22-04-2025
From farmer's field to UPSC fame: Cook's daughter secures 263rd rank sans coaching
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Mysuru
: It was 1pm on Tuesday when 53-year-old Channabasappa, a resident of Mayigowdanahalli village in Saligrama taluk, was watering his 20 guntas from the borewell of his neighbour. His younger daughter,
Preethi AC
, called him to share her one of the best achievements of her life — getting 263th rank in
UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024
, whose results were announced Tuesday.
Decades ago, Channabasappa, who never went to school and works as a part-time cook for his livelihood, sowed the seeds of the
IAS dream
in the mind of Preethi, who took it as her life's goal. "It was one of the most joyous and happiest moments of my life," Channabasappa told TOI, reflecting on his first thoughts after learning of his daughter's triumph.
Channabasappa, who was working at a choultry in Periyapatna on Tuesday evening, said he was always confident about his daughter. "Due to poverty, we sent her to govt Kannada medium primary and high schools until SSLC. After that, she joined govt PU College, KR Nagar. She completed her BSc in Agriculture from the College of Agriculture, Mandya, and later did an MSc in Agriculture at Banaras Hindu University," he said.
"From dailywage work to cooking, I did a lot of work to support the education of my two daughters. It is a moment of satisfaction. No one supported me in all my struggles," he said. Preethi's mother, Netravati, is a homemaker.
For Preethi, who didn't opt for any coaching for the IAS preparations, this was her third attempt. "I took anthropology as my optional," she said. "It was my father's dream. I studied only in the govt-run educational institutions," she said.
