The true story of P Balamurugan, 2019-batch IFS officer, presents an ideal premise for a blockbuster biopic movie. Raised in a large family of eight siblings, abandoned by their father and residing in a humble thatched house, they faced significant financial struggles. Despite these formidable challenges, Balamurugan refused to succumb to despair. While many would have been deterred by such adversity, he remained firm in his pursuit of his ambitions. IFS P Balamurugan is a resident of Keelkattalai, Chennai. At present, he is an IFS officer in the Forest Department of Rajasthan. Despite their poverty, Balamurugan had always been academically gifted. Although his mother had been educated only till Class 10, she left no stone unturned in educating her 8 children. His father was an alcoholic and abandoned his family to fend for themselves in 1994.
P Balamurugan was the sixth child among eight siblings, and their family faced significant financial struggles. Despite the challenging circumstances, his mother and maternal uncle worked hard to manage the household expenses. Recognising her son’s academic brilliance, Balamurugan’s mother prioritised his education over everything. Balamurugan’s mother sold her jewellery to purchase a 4800 square feet house on the outskirts of Chennai. The entire family lived in a dilapidated 2-room house. To continue her children’s education, their mother had sold 1200 square feet of the house for Rs 1.25 lakh in 1997-98.
Balamurugan had a keen interest in reading from a young age. At just 9 years old, he approached a newspaper vendor and requested permission to read Tamil newspapers. When advised to subscribe monthly for Rs 90, Balamurugan explained his financial constraints. The vendor, impressed by his initiative, offered him a job paying Rs 300 to deliver newspapers.
Upon learning about Balamurugan’s job and his dedication to his studies, his school teachers were deeply moved and began extending their support. They generously provided him with magazines and other study materials to aid his education. The school itself played a significant role in assisting him during this challenging period. At times, his school waived off his fees, while on other occasions, they allowed him to submit his tuition fees later than usual, demonstrating their understanding and empathy towards his circumstances.
After completing his schooling, P Balamurugan obtained a degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Madras Institute of Technology in 2011. In campus placement, he got a job in Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) with a good package. In 2012, the financial condition of the house started improving after the eldest sister got a job. His family shifted to a 5-room permanent house.
In 2013, a person tried to encroach on his house and Balamurugan was able to save his house with the help of a female IAS officer. This made him want to work in the civil service and even rejected a job offer from Australia for the same. Ultimately his hard work bore fruit and in 2018 he was successful in the UPSC IFS Exam. Then, after completing his training in 2019, he got a government job in Rajasthan.
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