New Delhi: K Jaiganesh from Vinnamangalam in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, used to work as a waiter in restaurants. Back then, he never would have imagined that rather than serving tables, he would, one day, be leading social change as an IAS officer. His early life was filled with challenges and that motivated him to study hard and find a job to support his family financilaly. At one point, he also worked in a cinema hall for Rs 2500 per month. Despite experiencing several setbacks in his life, he never gave up and eventually achieved 156th rank in his seventh attempt at UPSC.

Education and Family

Jaiganesh’s father used to work in a factory and his humble earnings were not enough to sustain the household expenses. Jaiganesh enrolled in a polytechnic college after his school studies with hopes of improving his family’s financial situation. Later, he also earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Periyar Institute of Technology. During this time, he worked at a cinema hall and made Rs 2500 a month. 

Chasing dreams

Jaiganesh resolved to lift his family out of poverty by becoming an IAS officer. He left the job at the cinema hall and began preparing for the UPSC exams. To support his family, he also took up a job as a waiter in a restaurant in Chennai. Although the salary was very low, the job allowed him to focus on his studies. 

UPSC preparation

After a while, he left his job as a waiter to entirely dedicate himself to the UPSC preparation. This period was marked by numerous challenges and struggles. He faced failures in six consecutive attempts, but despite these setbacks, he did not give up. Through these difficult times, he continued his preparation while also supporting his family financially.

UPSC success

During his UPSC preparation journey, he was selected in the Intelligence Bureau exam. He faced the dilemma of choosing between the job and continuing his preparation. He made the decision to continue his preparation to achieve his dream of becoming an IAS officer. His hard work and perseverance paid off when he secured 156th rank in the year 2008.