Son of a Sweeper, Now an IAS: Inspiring story of Akunuri Naresh who turned his parents' struggles into strength

Akunuri Naresh

Success isn't about where you start, but the determination you carry. The story of Akunuri Naresh, a 29-year-old from a small village in Telangana, brings this truth to life. The son of a daily-wage labourer and a sweeper, Naresh has clinched the 117th rank in the Civil Services Examination of 2021.

Life in Kasimpalli village, located in the Bhupalpally district, was not easy for the Naresh family. His father, Ailaiah, took on any daily wage work he could find. To make ends meet, his mother, Sulochana, worked as a sweeper for the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). They had four children to raise. Yet, in the face of this poverty, they nurtured a powerful dream in their youngest son, Naresh. They never pressured him to abandon his studies for a job, providing unwavering support instead.

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Naresh's academic path was paved by a series of opportunities he seized with both hands. After his initial schooling in the local government school until class 5, he moved to the AP Social Welfare Residential School for Boys in Narsampet, where he studied until the 10th grade. He then completed his intermediate studies at the APSWRS Junior College in Chilkur, Rangareddy district.

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His hard work culminated in a coveted seat at IIT Madras, from where he graduated in 2015 with a B.Tech degree in Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.

With an IIT degree in hand, Naresh secured a stable job as an Information Technology Analyst at Citi Bank in Chennai. For many, this would have been the final destination. But Naresh had a different goal. While working at the bank for three years, he began preparing for the civil services.

His journey to the top was a marathon, not a sprint. After his first attempt in 2017, he secured the 782nd rank in 2019, which earned him a position in the Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS). Undeterred, he persisted. On his fifth attempt, his dedication paid off spectacularly with the 117th rank in the 2021 results. Akunuri Naresh is currently serving as the Assistant Collector (UT), Amravati

Naresh is quick to share the credit for his success. He speaks with deep gratitude about his parents, his elder brother Suresh—an Assistant Commercial Tax Officer in Warangal—who always stood by him, and his wife, whose support was crucial. His father, Ailaiah, beams with pride, saying, "He not only made us proud, but also our villagers."

Akunuri Naresh’s journey is a powerful reminder that background does not define destiny. His story, from the humblest of beginnings to the threshold of the Indian Administrative Service, continues to inspire countless others to chase their biggest dreams, no matter how distant they may seem.