
“I have no words to describe my happiness. Raj has not studied in a sophisticated atmosphere. He has brought meaning to our life. The hard work, sheer determination, dedication and sincerity have made him so special in our life. My pain is that his father is no more to hear the happiest news in our lifetime,” says S. Rajammal.
Her family owns no land or house and she is residing in a portion of her brother Mariappan's house, a retired school headmaster.
His moral support and motivation helped Mr. Raj, who is currently an agricultural scientist in Rajasthan, in his endeavour. His sister, Sundara Yoga Lakshmi, is working with Infosys in Chennai.
Mr Karnan (27) was the all-India topper in the Indian Forest Service examinations in 2007.
His father R. Veeraragavan (56) is working as a librarian at Alagappa Arts College and his mother V. Vijayalakshmi is a sub-registrar in Karaikudi.
“My dream has come true. The Civil Services examinations are all about clearly understanding the methods and patterns well. I didn't join any coaching classes for the preparations,” Mr. Karnan told The Hindu over phone from Maharashtra, where he is working as Assistant Conservator of Forests.
Keywords: IAS rank-holders, Gopala Sundara Raj, K.V. Karnan, Tamil medium schools, motivation, rural background
Heartiest congratulations to both of you.You are true icons for students appearing for this exam.Specially for the students who face mammoth financial and social difficulties while preparing for this exam.Be a leader ,set an example so that others can follow.Hoping for good work from such brilliant people.Just one query that , it appears both of them didn't join any coaching institute but Vajiram & Ravi the so called premier coaching institute is claiming that S. Gopala Sundara Raj is their student. If this is not true then i am requesting Hindu to please do something so that other students don't get fooled.
My heartiest congratulations to Mr. Gopal Sundara Raj and Mr. R.V.
Karnam for cracking Civil Services Examinations 2011. I knew Mr.
Gopal, right from his UG days (First year - BSc Agriculture (2004)
in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore). He used
to discuss with my batch-mates (Final year - BSc
Agriculture)regarding IAS examinations. Since then, he never turned
back. He chased his dreams even while pursuing MSc from Indian
Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi and even got gold
medal for his research work. Finally I am happy that his 8 years of
hard work has paid off. I am proud to be his senior colleague both
in TNAU and IARI. My best wishes for all his future endeavours.
Hope they are not aspiring to be 'powerful' to finally become corrupt. Most
government service aspirants seek security, power, privilege and we all know these
are contrary to the kind of mindset needed and expected from public 'servants'
Congrats Karnan sir. Wishes from you Junior. Gonna shift from Forestry to Administration. Rock there too.
These two successful IAS candidates are excellent examples for all future candidates that hard work, perseverance and passion are more important to achieve success in IAS examinations. Especially, these stories can be told to students studying in Tamil medium & /or living in rural areas. As we know that rural population is more than those living in city and most parents are unable to spend money to send their children to English medium schools.Discipline, calculated risk-taking outlook and continued effort are more important to achieve success in life. Dedicated teachers, parents and role models are vital too.
really a great story because when u grow from very low level then it matters a lot for other aspirant.there are very few one who don't care about financial status and proceed with responsiblity.
such gentle men are deserving and praiseworthy. They should publish their experiences and stepping stones to inseminate confidence in emulating minds.
Brilliant achievers! May they serve India and the world with distinction. Thank you for this article.
Incredible! Amazing...I really do not have words to express the great achievement! It shows how ones sincerity and hard work can achieve the goals. These two persons who belong to the low starta from an econimic perspective have shown the present young generation that how hard work can excel them in achieving their goals. We should communicate this achievement to all schools and college to motivate them with the live example. Kudos both of U! U have made not only your family proud, but the school, your college and your teachers! Hope this will be an inspiration for the next gen to pursue their dreams. All the best!
Re: your by-line, "Rank-holders prove medium of instruction and coaching centres don't matter", actually, the results 'prove', *at best* that the two factors did not matter for the two candidates who struck it big, AND vis-a-vis the civil service written exam. It is wrong to generalize it further and conclude they don't matter for any one or for any competitive exam, or for the whole of the Civil Service recruitment system, or for ones success in one's office in the Civil Services. At the same time, I do extend my congratulations to the two candidates, and my BEST WISHES for their continued success in life.
It is a pleasant news to be shared with every student who is aspiring to join the Civil Services. We need brilliant students to join the services so that we can dream of corrupt free society sooner or later.
Cheers
Excellent. please disseminate these messages to the colleges and other educational institutions where the suicide deaths are taking place in the name of not coping up with the medium of instructions. Please advise those educational institutions to setup the counseling centers and ask them to call these living examples to show cause to the students of backward / language barrier student to boost their self-confidence and motivate them in their pursuit of education to overcome their poverty.
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