Kakkanad: When Parvathy Gopakumar took charge as Assistant Collector of Ernakulam district on Monday, she was creating history in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). Having lost her right hand in a road accident, Parvathy succeeded in the tough civil service exam with sheer grit and determination.

She entered the Collectorate in Ernakulam to join duty in the morning and took over the post by signing with her left hand. Senior officers and other employees welcomed Parvathy at the office. District Collector N S K Umesh offered her a bouquet.

To the question, how she felt when she experienced the dream-come-true moment as she took charge as the Assistant Collector on Tuesday, her simple answer, speaking to Onmanorma, was, "extremely happy."

People who came to her mind most during those happy moments were her father, mother and former Alappuzha Sub-Collector V R Krishna Teja who was kind of her mentor even since they met during a Ted Talk programme five years ago.

"He constantly motivated me to work for the UPSC exams and his works in Alappuzha as the Sub-Collector in the district has always been inspirational," she said and added, "There are several others too who I happily ponder about at this moment".

As to what the nature of her duties will be, she said that it will take shape in due course. "For the moment my work is to learn by watching the tasks and the functioning of the District Collector," Parvathy quipped. 

Parvathy, a Kerala cadre IAS officer of the 2024 batch, joined duty as the Assistant Collector after completing her training at Mussoorie and IMG. The new post is also a part of her training. On the first day, Parvathy took part in two meetings with the Collector and a hearing with Sub-Collector K Meera.

A native of Ambalapuzha in Alappuzha district, Parvathy is now staying at a flat near the Ernakulam Collectorate in Kakkanad. Her parents - deputy tahsildar K S Gopakumar and Sreekala S Nair, who works as a teacher – accompanied Parvathy to the Collectorate on her first day in office.

Another reception was also organised later by the staff council for Parvathy. Deputy Collectors V E Abbas and K Manoj and staff council secretary M C Shyla were those who arranged this meeting.