MS.RUKMANI RIAR
UPSC all-India second topper Rukmani Riar did not believe in coaching and cracked the exam in her first attempt. She tells us how she did it.
Ever since the UPSC results were announced, Rukmani Riar's phone hasn't stopped ringing.
Although Chandigarh-born Rukmani has received gold medals for her academic achievements and research during graduation and post-graduation, she says that this new feeling of success is overwhelming.
'People from all over have been trying to reach me to congratulate me and my family. It's a proud moment for all of us,' beamed the 26-year-old, who holds a master's degree in social entrepreneurship from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai where she consistently topped her class.
What makes her second-highest nationwide UPSC score even more special is the fact that Rukmani did not opt for any coaching and cleared the civil services exam in her very first attempt.
'If you are consistent and perseverant in your preparation, you can crack the exam without coaching,' suggests the topper, who chose political science and sociology as her main subjects for the exam.
For someone who was unable to cope with the pressure of moving to a boarding school and failed in Class VI while studying at the Sacred Heart School in Dalhousie, this success is a testimony to the adage that failures are the stepping stones to success.
'Ever since I failed in Class VI, I am scared of failure. It can be very depressing. But after that incident, I made up my mind that I won't sulk and complain. I will work hard and give things my best. I believe that if one decides to persevere and come out of that phase, nothing can stop you achieving success,' advises Rukmani over the phone from Chandigarh.
'I always wanted to serve the nation,' she adds. And you can well believe her -- she has interned with the Planning Commission of India and NGOs in Karnataka and Maharashtra over the last few years, researching and understanding various social policies and finding ways to help them make a positive impact upon society.
Following her success in the exam, Rukmani wants to become an IAS officer so that she can use her experience and training to serve the nation in a better way. Her father BS Riar works as a lawyer in Hoshiarpur and her mother is a housewife.
