From life-altering tragedy to becoming Ernakulam asst collector; Parvathy Gopakumar has come a long way

Ernakulam Assistant Collector Parvathy Gopakumar had to change her fate to pursue her dream. From a situation where most would have faltered, Parvathy, though scathed, stood up and walked ahead with determination.

It was 2010, the year that changed Parvathy’s life. The seventh standard student who was pillion riding the scooter with her father never knew what was ahead. The accident was fatal. It severed her right hand. The scooter crashed into a car, throwing Parvathy on the road. A KSRTC bus swiftly passing through this route ran over the seventh grader’s hand.

Parvathy was academically brilliant, but the accident did more damage internally than on the outside. The whole incident left her shaken. When everybody thought that a return to normalcy was impossible, Parvathy stood up with a rare determination. Before the wound healed, she came to write the annual examination of the seventh grade with her amputated hand.

Hard work and arduous effort started to yield results one year later as Parvathy started writing with her left hand. After moving to the hostel in the ninth grade, she learned to manage her own affairs. In the tenth grade, she passed with A plus in all subjects except mathematics. She then passed with full marks in Humanities Plus Two from Ambalappuzha Model Higher Secondary School.

Later came a first rank in the CUSAT LLB entrance and a 200th rank in the CLAT entrance. She obtained a law degree from Bengaluru National Law School in 2021. Krishnatheja, the Sub-Collector of Alappuzha, inspired her to become an IAS officer. The first attempt ended in dismay as Parvathy failed to clear the required score. This paved the way for the old determination to get back in her, and Parvathy dedicated all her time to studying. The second attempt ended in triumph. She got IAS in the Kerala cadre with 282nd rank. Parvathy is the only Malayali among the five IAS trainees of the 2024 batch who were appointed to the Kerala cadre.

Her parents, Deputy Tehsildar K.S. Gopakumar of Alappuzha Collectorate and teacher Sreekala S. Nair, are her pillars of support. Sister Revathi Gopakumar also proved to be a companion in need.

“My thirst for studying more is unquenchable. I love to study new things. However, now I am caught up with works” said Parvathy Gopakumar.