‘I was foolish to believe…’: Retired IAS officer Divya Mittal writes about serving rural India; social media reacts

Divya Mittal, a retired IAS officer from the 2013 batch of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, has shared her story of serving rural India on social media. Mittal, who studied at IIT Delhi and IIM Bangalore before moving to London, resigned from her position as district magistrate in Mirzapur on August 30 without offering a specific reason. However, her farewell post revealed that her time in rural India left her with a deep sense of incompleteness and growing debt to the people she served.

Mittal believed that her education and confidence came from India, and returning home was a way of repaying her obligation. During her 13-year career, she served as DM in Sant Kabir Nagar, Mirzapur, and Deoria, handling various files on land, disability support, farming, and basic public services. Each case represented someone waiting for dignity, and Mittal realized that supporting what is right is not optional - it is a duty.

One of the most emotional moments of her career was when she helped bring clean water to Lahuria Dah, a remote village in Mirzapur. Despite the village's efforts, clean water had remained out of reach due to the hill geography for decades. When Mittal saw the elderly mother of the village touch her head in gratitude, she felt a profound sense of fulfillment. Mittal wrote, "I was foolish to believe that I had come to give something. The truth is that I received the most. My debt to the people only continued growing."

Social media reacted emotionally to Mittal's post, praising her compassionate and courageous service. Many users expressed their appreciation for her dedication and questioned her decision to leave, suggesting that she could have contributed more to society as an officer. Mittal responded by emphasizing that the role never defined her identity and that her compassion, courage, and duty remained paramount within the administrative system. She concluded her post by reaffirming her commitment to the dream given to her by India's soil.