Writing UPSC in Kannada no handicap for him

Mangalore Today News Network

Bangalore, June 13, 2014:  Having written the civil services entrance twice unsuccessfully, Gurudatta Hegde, an engineering graduate from Dharwad, has bagged 25th rank on his third attempt in the UPSC exam results that were announced on Thursday.

What makes his success special is the fact that he wrote the exam in Kannada medium, disproving popular conception about taking competitive exams in Kannada.

“It is not true that one will not achieve success by writing competitive exams in Kannada. My success is an encouragement for students who plan to write competitive exams in Kannada,” said Gurudatta. His optional subject too was Kannada literature.

He dreams of working in the field of rural development and women’s empowerment.

Gurudatta completed his primary and higher primary education in Dharwad. He pursued engineering in RV College, Bangalore. As soon as he graduated, he started preparing for IAS exams.

His parents N V Hegde and Shashikala said, “He was determined to take it up the third time, even though he could not clear it twice earlier. He has made our dream come true.”

His father has been working with the Belur plant of Deccan-Herald-Prajavani for the past 37 years.

His mother is a teacher. Self study, discussions with friends and his professor Mahantesh Bilagi were the factors that helped him achieve success, he said.