Her Father Killed Himself As He Couldn't Pay Education Debt, Years Later Aruna Clears UPSC Exam

The story of Aruna M from Karnataka¡¯s Tumkur district is one of those kind of stories that inspires you to try hard and believe in yourself until you see success despite failing many times. Aruna cracked the UPSC civil services exam 2021 after five failed attempts, and obtained all India rank 308.

Her struggles

Her father committed suicide in 2009, when she was pursuing engineering. Her father ended his life as he was unable to repay the mounting debt which he had incurred to pay for the education of his five children. Her two elder sisters agreed to work for a few years to support their family, however, their father wanted his daughters to be independent and wished for them to sit for the UPSC exam.

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Aruna who is the third out of five siblings, intended to get an engineering degree and an ordinary job. And, unlike most of the candidates, cracking civil services was not Aruna¡¯s first goal.

Her dream

But life had different plans for her. Aruna, changed her plans to fulfil her father¡¯s dreams.

¡°I had no dreams to clear the UPSC examination. I just wanted to become an independent woman who could earn Rs 10,000 to 15,000. My father took it as a challenge to make his daughters independent. But during my engineering course, I lost my father because of the debts he made to provide us an education. After his death I felt like giving back to the society. I wanted to find the lost smile of my father by serving farmers of my country¡±, said Aruna.

Her journey

So, her journey to conquer the civil services exam began. Aruna started studying hard in 2014 and attempted UPSC five times. Even though she failed multiple times, yet she didn't stop serving the society.

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Aruna established her own UPSC coaching institute, Aruna Academy in Bangalore, where she encourages rural youngsters to apply for the UPSC exam.

Her spirit

¡°I had no hopes of clearing the UPSC examination and that to get 308 ranks. I gave five attempts but I couldn¡¯t clear. So I started my own academy called Aruna Academy where my focus has been to help rural aspirants. Finally, I cleared in my sixth attempt,¡± said Aruna.

Aruna who hails from backward class had the option of using the reservation quota in most of her life events, but she declined and took the UPSC test under the unreserved category.

UPSC

¡°My father¡¯s dream has come true now but my dream to serve the farmers of my country and not letting them attempt suicide like my father did will start now," she concluded.

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