IAS Officer C Vanmathi, hailing from Erode district in Tamil Nadu, was raised in a family where societal norms posed challenges for daughters seeking education. Despite facing such challenges, she achieved the extraordinary feat of becoming an IAS officer. Her childhood was full of struggles, and she had to start working from a young age to support her family. Let’s read about her remarkable journey. 

Family

Vanmathi’s father used to work as a cab driver. After coming back from school, she would tend to animals.  The family’s financial situation was dire, yet they managed to support her school education. 

Marriage pressure

When Vanmathi completed her class 12 studies, the relatives began forcing her to get married, but she remained steadfast in her determination to pursue further education. Fortunately, she received immense support from her parents. 

Education and UPSC success

Vanmathi declined the marriage proposals and continued her studies. After graduation, she earned a postgraduate degree in Computer Applications. Her dedication and perseverance paid off when she achieved success in the UPSC 2015 exam, securing the impressive rank of 152nd. 

Inspiration

C Vanmathi used to watch a TV serial which portrayed a strong female IAS officer in the lead role. She found inspiration from this character in the show and aspired to pursue UPSC. Eventually, she accomplished her dream of becoming an IAS officer.