He was born in a mud house and stayed there for most of his growing years. With grit and a goal ahead, he managed to get himself coached in a centre in Kota and got into an IIT. Today, he is an IAS officer.
Anand Poonia who was born in Shyampura village of Jhunjhunu district spoke to PaGaLGuY about his mud house to IAS story. “My family was extremely poor. We stayed in a house made of mud and we hardly got a meal per day. But yes, my family pushed me to think big,” he said.
Both Anand’s parents were school teachers in a local government school. Education was an integral part of thinking from the Poonia family. So, at first, Anand was sent to the village chaupal to study where he was until class 5. Later, he went to Sainik School in Chittorgarh till class 8 and after that to Kendriya Vidhyalaya at Jhunjhunu.
“I tried to crack IIT-JEE in 2008 but was unsuccessful. That’s when he was advised by his sister to join a coaching centre in Kota and get specialised coaching. We could not afford it at first but somehow managed.”
Anand joined Allen. By then, Anand’s sister was already a B.tech by then. Post her engineering, she did her MBA from one of the IIMs.
In 2009, Anand attempted the exam again and secured 1439 All India Rank. He secured a berth in IIT, New Delhi. After completion of B.Tech from IIT in 2013, Anand took the
IAS Examination in 2014 and was selected with an All India Rank of 1070. Presently, he is under training in Delhi for Civil Services.
“My parents fought all sorts of pressures be it financial and others to make sure my sister and I study further. My younger brother is also studying further. Today, thanks to the family efforts, we are now living in what I would call a pukka house.” Says Anand
His father, Raghuveer Singh told PaGaLGuY that at first, he borrowed a lot of money from different places to make Anand study. “Even when he was studying in Sainik School in Chittoor, I had to borrow money for his hostel and other requirements. Later, when he secured admission, then I had to take an education loan.”