Sreedhanya, the first Adivasi student from Kerala to crack the UPSC civil service examination, becomes her community’s torch-bearer. She has virtually cleared her community’s way to the mainstream life of society and roles in administration.

Sreedhanya, who hails from Idiyamvayal, Pozhuthana, in Wayanad district secured 410th rank in the examination. Sreedhanya belongs to the Kurichiya community, considered the second-largest tribal community in Wayanad district.

Why are you so much interested in archery? This was the first question posed at her for the Civil Service interview. What led to this question was the mentioning of ‘trekking’ and ‘archery’ as her hobbies in the column specified for that.

The initial fears gave way for confidence as the first question was on her tradition. Why didn’t you bring a bow and arrow? - came the second question to which she answered: “Sir it is difficult to bring those things here…”

All in the interview board laughed.

Following questions, she answered with confidence and when the result came the rank was 410. She will be given a warm reception at her hometown on Sunday.

Sreedhanya (26) is a daughter of daily wage workers Suresh and Kamala at Pozhuthana Idiyamvayal EMS colony in Wayanad.

She has no good home not even a proper way to her house. Poverty is her signature but her parents did labour works to bring up their children.

Long back, Sreedhanya had that ambition to become a civil service officer. Though she studied in a government school, she used to read English magazines and newspapers to learn English.

The civil service dream became an obsession after her post-graduation. She realised the power of an IAS officer while working as a project assistant in the Tribal department on a contract basis.

“Department heads in a meeting were waiting for someone. Suddenly the assistant collector walked in and all stood up in respect. That day I decided that I should become an IAS officer,” Sreedhanya recalls.

She gave up her first job as a woman civil police officer. For prelims, she went to the civil services academy for SC/ST at Mannanthala. For mains, she joined Fortune Academy. She got financial aid for studies from SC/ST commission and got Rs 50,000 from district panchayat’s ‘Prathibha Pinthuna’ scheme.

Though Sreedhanya failed in the first attempt, she didn’t turn back. Last June, she again passed the preliminary exams. In October the determined woman won the mains. It was with the borrowed money that she went for the interview in New Delhi and the rest is history.

Sreedhanya’s sister is last grade employee and brother Sreerag, a polytechnic student.