A Small Beginning with Silent Struggles:
Some journeys do not begin with confidence. They begin with small struggles that no one notices.
Ramu’s journey started in a Telugu medium school. Until his 10th class, his life was simple and familiar. He understood subjects well, respected his teachers, and followed a routine like many other students. There was no big dream at that stage, no clear idea of what he wanted to become.
But one thing was clear — his exposure was limited.
After completing his 10th class with a perfect 10/10 CGPA, he moved into a completely new environment. He joined Sri Chaitanya College in Visakhapatnam, where everything was in English.
For the first time, he felt out of place.
There is one incident that clearly reflects his situation. In one of his early classes, instead of writing thermometer, he wrote “dharmometer.” It was a small mistake, but it showed how unfamiliar he was with English.
Around him were students who spoke fluently and confidently. Ramu, on the other hand, struggled even with basic words. But he did not give up. He slowly started observing, learning, and improving step by step.
The Moment That Changed His Thinking:
Before this phase, one important incident had already planted a thought in his mind.
When Ramu was in 10th class, a district collector visited his government school. During the visit, he noticed poor sanitation, misuse of funds, and lack of discipline. He immediately gave strict instructions.
Within days, things started improving. Cleanliness improved, teachers became more regular, and classes were conducted properly.
For Ramu, this was not just an event. It was a realization. He understood that if a person has power and uses it correctly, real change can happen. This idea stayed with him and slowly became the foundation of his future goal.
A Chance That Opened New Doors
Ramu’s journey could have stopped after 10th class due to financial issues. But his headmaster believed in him.The headmaster spoke to donors and helped him secure a merit seat in Sri Chaitanya College. That one opportunity changed everything.
Ramu worked hard during his intermediate. He struggled with language, but he did not avoid it. He spent extra time understanding concepts and improving himself.
His effort paid off. He scored 983 marks (around 98.5%). This result helped him enter NIT Warangal, one of the premier institutions in India.For someone who once struggled with basic English, this was a big transformation.
NIT Warangal: Growth Beyond Academics
At NIT Warangal, Ramu’s thinking changed completely.
He met students from different parts of the country. He was exposed to new ideas, new ambitions, and new ways of thinking. He participated in clubs, technical festivals, and various activities.
Slowly, his confidence improved. He developed leadership skills and started thinking beyond his personal life. He began to understand the idea of nation-building — that whatever work he does should contribute to society.
At the same time, he stayed connected to his roots. He had a strong interest in Telugu literature. He led the Telugu Literature Club and started writing poetry and articles. This connection later helped him choose Telugu literature as his optional subject in UPSC.
Personal Loss and Inner Strength
During his BTech final year, Ramu faced a difficult phase. His father passed away. His mother, an agricultural laborer, became the pillar of the family. She did not speak big words, but her support was constant.
Whenever she called him, she would ask simple questions like, “Did you eat food?” or “Do you need money?” These small questions gave him emotional strength.
Whenever he failed, she would tell him, “You are beyond failures. If you feel weak, come home. I will take care of you.”Ramu calls her a Karma Yogi. Her strength became his foundation.
From Job to Uncertainty: Choosing UPSC
After graduation, Ramu worked in Ford for one year. Life looked stable from the outside. But inside, he felt that this was not what he truly wanted.
He decided to prepare for Civil Services. This decision was not easy. He had financial difficulties. Initially, he tried to manage both job and preparation. He used his savings and even worked as a translator.
At this point, one of his close friends supported him in a big way. His friend told him to leave the job and focus completely on preparation. With that support, Ramu took a bold step. In 2021, he resigned and started full-time preparation.
Failures, Setbacks, and a Strong Comeback
Ramu’s UPSC journey was full of challenges. He could not clear prelims in his early attempts. In 2023, even though he performed well in General Studies, he failed in CSAT due to a power cut during the exam. In 2024, he wrote mains but could not clear it. At one stage, he realized something important:
He was preparing well, but he was not mentally ready to face the exam. This changed his mindset.
After failing mains in 2024, he did something different. Instead of taking a long break, he went back to the library the very next day and continued his preparation. He believed that failure is normal, but recovery should be quick.
The Shift in Strategy and Mindset:
After 2023, Ramu changed his approach completely. He stopped fearing the exam and started facing it actively. He decided to attempt all questions, even if he was not fully sure.He understood that no one knows everything perfectly. Even writing basic and logical points is better than leaving a question blank.
He also focused heavily on answer writing.He practiced daily for 20–25 days, then followed cycles of practice and review. Every Sunday, he would evaluate himself and improve.
Initially, writing was difficult. But with practice, it became easier. Ideas started coming faster.He also learned an important lesson: Perfection is the enemy of productivity.
Instead of trying to write perfect answers, he focused on writing more answers consistently. Also Ramu got a job in APPSC Group-II in 2025. But he waited for the UPSC results, which he knew he would clear.
La Excellence Core Batch: A Turning Point
One of the most important phases in Ramu’s journey was his time in the La Excellence Core Batch.
During this period, he wrote tests every day. Full-length tests were evaluated by subject experts. This brought discipline and consistency into his preparation.
In the above pic, you can see Ramu sitting in the second row writing daily mains tests . He was surrounded by serious aspirants like Lakshmi Rachana, Srujana, Shravan, and Panduranga, all of whom later cleared UPSC in the very same year. This environment pushed him to improve continuously.
Mentorship played a key role here. Mentors at La Excellence like Sai Chaitanya Jadhav (IAS), Sai Vinod (IAAS), and Sai Bhargava (IRMS) helped him improve his answers.
But Kalyan Sir , Chief Mentor at La Excellence played a special role. Since Ramu was writing in Telugu, there were no proper evaluators. Kalyan Sir personally guided him in essay and ethics.
Because of this guidance, Ramu improved around 10 marks in essay and similar improvement in ethics. Ramu clearly says that without this support, this improvement would not have been possible.
The Final Phase and a Meaningful Success
By his final attempt, Ramu had everything in place. He had conceptual clarity, writing practice, emotional strength, and a clear mindset.
He performed well in the interview and scored around 189 marks.
Interestingly, just before the interview, he was discussing Mahabharata with his friend Prem Praveen . These discussions helped him connect ideas and answer questions with clarity. Ramu’s journey is guided by simple principles — stay consistent, control emotions, focus on quality, and believe that everything is temporary.
Today, his story is not just about clearing UPSC. It is about a student who once struggled with English, who wrote “dharmometer,” and who slowly improved step by step. It is about a person who faced failures but never stopped showing up.
And most importantly, it is about understanding that success is not sudden. It is built over time with patience, effort, and the right support.
Ramu’s final advice is simple:
Everyone has an entry strategy into UPSC, but you should also have an exit strategy. Only then you can prepare peacefully.
This is not a dramatic story.
This is a real story. And that is what makes it powerful.
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