Lucknow, 22 April :“Whatever I am today is due to my parents’ blessings and my 15 years of education at CMS which honed my abilities and moulded my personality and values” said the All India IAS Topper, alumnus of CMS Aliganj 1 Campus, Aditya Srivastava, while addressing a press conference held at CMS Kanpur Road Auditorium today. Aditya was returning to his home town after his resounding success in the prestigious Civil Services Exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. Speaking further, Aditya said CMS’s early grounding laid his foundations and its climate of encouragement, celebration of scholarship, philosophy of Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam, and its efforts for a rounded education were the essential elements that shaped his future success. Inspirational thoughts of Dr Jagdish Gandhi filled me with self-confidence and a consciousness of Almighty God. Aditya said that if, in future, he got a chance to plan and implement the policies of the government, and then I would like to work in the direction of health and child welfare policy.

Aditya was accorded a grand welcome by CMS students and teachers at Lucknow Airport and driven in a Victory Parade to the school’s Kanpur Road auditorium in a flower-decked open jeep. Greeted by distinguished citizens and cheering crowds, Aditya appeared smiling and elated on this momentous occasion.

Aditya Srivastavs topped the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Exam with All India Rank 1 and brought honour to the city of Lucknow and also to his Alma mater, where he did his entire schooling from pre-primary to grade 12. After studying 15 years at CMS, he did his B.Tech at IIT Kanpur. Last year Aditya was selected in the civil services with AIR 236 but to better his rank, he re-sat the exam again and secured All India Rank 1 this time, realizing his dream of serving society in a most distinguished capacity.

Aditya’s parents were euphoric as they talked about Aditya’s journey and expressed their gratitude to CMS for its excellent training over 15 years, and they gave fulsome credit to the inspiration of late Dr Jagdish Gandhi and the diligence of the school’s Principal and teachers for being the guiding lights of Aditya. His mother, Mrs Abha Srivastava said that today she is reminded to the day when her son Aditya topped at Inter-Campus level and she was honoured by CMS by weighing in fruits and flowers. This had a very positive effect on Aditya’s mind and he was motivated to work even harder.

CMS Manager, Prof. Geeta Gandhi Kingdon said that the whole of CMS is electrified by Aditya’s stupendous achievement. We have a tradition of superlative achievements and in the past 12 years, 77 bright CMS students have made it to the UPSC Civil Services. Prof. Geeta Gandhi Kingdon expressed her gratitude towards the Principals who had nurtured Aditya during his school years namely, Mrs Gauri Khanna, Mrs Jyoti Kashyap, Mrs Shivani Singh and the teachers who had taught him so diligently, working hard for his progress. On this occasion, Mrs Susmita Ghose, Head Quality Assurance and Innovations Department, CMS; Mrs Jyoti Kashyap, Senior Principal, CMS Aliganj I, and Mrs Shivani Singh, Principal, congratulated and wished Aditya all the best for future.