Humiliated Constable to UPSC Officer: His senior threw his resignation letter, so he took a better job in civil services

Humiliated Constable to UPSC Officer

We often hear that success is the best revenge. For Uday Krishna Reddy, a former police constable from Andhra Pradesh, this saying became a powerful reality. His journey to becoming a UPSC rank holder began not with a dream, but with a moment of deep humiliation.

Uday Krishna joined the Andhra Pradesh Police as a constable at the young age of 19. While serving, he nurtured a bigger dream: to become a civil servant. He spent his spare time preparing for the UPSC exam.

However, his ambition was not welcomed by one of his seniors. A Circle Inspector, who held a grudge against him, started creating obstacles. In a deliberate move, the inspector once assigned Uday Krishna to sentry duty on the very day he had an important exam, knowing Krishna couldn't refuse.

The situation reached its breaking point during a drill in 2018. Uday Krishna was late, and the inspector used this as an opportunity to publicly humiliate him. He forced him to perform the entire drill under supervision and mocked his ambitions, telling him he was "only a constable" and should stop "living in dreams."

Feeling utterly disrespected, Krishna decided to quit. He submitted his resignation letter that very day. In a final act of disregard, the inspector threw his resignation letter away.

What followed was a difficult period. Uday Krishna was later wrongly labelled a "deserter" by the same inspector. However, with the support of an understanding senior officer, he was able to clear his name and get his resignation officially accepted.

Free from the toxic environment, Krishna channeled all his energy and frustration into his UPSC preparation. He leaned on his brother, grandmother, and a few close friends for emotional and financial support. This strong support network, he says, was crucial.

His hard work paid off. On his fourth attempt, he achieved an All India Rank of 780 in the UPSC exam.

Uday Krishna's resilience comes from a life of hardship. He lost his mother at a very young age and his father when he was a teenager. Raised by his grandmother, he studied in Telugu-medium government schools and only began to take studies seriously after class 10.

Uday Krishna's advice is straightforward. He emphasizes dedication, discipline and a clear understanding of the exam syllabus. He also believes in a balanced approach to preparation, focusing not just on knowledge, but also on physical fitness and inner peace to handle stress.

His story is a powerful reminder that our greatest setbacks can become the fuel for our greatest comebacks. No amount of humiliation could break his spirit; it only made his ultimate victory sweeter.