Success Story: Born in a poor Dhangarh family of Yamge village of Kagal tehsil of Kolhapur district of Maharashtra, Birudev Sidhappa Dhone passed the tough examination of UPSC in his very first attempt. He took the exam in 2024 and by securing 551st rank, he proved that with true hard work and passion, any dream can become reality.

Goat herder becomes IPS officer

Birudev’s life has been full of struggles. In his childhood, he used to graze goats by hanging a blanket on a pole, wearing a Gandhi cap on his head and heavy Dhangarhi slippers on his feet. But I had a dream of doing something big. His father Siddappa Dhone used to feed the family by grazing goats, while his mother was illiterate. The financial condition of the family was very weak, yet he never let his son’s courage go down.

This journey of Birudev started with a small incident. One day he lost his mobile phone and went to the police station to complain. He did not get proper help there, and this humiliating experience lit the fire within him to become an IPS. He then decided that one day he would become a police officer himself.

Staying in Delhi, he studied under difficult conditions. While most students prepare in well-equipped coaching institutes, Birudev studied 22 hours a day with limited resources. His father used to work hard in the fields and send 10 to 12 thousand rupees per month, which helped him survive.

Birudev has been topper in studies since the beginning. He had topped the class 10th and 12th examinations at Murgud center in Kagal tehsil. After this he completed his engineering studies from SIOEP Engineering College, Pune.

When the UPSC results came, a friend of his uncle’s village came running and shouted – “Birudev, you are near!” On hearing this, the eyes of the parents filled with tears and an atmosphere of celebration was created in the village. The illiterate parents could only understand that now their son has become a “sir”.