While 53-year-old Channabasappa laboured under the harsh afternoon sun to water his crops, an unexpected call from his daughter transformed an ordinary day into a life-changing one. Preethi A C, his younger child, had secured the 263rd rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024, fulfilling the dream her father had sown years ago.
Hailing from Mayigowdanahalli village in Saligrama taluk, Mysuru district, Channabasappa, who never received formal education himself, worked as a part-time cook to sustain his family and fund his daughters’ schooling. Despite financial hardship, he and his wife, Netravati, a homemaker, prioritised education above all else.
“It was one of the happiest days of my life,” shared Channabasappa, who was employed at a choultry in Periyapatna when the news arrived.
Preethi studied exclusively in government schools, beginning in Kannada-medium institutions and progressing to a government PU college in KR Nagar. She later completed her BSc in Agriculture from the College of Agriculture, Mandya, and earned her MSc at Banaras Hindu University.
Without any coaching, Preethi prepared independently, driven by discipline and resolve. “This was my third attempt. I selected anthropology as my optional subject,” she explained.
Achieving this milestone was more than a personal victory; it was her father’s aspiration realised. “He inspired me to dream big. This success belongs to him as much as to me,” she said.
Her journey — from village borewells to the nation’s administration — embodies resilience, sacrifice, and faith in education.