This IAS officer acted in major films, joined politics after retirement, was first to crack UPSC in…, he was…

IAS K Shivram success story: While civil servants are usually known for their academic laurels and bureaucratic achievements, a few multi-talented also earn fame across diverse worlds, including movies and politics. One such remarkable individual was IAS K Shivram, who scripted history by being the first to crack the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE), became an actor, and acted in major Kannada films while still in service.

Who was IAS K Shivram?

Born in a modest family in Uragalli village in Karnataka’s Ramanagara district, Shivaramu Kempaiah, popularly known as known by K. Shivram, completed his early education in his native village, and later attended high school at the Malleshwaram Government School in Bengaluru.

After his schooling, Shviram completed a typing and shorthand course in English and Kannada, which landed him the job of a police reporter in the Crime Investigation Department (C.I.D) of the Karnataka Police. However, young Shivram yearned for more, and continued his studies while in service, earning his BA degree from V. V. Puram Evening College of Arts & Commerce, and later an MA degree from the open university of Mysore in 1982.

How K Shivram became first to clear UPSC in Kannada?

In 1985, Shivram cleared the Karnataka Administrative Service (K.A.S.) exam and was selected as the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). A year later, he secured the first rank in the K.A.S examination among the Scheduled Caste community, and was selected as the Assistant Commissioner of police (ACP).

But, K Shivram wanted to achieve more, and took the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE),  becoming the first to clear the tough exam in Kannada language, thus achieving his childhood dream of becoming an IAS officer.

K Shivram’s tryst with cinema and politics

After achieving the historic milestone, IAS K Shivram served in several top positions during his tenure, but apart from civil services, his passion also extended to Kannada cinema, which drove him to become an actor, appearing in his first film, ‘Baa Nalle Madhuchandrake’, in 1993.

Over the years, Shivram gave powerful performances in several hit films such as Vasantha Kavya, Sangliyana Part–3, Khalanayaka, Yarige Beda Duddu, Game For Love, Naaga, O Prema Devathe, and Tiger.

After his retirement, K Shivram essentially bid goodbye to his film career, and started a new chapter in his life by entering politics. Shivram began his political career by joining the Congress in 2013, then shifting to the Janata Dal (Secular) in 2014, and ultimately joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2016, where he became a member of its state executive committee.

IAS K Shivram passed away in February 2024 at the age of 70, leaving behind a rich legacy that ranges from bureaucracy to cinema and politics.

News