Gahana is currently doing her Ph.D. in International Relations at her home university, MG University-Kottayam. James, her father, is a teacher by trade. Gahana prepared diligently in her home district and was taking the Civil Services test for the second time. “In my first attempt, I did not pass the preliminary exams, which I wrote while doing my post-graduate studies.” My uncle, who works in the Indian Foreign Service, was my biggest motivator. “I will be getting IFS because I got the sixth rank, and I am very happy about it,” Gahana remarked.
Coaching chances in her vicinity had never piqued James’ interest. “My parents were willing to send me anywhere I wanted to go, and I indeed had a lot of opportunities for coaching in Pala, where there are institutes.” But I wanted to make my course. I was self-assured and knew my talents and flaws. “I created an ethical framework for myself,” Gahana explained.
Gahana has always excelled in the classroom, and she earned the position without any coaching. She learned and gathered knowledge through newspapers and the Internet. She read newspapers since childhood, which helped her build her viewpoint on many problems and developments, as well as aiding her in UPSC exams.
