Daijiworld Media Network - Puducherry

Puducherry, Jul 21: Dr Vaithinathan’s remarkable journey from medicine to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is a story of grit, perseverance, and a deep-rooted desire to bring about systemic change.

A gold medallist from Vinayaka Mission Medical College, Puducherry-born Vaithinathan completed his MBBS in 2010. While medicine was his chosen profession, his inspiration to pursue civil services came from within the family — his sister had cleared the UPSC exam in 2009 and became an IPS officer. Her success sowed the first seeds of ambition in him, but it was not a path easily paved.

The first hurdle Vaithinathan encountered was resistance from his own parents. They were strictly against their son, a bright medical student, diverting his career path toward civil services. However, it was during his internship that Vaithinathan truly found his calling. Working at ground level, he witnessed firsthand the administrative bottlenecks in the healthcare system and the lack of access to quality medical care for the underprivileged. These experiences strengthened his resolve to enter the IAS and be part of the change.

Post-MBBS, he joined a Chennai hospital as a junior resident while simultaneously preparing for the UPSC examination. His schedule was gruelling — between 2-3 hours of ward duty, emergency calls, and long hospital shifts, he squeezed in precious hours of study. Later, he moved to Delhi, where he worked 24 to 36 hours at a stretch, earning two days off that he devoted entirely to preparation.

Vaithinathan’s UPSC journey was not without its share of setbacks. His first two attempts did not take him past the prelims. In his third attempt, he reached the interview stage, having better understood the demands of the exam. Finally, in his fourth attempt, he cracked the exam in 2015 with an impressive All India Rank (AIR) of 37.

His story stands as a powerful testament to how inspiration, hard work, and a never-say-die attitude can lead to extraordinary success. Dr Vaithinathan’s path to the IAS is an inspiring example for aspirants across the country, proving that with determination and purpose, no dream is out of reach.