Hardship, hope & service: Vanmathi C’s rise from cow herder to Wardha collector Vanmathi C’s journey from a rural girl who herded cattle to becoming the district collector of Wardha in Maharashtra is a testament to perseverance and the transformative power of education. Born into a modest family in Erode, Tamil Nadu, her early years were marked by financial struggles. Her father worked as a taxi driver, and the household often faced challenges in meeting basic needs. As a child, she assisted her mother with domestic tasks and frequently took cows to graze, all while carrying a book to study whenever she found a quiet moment. This habit of learning, despite hardship, laid the foundation for her future. Her determination to pursue a better life crystallized during a visit by a district collector to her school. The authority and responsibility associated with the role left a lasting impression, sparking her ambition to one day hold such a position. Later, a television serial depicting a woman in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) further solidified her resolve. After completing her schooling, she pursued a degree in computer applications and later earned a postgraduate qualification. To support herself during her preparation for competitive exams, she worked as an officer at Indian Overseas Bank. This role exposed her to the socio-economic challenges faced by rural communities, deepening her understanding of the issues she wished to address. Balancing work and study was arduous; between 2012 and 2014, she conducted coaching classes to fund her preparation. Despite early setbacks and societal pressures, she persisted. In 2015, she cleared the Union Public Service Commission exam and joined the IAS, securing the Maharashtra cadre.#maharashtra #vanmathi_c #wardha #maharashtra_cadre #ajit_pawar
