https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Determined to Make a Change, this Tamil Girl Fought Caste and Gender Discriminations to Become an IAS Officer

Ms. Poovitha Subhramanian used to dress up as an IAS officer in fancy dress competitions in school. Later on, she actually become one after clearing UPSC CSE in 2015 with AIR 175. The girl from Tamil Nadu had to fight caste discriminations and gender inequality on her way to success.
Indian Masterminds Stories

As a child, Ms. Poovitha Subhramanian used to dress us and proudly say she is an IAS officer in fancy dress competitions. Her parents thought it was just a passing fancy that will eventually fade away. But Ms. Subhramanian had made up her mind, and she entered IAS in 2015 after clearing the most prestigious and difficult examination of UPSC – CSE. She secured AIR 175 and successfully converted her dream into reality. Today, she is an IAS officer of Karnataka cadre.

CASTE DISCRIMINATION

Ms. Subhramanian was born to a dairy farmer’s house in the Karur district of Tamil Nadu. She has seen caste discriminations and social evils not just in her district, but in her own house, as well. She had once commented to a media organisation, “Around my hometown, the caste system was very stringent. While a certain community was made to toil in farmlands of the upper caste and tend their crops, the same community was treated with absolute contempt and called ‘untouchables.’ Their homes continue to be on the fringes, away from the others. Locals were worried when kids from lower castes advanced in their lives by utilising reservations in education and employment.”

FIRST GRADUATE

After completing her 12th, Ms. Subhramanian did her graduation in History making her parents proud by becoming the first person to graduate in her entire family. She then attempted UPSC CSE but because of the not-so-good results, her parents convinced her to do BTech in Textile from Kumaraguru College in Coimbatore.

After completing her BTech, she thought of attempting CSE again, but fate wasn’t on her side. Her family’s financial condition stopped her from preparing for the exam and she started working for Infosys instead.

“Even while I was working at Infosys, my passion for the administrative services continued. It took me three years, but I told my parents that I wanted to quit my job and attempt the UPSC exam. There was resistance from my close relatives who pressured my parents into getting me married. They would often tell my parents, ‘Why are you investing so much in the education of a girl child? She might go to a different city and make up her mind to marry someone outside the caste!’” she said.

DETERMINDED FOR CHANGE

To pursue her career, she had to fight with her relatives and neighbours to drive home the point that girls are not only meant to tie knots with someone and manage household chores. They also have dreams that they want to pursue.

“I remember how my mother was treated with absolute contempt because she did not belong to a wealthy family when my father wanted to marry her. The most unfortunate thing was also that my mother held herself responsible for how she was treated. She was unaware of her rights. I imagined if this was the case of affairs in one OBC household, how many more women would be silently suffering across different communities? I was determined to change this,” she said.

IRPS TO IAS OFFICER

She went to Delhi to prepare for CSE, but in her first attempt, she couldn’t clear Prelims. In her second attempt, she got selected for Indian Revenue Personnel Service, but she had made up her mind to become an IAS officer only. Finally, in her third attempt, she made it to the Indian Administrative Services.

“When I told my parents about my result, they burst into tears. It took them a lot of time to process it. I remember them cooing over the phone about how proud they were. The local media had started visiting our home, and the happiness on everyone’s faces was unmatched,” she shared.

MESSAGE FOR ASPIANTS

In her message to UPSC CSE aspirants, Ms. Subhramanian said, “Believe in yourself. The external factors will distract you from your goal or weigh you down. But don’t give up. If you don’t clear the exam in your first attempt, try harder in the second. Be consistent and as clichéd as it sounds, don’t lose hope. It will help you sail through.”


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
8th Pay Commission members
8th Pay Commission Formed: Chairperson Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai to IAS Pankaj Jain – Know More About All Members
BEML,_DPA,_DMRC,_and_Umeandus_Collaborate_
BEML, DPA, DMRC, and UTIPL Collaborate to Launch India’s Advanced Rail-Based Freight System (e-FTS)
CSS central secretariat service
CSS Forum Expresses Gratitude to PM Modi, Union Cabinet for Approving 8th Central Pay Commission ToR, Urges Implementation by 2026
Punjab-Haryana-High-Court-resized
Punjab & Haryana High Court Imposes Rs 2 Lakh Cost on Senior Punjab Officials for Disobeying Court Orders on Modified Vehicles
CM Vishnu Deo Sai and Wife
Spiritual Fervor in Kunkuri: CM Vishnu Deo Sai Performs Sacred ‘Tulsi Archana’ Seeking Blessings for Chhattisgarh
HUDCO
HUDCO Signs MoUs Worth Over ₹5,500 Crore with Major Port Authorities to Boost India’s Maritime Infrastructure
Uttarakhand Ghost Villages
Turning Silence into Sustainability: Uttarakhand’s Plan to Revive Ghost Villages through Homestay Tourism
Madhya Pradesh Foundation Day 2025
Madhya Pradesh to Celebrate Foundation Day with Grand Events, Vision Document ‘Prosperous MP @ 2047’ to Be Released
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Gokul S
Meet IAS Gokul S — The Officer Who Turned Disability into Determination | Video Interview 
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
Everybody Needs To Know What Is Transpiring Behind Closed Doors Of Courts
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Gokul S
Meet IAS Gokul S — The Officer Who Turned Disability into Determination | Video Interview 
Visually impaired IAS officer Gokul S turned his challenges into change, empowering hundreds through...
Parmeshwar Chaudhary RAS
From Taunts to Triumph: How Farmer’s Son Parmeshwar Chaudhary Rose from Lab Assistant to SDM, Securing Rank 3 in RAS 2023
Parmeshwar, once taunted over his SI selection, has scripted a stunning success—securing Rank 3 in RAS...
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Social Media
Tenzin Yangki IPS Arunachal
Historic First: Who Is Tenzin Yangki, Arunachal Pradesh’s First Woman to Join IPS? Anand Mahindra Hails Her
She secured an impressive 545th rank in the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination - 2022.
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
8th Pay Commission members
8th Pay Commission Formed: Chairperson Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai to IAS Pankaj Jain – Know More About All Members
BEML,_DPA,_DMRC,_and_Umeandus_Collaborate_
BEML, DPA, DMRC, and UTIPL Collaborate to Launch India’s Advanced Rail-Based Freight System (e-FTS)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Gokul S
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT