There are stories of success, and then there are stories of survival.
Stories where success is not built on privilege, resources, or opportunity, but on pain, sacrifice, resilience, and an unbreakable promise.
The journey of Dainampelly Praveen belongs to the second category.
Born in the remote village of Akulavari Ghanpur in Eturunagaram Mandal of Mulugu district, Praveen grew up in circumstances where merely completing school was considered an achievement. Yet, through extraordinary determination, he rose from extreme poverty to become a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Telangana through Group-I services and later cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 with AIR 793, securing an outstanding interview score of 200 marks and moving closer to his dream of joining the Indian Police Service (IPS).
His story is not just about clearing an examination.
It is about a son who refused to forget his mother’s words.
It is about a young boy who lost both parents but never lost hope.
And it is about a man who transformed personal suffering into a mission of public service.
A Childhood Marked by Hardship
Praveen’s father worked as a bonded labourer in a village near Mulugu. Unfortunately, alcoholism consumed his life, and Praveen lost him at a very young age.
The responsibility of raising the family fell entirely on his mother.
She worked as a sanitation worker in the Gram Panchayat.
But that was not enough to sustain the family.
She cleaned streets.
Worked in local hotels.
Laboured in chilli fields whenever work was available.
Every rupee she earned came through physical hardship.
Yet she never allowed poverty to become an excuse.
Every night, after returning from work, when the younger children slept, she would spend time speaking to Praveen.
Those conversations became the foundation of his life.
She would tell him:
“Everyone around us is becoming drivers, daily wage workers and getting married early. You should not stop your education. Your younger brother and sister are looking up to you.”
Her income was meagre.
Sometimes she saved a few hundred rupees.
Sometimes a few thousand.
But she always saved something for her son’s education.
She had only one dream:
That her son would study and create a better future for the family.
Praveen Losing His Mother
Just when life seemed difficult enough, tragedy struck again.
After joining Intermediate first year in a Social Welfare Residential Institution, Praveen received devastating news.
His mother had fallen seriously ill with jaundice.
Healthcare facilities in the region were poor, and the illness was not diagnosed properly in time.
Within days, her condition worsened.
Praveen still remembers reaching the hospital and helping carry her from the auto.
She passed away in his arms.
In a matter of years, he had lost both parents.
For most people, such a loss would have ended every dream.
But Praveen did not have the luxury of giving up.
His younger brother and younger sister were still children.
That night, while sitting beside them and grieving, he made a decision that would define his life.
“From today, I am their mother and father. I have to stand strong.”
That promise became his guiding force.
Praveen Choosing Responsibility Over Despair
The years that followed were extremely difficult.
His younger brother dropped out of school and fell into bad company.
Alcohol consumption, negative influences, and lack of guidance pushed him in the wrong direction.
Many advised Praveen to focus on his own future.
But he refused.
He believed education could transform lives because he had seen its power.
Patiently, he persuaded his brother to return to studies.
Even after repeated failures in Intermediate, he continued motivating him.
Years later, that same brother completely transformed his life.
He cleared multiple government recruitments, including selections in Telangana Fire Services, Junior Assistant recruitment, and Central Government services.
For Praveen, this became proof of a principle he strongly believes in:
“People can change when someone refuses to give up on them.”
Education Became the Turning Point for Praveen Dainampelly
Praveen studied in government and social welfare institutions throughout his educational journey.
He later joined B.Tech in Food Technology at Osmania University.
Coming to Hyderabad changed everything.
For the first time, he was exposed to larger opportunities, different perspectives, and a wider world.
It was here that he realised education was not merely a path to employment.
It was a tool for social transformation.
As someone who came from a deeply disadvantaged background, he understood that education remained the most powerful instrument of social mobility.
It was also during this period that he became deeply inspired by legendary IAS officer S.R. Sankaran.
Praveen often says that thousands of poor students like him could study only because visionary officers like Sankaran built and strengthened social welfare institutions.
The scholarships he received.
The hostels he lived in.
The educational ecosystem that supported him.
All carried the legacy of officers who dedicated their lives to social justice.
That inspiration planted the dream of civil services in his mind.
The Role of Mentorship
Behind every successful aspirant stands a support system.
For Praveen, one of the most significant influences in his UPSC journey was Kalyan Sir, Chief Mentor at La Excellence IAS, Hyderabad.
Praveen often describes Kalyan Sir not merely as a mentor but as an elder brother figure.
Coming from a background where emotional support was limited, he found in Kalyan Sir someone who believed in him during difficult phases, guided him through setbacks, and constantly reminded him of his larger purpose.
There are teachers who explain subjects.
Then there are mentors who help aspirants navigate self-doubt, uncertainty, and failure.
For Praveen, Kalyan Sir played precisely that role.
His guidance extended beyond academics into motivation, perspective, and emotional resilience.
Praveen has openly acknowledged that the support he received from Kalyan Sir and the team at La Excellence IAS played an important role in helping him sustain a long and demanding UPSC journey.
He has also expressed heartfelt gratitude to Venkata Mohan Sir of La Excellence IAS for the Interview Guidance Programme he attended during one of his earlier UPSC interview attempts.
Praveen credits the programme for helping him better understand the personality test process, improve communication skills, and approach interviews with greater confidence and clarity.
The UPSC Journey: Learning from Failure
Praveen began his UPSC preparation in 2017.
Like many aspirants, his journey was far from smooth.
There were prelims failures.
Missed cut-offs.
Disappointments.
Years of uncertainty.
One year, despite intense preparation, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted his studies. Study circles closed, and he had to return to his small rented room and continue preparation under challenging conditions.
In one attempt, he missed the prelims cut-off by just a few marks.
In another attempt, he reached the interview stage but could not secure the final rank he desired.
But Praveen had already faced far greater hardships in life.
The loss of parents.
Financial struggles.
Family responsibilities.
Compared to those experiences, examination setbacks became easier to absorb.
As he often says:
“Life had already trained me to recover from failure.”
From 135 to 200: A Story of Growth
One of the most remarkable aspects of Praveen’s UPSC journey is his improvement in the Personality Test.
In an earlier UPSC interview attempt, he secured around 135 marks.
Many candidates would have become discouraged.
Instead, Praveen treated it as feedback.
He worked on communication.
Clarity of thought.
Confidence.
Authenticity.
Self-expression.
He analysed every weakness and steadily improved.
The transformation was extraordinary.
In UPSC CSE 2025, he secured an outstanding 200 marks in the Personality Test.
That improvement reflected much more than interview preparation.
It reflected personal growth.
The boy who once struggled with grief and uncertainty had evolved into a confident public servant capable of expressing his ideas with clarity and conviction.
Becoming DSP and Continuing the Dream
While continuing UPSC preparation, Praveen also prepared for Telangana Group-I services.
His hard work paid off when he secured Rank 105 and was selected as Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Telangana.
For many aspirants, that achievement itself would have been the final destination.
For Praveen, it became another milestone.
He continued pursuing his UPSC dream while serving.
His commitment finally bore fruit in 2025 when he secured AIR 793 in the Civil Services Examination.
Today, he stands on the threshold of entering the Indian Police Service.
For a young man who once worried about basic survival, this achievement is extraordinary.
His Message to Aspirants
Praveen repeatedly emphasises three lessons.
First, consistency matters more than intensity.
Second, never forget why you started.
Third, always have a Plan B.
Alongside UPSC preparation, he completed a Master’s degree in Sociology through IGNOU, qualified NET-JRF, and pursued a PhD.
This ensured that even if UPSC did not work out, he would still have a meaningful career path.
His advice is simple:
“Dream big, but prepare responsibly.”
A Promise Fulfilled
At the heart of this entire journey lies a simple image.
A sanitation worker returning home after a long day of labour.
An exhausted mother sitting beside her son.
A quiet conversation.
A simple instruction.
“Study. Don’t stop studying.”
Years later, that son became a DSP.
Today, he stands at the doors of the IPS.
Some victories belong to individuals.
Some victories belong to families.
And some victories belong to every child who dares to dream despite impossible odds.
Dainampelly Praveen’s success belongs to all three.
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