CHENNAI: As soon as news spread that V P Jeyaseelan was the sole person from Tamil Nadu among the top-100 rankers in the UPSC’s honour list released on Thursday, he became a man in demand. Three times over. As many as three IAS coaching academies — Ganesh IAS Academy, Shankar IAS Academy and Anna IAS Academy — began claiming that he was “one of their own” and congratulated him on his feat. The best part is, none of them are technically lying.
It capped off an otherwise disappointing show at the UPSC for Tamil Nadu this time, since usually about 15 candidates make the cut. The other good news was a visually challenged girl securing the 343rd rank. Beno Zephine, daughter of Charles, was a probationary officer in State Bank of India, Tiruvallur branch. Speaking to Express, Beno attributed her success to her hard work.
“The performance of Tamil Nadu has not improved this time,” said D Shankar of Shankar IAS Academy. “The new pattern with extensive case studies has given an edge to urban students — especially those who have better language skills,” he said.
Not Jeyaseelan though. “I have appeared for the UPSC for three years. And each time, I went to one of these academies,” said the 26-year-old, who actually managed to crack the IAS the second time, but came back for more.
“I wanted to become an IAS officer because I want to be able to interact with the people I serve,” he added. “My poor background and the hardship I went through growing up made me sensitive to the livelihood difficulties faced by average families. Our village still has no hospital,” he said. Armed with an agriculture degree, the man who managed to get the 45th rank said his only qualm was that there wasn’t enough material for his prep — simply because he opted to write in Tamil. “Writing in one’s mother tongue is the most desirable thing as it allows you to express yourself just the way you wish to,” he said. More: P7