Banjara community produces an IAS officer

hubli: with adversity as his friend, he achieved success. and became the first in the nomadic banjara-lambani community to have become an ias officer. born in a remote lambani tanda, jayaraj naik is the first member of the community in karnataka to pass the indian administrative services (ias) examination. jayaraj is a resident of ashiala lambani tanda in lingsugur taluk of raichur district. jayaraj studied under streetlights, trekked 7 km barefoot to the neighbouring village of mudgalli for primary education. the inspiration was his father b.g. naik, a primary schoolteacher, and mother anusuya devi, an anganwadi worker. he is one among the 19 candidates of the state who have passed the ias this year. on sunday, the hubli shree sevalal lambani hitavardhak sangh felicitated him. jayaraj says, ``i was not able to frame a single sentence in english language when i joined high school in bijapur. but the determination to succeed was there and more so to master the languages. now i am proficient in kannada and english.'' after passing the sslc examination with 75 per cent of marks, he studied science in pu at bangalore's vijaya college and later mbbs at bangalore medical college. jayaraj says though he was supported by scholarships and other financial aid, it was tough throughout his academic period. ``those were the days of penury, destitution and frustration.'' it was then he decided to give the ias an attempt. ``the objective was to use my medical background for the service of the society through proper, sincere and scientific administration. and ias was the best platform.'' all his efforts to take the exams bore fruit. jayaraj chose kannada literature as an optional subject along with history for his ias exams. the enthusiastic and inspired jayaraj, who will be joining other candidates for training at mussorie in uttaranchal, asserts: ``i will dedicate myself for the service of countrymen, especially the downtrodden and oppressed. and i will support any candidate who wants to take up ias in kannada.'' all the best, jayaraj.

Regards,
The Times of India