https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

An IAS officer and a Classical Dancer Par Excellence

Balancing bureaucratic work with `bharatnatyam’ requires a different level of rhythmic control. And Kavitha Ramu is a master in it.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Noted IAS officer-cum-bharatnatyam dancer Kavita Ramu is a rarity among Indian civil servants. Her life journey is as fascinating as the 600-plus stage performances she has given over the years.

Kavitha Ramu was just four years old when her mother, who was a professor, took her to Guru Neela Krishnamurthy. In her guidance she started to learn the basics of Bharathanatyam. Slowly she started enjoying it. She used to practice daily, and soon dancing become her passion, along with the studies. Each and every performance earned her great praises and accolades. She was happy and content but then she also had to do more. 

Currently, Ms. Ramu is the Director of Integrated Child Development Scheme. 

She was influenced by her father’s work as well. 

Kavithat’s father was an IAS officer and inspired her to become one. As such, the young girl has to work doubly:  to pursue a career in civil services while continuing her passion for dancing. It was a difficult at start, but she did not halt. All she had within her was this determination to serve the country through civil services and immense love for the classical dance.

 Kavitha Ramu not only managed to crack UPSC but also earned fame in the field of classical dance. 

One can only imagine how she pulled of both career and passion with same level of success. In an interview, she once said that serving in administration makes her life’s purpose complete while dancing for hours helps her to crave for that purpose. Not only this, the daily dance practice works as a stress buster for her. 

The journey of becoming an acclaimed Bharathanatyam artist 

Kavitha Ramu was born in Madurai. At the age of four, she started her training for Bharatnatyam under Guru Neela. In just one year she became adept in most of the ‘Bhav and Bhangimas’ of this classical dance. She was eight years old when she got an opportunity to dance at the Fifth World Tamil Conference, held in Chidambaram. She considers this performance of 1981 as one of her finest in front of a live audience. She still cherishes that experience, gets goosebumps thinking about it.

Ms. Ramu creating a Bhangima during the performance

Later on, in Chennai, Kavitha came in touch with famous dance Guru KJ Sarasa. She learned many techniques of dancing under him for around fifteen years. He also taught her the Vazhuvoor style of Bharathanatyam. Simultaneously, she was performing in the festivals in school, college and programs held by cultural club. Meanwhile, she also learnt Nattuvangam from the famous Guru Indira Rajan. Nattuvangam is a separate style in Bharathnatyam, which deals with the rhythmic sound play of cymbals. 

Ms. Ramu in a photoshoot

Kavitha has been giving stage performances for the last 30 years. She has held over 600 solo performances. She also played the lead role of Annamaya, in the Bharathanatyam recital choreographed by Dr. M Balamurali Krishna. For this performance, she had to travel abroad while she was preparing for civil services. She also got critical acclaim for the work she did in that recital. Ms. Ramu is also an `A grade’ artist for Doordarshan, and has been part of many programs broadcasted by the national channel. She also co-ordinated the cultural events for the opening and closing ceremonies during the South Asian Games, held in Chennai in the 1995. 

The Administration 

Ms. Ramu after giving her vote

While growing up, Kavitha saw her father’s work and was inspired by how bureaucrats function. She also decided to pursue of civil services and chose Economic for the graduation. While continuing her Masters in Public Administration, she started preparing for the UPSC,  She became college topper in her post-graduation. First, she cracked the Tamil Nadu public services. Then in 2002, she repeated the feat by clearing the UPSC. In an interview with media, she once pointed out that she wanted IFS in the beginning but chose IAS because she neither wanted to leave the country nor wanted to give up the dance.

During her long tenure, Kavitha Ramu has been posted as the Assistant Commissioner of Chennai’s Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department, Revenue Divisional Officer in Vellore, and the Joint Commissioner for Relief and Rehabilitation in the Tamil Nadu Road Sector Project (TNRSP). She also served as the General Manager for the Tamil Nadu State Tourism Development Corporation and Director of museums. Currently, she is the Director of Integrated Child Development Scheme. 

We hope that she continue to follow her passion and profession and inspire us all.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
bureaucracy news
Centre Cracks Down on Corruption: 13 Officers to Face Prosecution, 2 RAS Suspended, 7 Lose Pensions in Action Against 28 Officials
UPSC New Logo
UPSC to Publish Provisional Answer Key After Prelims for First Time, Enabling Objections and Transparency
Snow leopard cubs
Himachal Pradesh Records 83 Snow Leopards as Rare Pallas’s Cat and Flying Squirrel Spotted for First Time
Ministry of Mines
Ministry of Mines Opens ₹1,500 Crore Incentive Scheme for Critical Mineral Recycling in India
ICGS Akshar
ICGS Akshar Commissioned at Karaikal: Indigenous Fast Patrol Vessel Boosts Indian Coast Guard Capabilities
TEC IIIT Naya Raipur
TEC and IIIT Naya Raipur Sign MoU to Drive Innovation in 5G, 6G, and Future Telecom Standards
Bhupendra Patel Gujarat Dipotsavi 2081
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel Unveils Dipotsavi 2081 Celebrating State’s Rich Literary and Cultural Heritage
CEC Gyanesh Kumar
All Eyes on Bihar: EC Reviews Poll Readiness, CEC IAS Gyanesh Kumar Calls Political Parties Pillars of Democracy
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr G K Goswami IPS
Everything you ever wanted to know about e-murder, e-dacoity and data safety
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Sagar Datta Majumdar UPSC CSE 2024 AIR 317
“Don’t get trapped in the vicious cycle of self-doubt,” says UPSC Achiever Sagar Datta Majumdar
Discover how Sagar Datta Majumdar from Agartala, Tripura, cracked UPSC CSE 2024 with All India Rank 317....
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Operation Omkar
Operation Omkar: How Goa, Karnataka & Maharashtra Are Racing to Rewild a Young Elephant
bureaucracy news
Centre Cracks Down on Corruption: 13 Officers to Face Prosecution, 2 RAS Suspended, 7 Lose Pensions in Action Against 28 Officials
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr G K Goswami IPS
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT