From Herding Dreams to Hitting AIR: Shepherd’s Son Cracks UPSC in First Shot

Birdev Siddhappa Done, the child of a shepherd from the Kuruba community in the Karnataka-Maharashtra border region, has achieved something quite remarkable by securing the top position in the UPSC Civil Services Exam 2024 with an All India Rank (AIR) of 551 on his very first attempt. Having grown up in humble conditions and attending a Marathi-medium village school, Birdev's existence was marked by poverty and non-availability of resources. With unyielding determination, he trained 20 hours daily, much of this time divided between balancing practice with herding duties. His success was delivered to him as he was herding sheep, and it inspired villagers to rejoice, inspiring hundreds of other disenfranchised individuals. Birdev's story is one of hope, illustrating that resilience and determination can vanquish even the most serious impediments.

 

Source: Deccan Herald, India Today, The New Indian Express