NAVODIAN  JOINS   IAS

        K. Veera Raghav Rao belongs to the Hempudi village in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. When he was studying in the Tsundur  Mandal Parishad, Upper Primary School, he decided to try for admission in the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya opened recently in Guntur District. The young lad was shy and soft spoken but he was determined to win. “Veera” means victor and the lad lived up to his name. Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya selection test was a tough test, recalls K. Veera Raghava Rao today. He was amongst the first batch of students admitted in the JNV and it was an exciting moment when he learnt he had cleared the test.  This victory was like a new dawn in his life. It was only appropriate that he was going to a place which means New Dawn – Navodaya.

          ‘It was the turning point of my life’ , says K. Veera Raqghav Rao, who has today cleared the Indian Administrative Services and has been ranked at 81^st position in the list of merit of Civil Service Exam, 2006. He is due to join as Probationer in mid August this year and had come to visit the NVS Hqrs. In Delhi on his way to Mussoories. The story of this young boy who made his dreams come true, blossoming in the sunshine of Navodaya is indeed moving.

          Respect and gratitude writ large on his fact, K. Veera Raghav Rao reminisces about the stir caused in the Mandal when he cleared both JNVST and now, the IAS Examinations. The remark,  “There goes the boy of K. Venkateswarulu  who cleared Navodaya,” has now been replaced by the exclamation. “Do you know the boy of Venkateswarulu and Dhanalakshmi has become IAS ?”

          This ex-student of Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti says that the environment and ambience of Navodaya Vidyalayas are encouraging to all round personality development. “Besides, a solid foundation in my academic field, Navodaya gave me an opportunity to develop physical fitness through Sports & to do a lot of creative activity which channelised my energies in a very positive way” says this ex-Navodayan, who is now a Black Belt Karate expert.

          According to Veera, the most important change that Navodaya brought about in his life was an ability to aspire for bigger things in life. “Had I stayed in the Mandal school, I would have never dreamt of the IAS. I used to see our DM who is the Chairperson of our JNV. Also, our former Director Sir, Mr. K.S.Sarma visited our JNV. Seeing these people, I was inspired to join the IAS. The fortunate part was that Navodaya Vidyalaya gave me the opportunity to grow. Moreover, my teachers and parents gave me tremendous moral support.” So says Veera Raghava Rao.

          K. Veera Raghav Rao worked as a Systems Engineer with WIPRO Technologies after doing his B.Tech from the V.R.Siddartha Engineering College. Vijayawada, and also as the Mandal Parishad Development Officer with A.P. Govt. before qualifying for the IAS.

          When asked what will be his priorities as an IAS Officer, he is quick to reply, “Development through Education.”

          This has been the story of his personal growth – from soft spoken shy young boy to a young man brimming with confidence and hope.

          The Navodaya  family is always present in his mind and he smilingly says, “Even during my UPSC interview, we discussed Navodaya and I told them how it had helped me.”

          The Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti family wishes the young man, a life full of happiness.