- Graduation: BSc (Agriculture)
- Present Job: State Agriculture Officer at Paramakudi, TN
- Language for UPSC Main: English
- Optional Subject: Political Science
- Rank: 599
- Hobby: Books, music, Ted-X talks and public speaking
Seeing the confidence and command with which S. Abhinaya talks in English, one would place her as a city-bred girl. But this farmer’s daughter, hailing from the small village of K. Paramathi near Karur town in central Tamil Nadu, has just proved that English is not some insurmountable obstacle, but only a tool that needs to be employed deftly to open doors.
In fact, Abhinaya’s entire schooling was in Tamil medium. “I studied in a government school till Class 10, and then moved to a private school, but did not change to English medium. I picked up English along the way by reading newspapers and watching television and TedX talks,” says Abhinaya, 27. Her four previous attempts to clear the UPSC exam did little to dissuade her from attempting again in 2019. This time she secured an all-India rank of 599. “Most likely I will be posted as an income tax officer, but figuring in the all-India list is an achievement by itself,” says this slim girl who works as an agricultural officer in the backward district of Ramanathapuram. After passing her BSc (Agriculture), she cleared the state public service commission exam that got her the job last year, even while preparing for UPSC.
“Anyone else would have settled down for the state government job, but I refused to give up as it was always my goal to become an IAS officer. Agriculture, education and gender equality would be the three subjects close to my heart, whatever be the role I don in my career,” she says. During the interview, she was asked what she would do if she were posted as tourism secretary. “Having seen how the bustling pilgrimage centre Rameswaram lacked even basic amenities, I said I would bring about holistic development of major tourism centres and involve the local population so that it becomes a constant source of livelihood for them. If tourism thrived, the fishermen of the temple town could do with a fallback income as well,” Abhinaya recalls.
She was also asked about the controversy over Rajinikanth’s remarks on Periyar and his followers garlanding an idol of Ram with slippers in 1971, as the star’s observation had become a burning topic in Tamil Nadu in January 2019. “Without getting caught in the nitty-gritty, I merely said without batting an eyelid that whatever one’s views, the religious feelings of others should not be hurt,” says Abhinaya and breaks into a laugh. Her confidence had carried the day.
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