IAS Officer Chandni Chandran: On Tuesday, June 29, IAS officer Chandni Chandran recalled how in 2016, a newspaper publication printed a picture of her with her then boyfriend, now husband, Arun Sudarsan.
At that time, she was one of the many UPSC aspirants and could not clear her examination. She feared that the picture would lead to "uncomfortable conversations" at home.
Taking to her Twitter handle, IAS officer, Chandni Chandran May 10, 2016.Results of Civil Service Exam 2015 was expected to be out & I was roaming with @mrarunsudarsan to not stress over it. I didn't make it. Next day newspapers were filled with pics of toppers & @timesofindia published this pic of us! Arun called ToI & complained (1/3) pic.twitter.com/mYaemtmm5t
May 10, 2016.Results of Civil Service Exam 2015 was expected to be out & I was roaming with @mrarunsudarsan to not stress over it. I didn't make it. Next day newspapers were filled with pics of toppers & @timesofindia published this pic of us! Arun called ToI & complained (1/3) pic.twitter.com/mYaemtmm5t
— Chandni Chandran (@chandni_ias) June 29, 2021
She continued, "I took it as a sign that my photo was destined to be there in the paper filled with UPSC toppers and that I can happily walk towards any destination with someone holding an umbrella and looking out for me with love unbound when I take each step."
Chandran then said that she got married to Sudarsan after she became an IAS officer. Recently, she remembered about the picture. Sudarsan identified and contacted the photographer. She mentioned the photographer in her tweet and thanked him for sending them a copy of the picture. The officer said that he remembered the photograph because of the complaint.
I made it & we got married❣️ Recently I was remnicising about this photo and @mrarunsudarsan being a darling identified and contacted the photographer.@shutterbugnair remembered the photo because of the complaint and graciously sent us the copy. Can't thank you enough😊. (3/3)
— Chandni Chandran (@chandni_ias) June 29, 2021
The photographer, Rakesh Nair said that he never knew that the picture had so much of a backstory. Getting to know it after all these years was a "pure bliss". Chandran replied saying that he has a "heart of gold" because he went through the trouble of finding a picture that was five years old and that too for people who complained against him.
Thank you so much for the click and wishes ☺️ can't believe you went through the trouble of finding this 5 year old photo for people who complained against it! You have a heart of gold.
— Chandni Chandran (@chandni_ias) June 29, 2021
To a comment now deleted by the author, Chandran replied, "Nothing illegal! Just that such pics create uncomfortable conversations at home."
Nothing illegal! Just that such pics create uncomfortable conversations at home 😁
— Chandni Chandran (@chandni_ias) June 29, 2021
This heartwarming story of officer Chandran went viral on the microblogging site with people pouring in their love for it.
Image credits: NDTV