My Lifestory for Josh Talks - My Journey of Becoming an IAS Officer

Hello everyone, my name is P Narahari. I am an IAS officer, currently posted as Managing Director of Marketing Federation, Cooperative Department in Bhopal. It gives me immense pleasure to share my journey with you all.

I grew up in a rural area called Karim Nagar district of Telangana. My father worked as a tailor and provided for our family of eight people. Growing up, we saw a lot of difficult times because of our socio-economic condition, but there was one thing that our parents imbibed in our minds ever since we were kids- the importance of education. My parents ensured that we studied well and made us believe that education can change our life and take us out of the position we were in. And I made sure that I studied well. 

The turning point in my life came when I was in class 10th. The district collector of my place, Kareem Nagar district had started this adult literacy program where every school was told to adopt a nearby village and the students were told to do voluntary work. My school had also adopted a nearby village and every day we would go to the village, go from one house to another, get people to the community hall, and teach them how to read and write. This went on for a year.

And as a young boy, I was so motivated by this activity and so inspired by this initiative that I decided that even I will become a collector and work towards the socio-economic development of the society. That day I saw a dream- a dream of going into the Indian Administrative Services. And I was determined to make that dream into reality.

Our village didn’t have a lot of exposure, but I spoke with people to understand how to get into the services. At that time, someone told me that if I go to Hyderabad, I will get a lot of exposure and I will be able to crack the examination. So I started looking for ways to go to Hyderabad. I worked hard and studied well in school, and got a scholarship to go to an engineering college in Hyderabad. 

So I came to Hyderabad with dreams, hopes and aspirations. And I had reached one step closer to my dream. But in my journey, financial stability was always a problem. Since my parents couldn’t send me much money, I began taking private tuitions to sustain my stay in Hyderabad. And during the same time, while I was studying engineering, I parallely started preparing for the UPSC CSE because that was my ultimate goal.

In the four years of engineering, I did every possible thing to understand the pattern of the examination. I met people who were preparing for the exam, I met people who had already cracked the exam and I ensured that I understood every aspect of it, of what I was getting into. 

And that, I believe, is the most important part. When you set a goal for yourself, make sure that you understand every aspect of it. It’s very important to test and taste the water before getting into it. If you want to go for an MBA then make sure that you speak with someone who has already done that to understand what you are getting into. 

So I began preparing for the UPSC and along with that, I also appeared for a few public sector exams and Indian Engineering Services. UPSC was my dream but I also needed financial stability. Soon after my graduation, I appeared for the UPSC examination and I couldn’t clear it, but I was determined to do it so I started my preparations again.

In the meanwhile, I cleared a few public sector exams and also IES. I got a job as a scientist with the department of science and technology and like I said, I needed financial stability, I took that job. And I kept chasing my dream while I was also working, I kept preparing for the UPSC examination.

And finally, in 2000, I gave the second attempt and cleared the exams with AIR 78. And I got the Indian Administrative Service.  

And I want to tell you that if you have a dream and you really want to do that, don’t give up on it. When I look back at my life, I realise that no person is small to see a big dream. Everyone has the right to dream- no matter who you are, wherever you come from. You can dream and you can make it a reality. All you have to do is just keep going at it no matter how difficult it gets, how challenging the journey is. Even if you are in a situation where you are feeling helpless, even at that time, keep in mind that things will get better and keep going at it. If you don’t give up, you will reach there. 

And for all the people who are preparing for the UPSC examination, let me tell you one thing:

We all know that UPSC CSE is the toughest exam in the country. It is an exam where your personality is tested at all levels. 

You should have a long term preparation for this exam and also measure your abilities to appear for it. The amount of hard work should be commensurate with the pattern of the exam. I have seen students who don’t put in enough hours and don’t complete the syllabus. They complete some amount of syllabus. You don’t need to sit for 14-15 hours, sit for 8 hours but ensure that you have completed the syllabus and you have full knowledge of what you are studying. You should also have enough leisure, entertainment, and spend time with your friends. 

And the most important thing is sustained motivation. Don’t give up, keep motivating yourself because no one else will. And when you do that, when you keep going, nothing and no one can stop you from achieving your dreams. 

December 2020