VARANASI: Govt chauffeur Neera Ram has taken senior officials around for over a quarter-century. Time to shift gears now and drive Priyanka Chaudhary, his daughter who has just cleared UPSC’s civil service exams.“It will be an honour to drive my daughter’s vehicle,” Ram said, his voice quivering with pride at the achievement of his daughter’s 79th rank in the 2025 exam.Greetings pour in thick and fast at the family’s home in Gaura Khas village of Ghazipur district’s Jakhania, masking Ram’s longand chequered journey that started as a Class-IV employee in 1997. Priyanka’s success is a culmination of the dreams he and his family wove together.The ride had not been smooth all the way for the family in recent times. “Before Priyanka made the family’s dream came true, we lost our only brother, Ritesh, and our mother Shanti Devi in the past year,” said Priti,Priyanka’s elder sister.This is not the first time Priyanka, a BHU alumnus, hit the bullseye. She had qualified as a GST inspector only last Dec and was in training when the UPSC results came. “Priyanka was a standout student since childhood,” said Priti, who has herself cleared govt exams for teachers’ recruitment.Priyanka called home Saturday and spoke about her UPSC success. She arrived in her village on Sunday to a grand welcome but the achiever declined to speak on her feat. “All of us missed our mother and brother,” said Priti, trying to explain her sibling’s reticence amid acclaim.
