The Village Boy Who Dreamed Big: Armstrong Pame’s Journey to become an IAS Officer

February 11, 2024

3 Minutes

Picture Credits: Zee News

Introduction 

Meet Armstrong Pame, the boy with big dreams who grew up in a small village. He calls himself ‘the simple village boy’ because his desire to bring positive changes in his village always motivated him. The boy who borrowed uniforms and books for school and went on to secure All India Rank 14 in UPSC CSE 2009, Armstrong Pame’s story shows us that no matter where you come from, you can do great things. 

Life as an IAS Officer

Being an IAS Officer is special. Armstrong tells us that this job gives him a decent salary to look after his family and a comfortable house to live in. However, the best part of his job isn’t just about what he gets; it’s about what he can do for others. With his position, Armstrong has a big chance to help people and make things better. He believes that if he does his job well, people will respect and remember him for the good he’s done. It’s all about using this opportunity to make a positive change in the world.  

Balancing Work and Home

He gets up early at 6:30 am to run. After he eats breakfast, he goes to work from 9:30 or 10:00 am and comes home at 7:00 pm. This means he only has two hours to spend with his kids each day. He remembers when he was posted in his hometown, he would see his mother only for three hours and sometimes only during breakfast. On weekends, he takes the opportunity to reach out to more people through talk shows. He likes to meet young people who have dreams in their eyes and want to bring positive changes in society.  

A Tough Decision

Armstrong tells a story about two boys in 12th grade who hurt female students so badly that the girls were admitted to the hospital. The boys’ parents asked Armstrong not to rusticate them from school. But Armstrong, who was in charge of the school, decided to expel the boys. Later, he felt sorry about this because after they were expelled, the boys chose not to continue their education.

Dreams as an IAS Officer

Armstrong still has a lot he wants to do as an IAS Officer. He believes there are many chances in our country to make things better. Armstrong saw many children not going to school and playing in the mud during a visit to Allahabad (now Payagraj). This made him want to work even harder to help kids learn. He also helped get important medical equipment such as ventilators, oxygen concentrators, etc. for hospitals by coordinating with the district magistrate of northeastern states who already had these ICU equipment. He still wants to do more, especially to help children get a good education.

Advice to his Younger Self

If Armstrong could talk to himself when he was younger, he’d say, “You’re strong. Keep doing your best and follow your heart.” Even though he didn’t have much growing up, like new shoes or clothes or even books, he never gave up on his dreams. 

Overcoming the Odds

There is always going to be competition. It is all about how you deal with stress. Before, there were not many resources online to help. Imagine, 10 lakh people take the exam, but only 1000 pass and get through the exam. And out of those, just 180 become IAS officers. It sounds hard, but it is not impossible. Your goal should be to make the world a better place. To make this world a better place you must work hard. Hard work and dedication is the key to passing the exam.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Armstrong Pame's story is a powerful reminder that no matter where you come from, your dreams and hard work can lead you to achieve great things. As an IAS officer, Armstrong has not only improved his family's life but also uses his position to make a positive impact on society, especially in education and healthcare. His journey from a small village to becoming an IAS officer shows that with determination and the right intentions, it's possible to overcome any obstacle and contribute to making the world a better place. Armstrong's advice to never give up and keep pushing forward is a lesson for us all to remember.

Click here to know more about IAS Armstrong Pame.