(Success Story) Shivashankar E 2015 AIR-67: Welder’s Son Clears Indian Forest Service Exam

(Success Story) Shivashankar E 2015 AIR-67: Welder’s Son Clears Indian Forest Service Exam

At a time when engineering students think of bagging jobs in MNCs or setting up their start-ups, 22-year-old Shivashankar E had a different dream. Pursuing graduation in mechanical engineering at the city-based PESIT, Shivashankar had one thing in his mind — to be a civil services officer. Thanks to his father G Eshwaraiah who despite his painstaking welding job, motivated his son to be an officer who could control an entire district and bring it on the path of development.

Today, Shivashankar E is perhaps the youngest from Karnataka to clear the Indian Forest Service (IFS). Out of the four from Karnataka who cleared IFS 2015 exams, Shivashankar secured the second position with 67th rank. Having already cleared the all India civil services, Shivashankar is still not happy as he wants to clear the IAS that he missed by a whisker in 2014.

Life was not as rosy as one thinks for Shivashankar. Born into an agricultural family in a remote hamlet in Nagamangala taluk of Mandya district, Shivashankar has struggled hard to achieve his present status. "I was put up with my aunt during my school days as my parents were finding it difficult to fund my studies. My father too had moved to Bengaluru and worked as a helper at a fabrication unit before setting up his own welding shop at Muneshwara Block in Girinagar."

Working day-night tirelessly at their Eshwar Engineering Works, Eshwaraiah had one dream -- that his two sons should not toil like him and should be well educated. "My father is my inspiration and his words made me work hard towards achieving my goal of becoming the youngest civil servant. Soon after I cleared PUC in flying colours and got engineering seat, my father told me to forget everything and asked me to focus on studies and get a good officer's job."

Motivated by his father and determined not to struggle like his father, Shivashankar began studying simultaneously for his engineering degree and the civil service. "From my second semester days, I began serious preparation. I used to wake up at 4 am and study engineering subjects till 7 am and rush to college. As college was at a stone's throw away, I could spend time till evening discussing subjects and doubts with teachers and friends. Since PESIT has 24/7 library facility, I used to stay at the library till midnight and prepare for civil services."

Internet is my coach!

While it is common for civil service aspirants to join prestigious institutes, Shivashankar had no such opportunity and his family could not afford such facilities. "I could not afford to buy books due to family conditions and hence relied on the internet completely for any information," explained Shivashankar. Pursuing a degree in technical field, Shivashankar opted for forestry and geology for his IFS exam. "After my PUC days, I had no exposure to Botany. This is where my agricultural background came in handy for me. With free WiFi facility on campus, I studied on the internet about various topics related to botany and geology. My senior helped me with Geography at the college," he recalled.

In testimony to his hard work, Shivashankar had cleared engineering with distinction in May 2014 by obtaining 9.11/10 grade. "While all my other friends wanted to join some companies and a few were thinking of doing masters, I appeared for civil services and cleared the preliminary and mains exams in the first attempt. But short of two marks, I missed making it to the rank list. Not disturbed and unwilling to waste time till the next exam, I appeared for the forest service and cleared it in the very first attempt. I was told that so far, I am the youngest from the state to clear IFS in my first attempt," he said.

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Courtesy: bangalore mirror