Shreedhanya Suresh is the first tribal woman from Kerala to become an IAS officer. She belongs to the Kurichiya tribe. What makes her UPSC success more inspiring is her humble background. Her parents are daily wage labourers who work in the local bow and arrow market.
How she managed to crack the UPSC exam despite lack of resources is an incredible journey of big dreams and the courage to fulfill them. Today, Indian Masterminds presents her journey from an interior tribal hamlet to Indian Administrative Service.
BACKGROUND
Shreedhanya Suresh cracked CSE 2018 with AIR 410 in her third attempt. She hails from the tribal village, Pojuthana, in Wayanad district of Kerala. Her parents, Suresh and Kamla, are daily wage workers in the local bow and arrow market. They belong to the Kurichiya tribe. As a child, Shreedhanya did not have access to basic facilities that many of us take for granted.
She did her early education from Wayanad and went for her higher education to Kozhikode (Calicut) to pursue a degree in Zoology from St. Joseph’s College. After that, she completed her PG in Applied Zoology from Calicut University.
UPSC JOURNEY
Shreedhanya had been a studious student right from her school days. In spite of the difficulties and poverty, education remained a priority and this proved fruitful for the whole family. After she cracked CSE 2018, her proud father told media, “Despite the hardship, we never compromised on her education and Sreedhanya gave us a big gift today. We are proud of her.”
Before starting her UPSC preparation, she worked in the Scheduled Tribes Development Department of the state government as a clerk and, also, worked in an Adivasi students’ hostel as a warden.
Things started moving when she met the then Collector of Wayanad District, Mr. Sreeram Rao. Mr. Rao encouraged her to go for the Civil Services Exam. She made up her mind to do so and went to Thiruvananthapuram to prepare for the exam. She opted for Malayalam literature as her Optional.
SUPPORTIVE FRIENDS
After clearing Mains, she didn’t have money to go to Delhi for her interview. At that time, her friends came to her support and contributed around Rs. 40 thousand for her Delhi trip. Shreedhanya lived up to everyone’s expectations by cracking the interview. Her achievement against all odds shot her to prominence as the first tribal woman from the coastal state of Kerala to clear the IAS exam.
After her success, a humble Shreedhanya told media: “I firmly believe that only education can bring change in our living conditions. I will work towards ensuring land rights for the people, women’s safety, conservation of the environment, apart from trying to bring some sort of financial security to the people.”
Shreedhanya Suresh is currently posted as Sub-Collector, Perinthalmanna, Malappuram.
