Renu Raj earned laurels for Kerala when she topped the civil service exams with a second rank in 2015, in her first attempt. The IAS officer yet again made her home state proud by taking an uncompromising stand in the face of organised adversity.
Renu Raj, the sub-collector of Devikulam which includes the Munnar area, was in the news last week when she squared up to local leaders during a clean-up drive against encroachments and illegal construction. Local leaders, led by a CPI(M) MLA, blocked a team of officials from the revenue department that was dispatched to
stop the construction of an industrial centre on the banks of the Muthirapuzha river. The building had lacked the necessary authorisation.
The legislator, S. Rajendran, intimidated the revenue officials and showered abuses on the sub-collector. Renu Raj refused to buck under pressure and submitted a report before the Kerala High Court. Support came in from many quarters for the IAS officer. Even her boss, revenue minister E. Chandrasekharan, came out in her defence.
And eventually, Rajendran was forced to express regret at his outburst as his party colleagues refused to stand by him.
Doctor-turned-IAS officer
But the incident has only made the young IAS officer stronger. “I have no notion of changing the society overnight,” Renu Raj had said in an interview earlier. “I can guarantee you one thing. Nobody will have to approach me for a second time if they have a genuine demand."
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Renu Raj gave a shot at the civil services after completing the MBBS in the Kottayam Medical College. She is the daughter of V.N. Latha and Rajakumaran Nair, a retired DTO in the KSRTC. Renu Raj's parents always wanted her to be a doctor, but they were thrilled when she raised the bar and became a civil servant in 2015.
“Had she remained a doctor, she could have helped only those patients who came to her. As an IAS officer, she can help lakhs of people,” Renu Raj's father had told the media back in 2015.
Renu Raj was a high school student when she asked her father to take her to meet an IAS officer. Rajakumaran Nair took her along to visit then Kottayam collector Mini Antony. The officer was amused by the curiosity of the girl who wanted to know more about the service. She talked to her at length, cleared her doubts and energised her with a comment that she could also be an IAS officer.
Despite having a medical degree, Renu Raj chose Malayalam as her optional subject for the civil service exam. She counts O.V. Vijayan, Sugathakumari and O.N.V. Kurup as her favourite authors.
She also idolises danseuse Padma Subramaniam. Renu Raj has also trained in classical dance and scored prizes at school-level competitions. She still practises dance to keep her fit and to relax.