Right hand amputated at seventh standard, took exam with her left hand; Parvathy Gopakumar secures 282nd rank in civil services exam

AMBALAPUZHA: Parvathy Gopakumar, who ignored her amputated right hand and took the civil services exam with her left hand, secured the 282nd rank. Parvathi Gopakumar, who became the pride of the state, is the daughter of KS Gopakumar and Sreekala S Nair of Ambadi house Komana Ambalapuzha.

When Parvathy was in class seven, she was riding behind her father's scooter when she was hit by a KSRTC bus at Vandanam on the national highway. The wheel of the KSRTC bus ran over her right hand. After a month and a half of treatment at a private hospital in Ernakulam, her arm was amputated above the elbow and later an artificial arm was implanted. However, Parvathy's immobilized right hand did not hinder her desire to take up IAS. She practised writing with her left hand. Gopakumar, Deputy Tehsildar of Alappuzha Collectorate, and her mother Sreekala, a teacher at Kakkazham Govt. High School, stood with Parvathy. However, Gopakumar's mother Ramani was Parvathy's main mentor.

Parvathy got an A+ in all subjects from Chennithala Navodaya School in 10th class and completed Plus Two from Ambalapuzha Model Higher Secondary School with full marks. She then completed her law degree with high marks from Bengaluru Law Academy. Parvathy's civil service training was at Fortune Coaching Center, Thiruvananthapuram. Despite failing the first time, Parvathi Gopakumar persevered and took the exam a second time and secured the 282nd rank. Her younger sister Revathi Gopakumar is doing entrance training after Plus Two.