Birdev Siddhappa Dhone, a young man hailing from a humble shepherd community in Karnataka, garnered national attention on Tuesday, April 22, by successfully clearing the highly competitive Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination on his third try.
Overcoming countless obstacles throughout his journey, Dhone managed to achieve an impressive All India Rank of 551 in what is widely regarded as the most grueling academic challenge in the country. At just 27 years of age, he was out herding goats for his uncle in Belgaum when he received the life-altering news. Filled with emotion, he marked the moment in a manner rooted in his culture and heritage.
“My initial celebration was modest yet deeply meaningful—my uncle tied a yellow turban on my head and applied sacred turmeric powder to my forehead. Someone clicked a picture of the moment, and unexpectedly, it went viral online,” Dhone told The Indian Express.
Dhone is an engineering graduate who completed his Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the College of Engineering, Pune, in 2020. Before that, he studied up to Class 10 at his local government-run Zilla Parishad school and pursued his higher secondary education at Jai Maharashtra High School, both institutions located in his native village.
“All my schooling up to the 10th grade happened in the Zilla Parishad school in my hometown, and I completed my 11th and 12th grades at Jai Maharashtra High School nearby,” he recalled.
He belongs to Yamage, a village located in the Kagal taluka of Kolhapur district, and comes from a family that has practiced sheep and goat herding for generations. Born into the Dhangar community, Dhone has always had the strong support of his family, which includes his parents and an older brother who serves as a Naik in the Indian Army. The family owns a small parcel of land, about one acre in size, and their primary source of livelihood is animal husbandry.
In 2020–21, Dhone briefly worked as a postman with India Post. However, his desire to become a civil servant never waned. Making a bold and risky decision, he quit his secure job to pursue the UPSC exam with full focus. He even relocated to Delhi to prepare, supported financially by a close friend who believed in his ambition.
“The dream of entering the civil services was always in my mind. I knew the path wouldn’t be easy, but I was determined. Financial constraints were definitely a hurdle, but one of my friends helped me out, and my unwavering passion for public service kept me going,” he shared.
Although his primary goal is to join the Indian Administrative Service, Dhone also expressed a strong interest in serving through the Indian Police Service. “I want to be an officer who listens, who truly hears what people are saying,” he said, adding that the reality of his achievement still feels surreal. “It’s like living in a dream.”
Overcoming countless obstacles throughout his journey, Dhone managed to achieve an impressive All India Rank of 551 in what is widely regarded as the most grueling academic challenge in the country. At just 27 years of age, he was out herding goats for his uncle in Belgaum when he received the life-altering news. Filled with emotion, he marked the moment in a manner rooted in his culture and heritage.
“My initial celebration was modest yet deeply meaningful—my uncle tied a yellow turban on my head and applied sacred turmeric powder to my forehead. Someone clicked a picture of the moment, and unexpectedly, it went viral online,” Dhone told The Indian Express.
Dhone is an engineering graduate who completed his Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the College of Engineering, Pune, in 2020. Before that, he studied up to Class 10 at his local government-run Zilla Parishad school and pursued his higher secondary education at Jai Maharashtra High School, both institutions located in his native village.
“All my schooling up to the 10th grade happened in the Zilla Parishad school in my hometown, and I completed my 11th and 12th grades at Jai Maharashtra High School nearby,” he recalled.
He belongs to Yamage, a village located in the Kagal taluka of Kolhapur district, and comes from a family that has practiced sheep and goat herding for generations. Born into the Dhangar community, Dhone has always had the strong support of his family, which includes his parents and an older brother who serves as a Naik in the Indian Army. The family owns a small parcel of land, about one acre in size, and their primary source of livelihood is animal husbandry.
In 2020–21, Dhone briefly worked as a postman with India Post. However, his desire to become a civil servant never waned. Making a bold and risky decision, he quit his secure job to pursue the UPSC exam with full focus. He even relocated to Delhi to prepare, supported financially by a close friend who believed in his ambition.
“The dream of entering the civil services was always in my mind. I knew the path wouldn’t be easy, but I was determined. Financial constraints were definitely a hurdle, but one of my friends helped me out, and my unwavering passion for public service kept me going,” he shared.
Although his primary goal is to join the Indian Administrative Service, Dhone also expressed a strong interest in serving through the Indian Police Service. “I want to be an officer who listens, who truly hears what people are saying,” he said, adding that the reality of his achievement still feels surreal. “It’s like living in a dream.”
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