Pallavi Sharma
SHIMLA/HAMIRPUR
Who exactly is Gandharva Rathore, the 35-year-old IAS officer handpicked by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to govern Hamirpur — his home district — nearly two years before the next Assembly elections?
Is she a Himachali insider or an accomplished outsider from Rajasthan? And what message does her appointment send at a time when administrative signalling matters as much as policy delivery?
These questions are swirling after the Himachal Pradesh government ordered a key administrative reshuffle ahead of the panchayat elections, transferring eight IAS and five HAS officers. At the centre of attention is Gandharva Rathore, a 2015-batch IAS officer, who has been posted as Deputy Commissioner of Hamirpur — one of the most politically sensitive districts of the state and the Chief Minister’s bastion.
The choice is striking not just because of the timing but also because Rathore is among the youngest officers to hold the DC’s charge in Himachal.
Rajasthan roots, national journey
Despite speculation in political and bureaucratic circles, Gandharva Rathore is not from Himachal Pradesh. She hails from Jaipur, Rajasthan. Her academic journey is as formidable as her administrative rise. She completed her schooling in Jaipur before moving to Delhi University, where she graduated from the prestigious Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) in 2013. She went on to complete her MCom in 2015.
Soon after post-graduation, Rathore decided to return home to prepare for the Civil Services Examination, a decision that would define her career. In her second attempt, she cracked the UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2015, securing an impressive All India Rank of 93. She was allocated the IAS.
What sets her story apart in the fiercely competitive UPSC ecosystem is her unconventional preparation style. Rathore did not rely on expensive coaching institutes or rigid, quantified study schedules. “People won’t believe that I used to watch one movie per day and always dedicated myself for one hour of physical exercise,” she has said in earlier interactions. “If I had to sleep, I slept without bothering much, but when I studied, I studied without bothering about time.”
Her success mantra
Her mantra, summed up in her own words — “Success fights ever on the side of a dedicated person” — has made her something of an inspiration among civil services aspirants.
Rathore has often demystified the UPSC examination for aspirants, stressing that those who clear it are ordinary people with extraordinary discipline. After completing her MCom, she chose to stay at home and prepare, highlighting the importance of family support.
“At home, you don’t need to care about food, washing clothes and other such things. Your family takes care of everything while you can sincerely work towards your goal,” she once said. “People who crack UPSC are not aliens. They are very common people.”
In a country where millions of aspirants attempt one of the world’s toughest examinations each year, her journey resonates as much for its simplicity as for its success.
Gandharva Rathore’s posting to Hamirpur is being closely watched for its political undertones. Hamirpur is not just any district but the Chief Minister’s home turf and a traditional power centre in Himachal’s politics.
Former CM PK Dhumal and his son Anurag Thakur, a former Union minister, also belong to Hamirpur. With Assembly elections due in about two years, the appointment of a young, dynamic and professionally accomplished officer is being seen as a move aimed at sharpening governance delivery and administrative transparency at the grassroots.
