Sreedhanya Suresh from Kerala’s Wayanad district became the first adivasi student from the state to crack the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) civil service examination. The woman, who belongs to the Kurichiya community, considered the second-largest tribal community in Wayanad district, secured 410th rank in the examination and created history on Friday, 5 April.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Wayanad, congratulated Sreedhanya in a tweet on Saturday. “Sreedhanya’s hard work & dedication have helped make her dream come true. I congratulate Sreedhanya and her family and wish her great success in her chosen career,” he tweeted.
This time around, Gandhi is contesting from the Wayanad constituency in Kerala along with his traditional stronghold of Amethi.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan spoke to Shreedhanya on the phone and congratulated her. In a Facebook post, he wrote:
“Sreedhanya fought social backwardness and passed the civil services exam with flying colours. Her achievement will inspire other students in the future.”
Twenty-nine Keralites have cleared the civil services examination.
Kerala Health and Social Welfare minister KK Shailaja wrote on Facebook, “This is a historic moment for the people of Wayanad. For the first time in Kerala’s history, an adivasi girl has cleared civil services exam. Sreedhanya from Idiyamvayal of Pozhuthan in Wayanad has secured 410 rank in UPSE exams, wish her all the best.”
The toppers of the Union Public Service Commission this year are Kanishak Kataria and Srushti Jayant Deshmukh.
(With inputs from PTI and News18)
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