The real-life story of the struggles of 2019-batch IFS officer P Balamurugan would make a good reel story for a blockbuster movie. A big family of eight brothers and sisters abandoned by their father, living in a thatched house, facing acute financial constraints on their own, but not willing to give up on their dreams. Their conditions were such that most people would not have mustered the courage to even harbour thoughts of big dreams. But not Balamurugan. He not only dreamed big but aimed equally high. He aimed for the civil services and entered it in his third attempt in 2018 and became an IFS officer. He is currently posted as Assistant Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, P Balamurugan talks about his struggles during his UPSC preparation days. He says, “The aim of UPSC preparation should be public service, not LBSNAA. UPSC is just a way to achieve that goal. Candidates must keep this in mind and should not be disappointed even if they fail in the exam.”
BEGINNING
Balamurugan hails from Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu. His father had abandoned them, so his mother took care of the whole family. She sold her ornaments and bought land on the outskirts near Chennai, where the whole family lived till 2012 in a thatched house. She wanted to educate her children at any cost, so, she did everything she could for their education.
SOLD NEWSPAPERS
Balamurugan says his UPSC journey began from the time he started selling newspapers. “I had a habit of reading newspapers. But I did not have enough money to buy them. I had a friend who used to distribute newspapers and he asked me to work with him, where I would get the chance to read the paper and ,also, earn Rs300. This was a good opportunity for me. I read the newspaper daily and started getting to know everything about the country and the world. Gradually, I started reading the competition magazines also.”
EDUCATION
After 12th, Balamurugan did BE in Electronics and Communication from the prestigious Madras Institute of Technology, Anna University. This is the same college where former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam studied. After completing engineering in 2012, Balamurugan got a job in TCS, where he worked for two years in Chennai and then moved to Sydney, Australia. After working for 2 years in Sydney, Balamurugan made up his mind to sit for UPSC exam.
When he felt that he had saved enough for himself and his family, he quit the job and came back to India. But, struggling with limited information about how to prepare for the exam, he decided to join coaching.
INSPIRATION FOR UPSC
Where did he get the inspiration to appear for UPSC exam? His mother always wanted someone from the family to join the civil services. That’s how the UPSC seed was planted in his mind. “My mother used to say that since you read so many newspapers, why don’t you prepare for UPSC. So, when I felt the situation was right, I made up my mind to do so. Also, a 2013 incident encouraged me further to join civil services. Some people were trying to encroach on a road. I complained about it to a lady civil servant and she immediately got it removed. I felt then that a lot can be changed by being in civil service.”
UPSC PREPARATION
Balamurugan says that one has to be prepared for a lot of stress during the UPSC preparation and at the same time keep a plan B ready. “Give your 100% in preparation. Always be ready for challenges. If you fail in the first attempt, people may not say anything, but if you fail in the second, people will start doubting you. In the third time, they will taunt you that UPSC is not for you at all. But have faith in yourself and keep going till you achieve your goal.”
LIFE STRUGGLES
Balamurugan concludes his conversation with a friendly advice for all aspirants: “No doubt the UPSC journey is full of ups and downs. But then, you don’t always find happiness and you aren’t always sad either. This is exactly my story and probably yours too. This is what I have learned in life. That if you want to achieve something, then work hard by giving your hundred percent to it. To achieve big goals, you have to be ready for big fights as well.”
