Adil Lateef
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, May 10: Athar Aamir-ul-Shafi Khan, a 23 year years old youth from South Kashmir’s Anantnag district stood second in Civil Services Examinations, the results of which were declared today while seven other youths from the State passed the exams.
Besides Athar, seven others, who qualified the Civil Services Examinations, included Sheema Qasba Wani, Baseer-ul-Haq, Ruveda Salam, Afaq Giri, Deeba Farhat, Choudhary Yaseen and Ankit Koul.
Sheema is the daughter of former Commissioner of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) while Choudhary Yaseen is nephew of CAPD Minister and PDP leader Choudhary Zulfikar.
Interestingly, all these Civil Services exam crackers excepting Sheema Qasba, had passed the prestigious exam last year also. This year, they had given the exam for upgradation.
Meanwhile, in a proud achievement, Athar Aamir-ul-Shafi Khan, 23, from South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, emerged as second topper in 2015 Indian Administrative Services (IAS) examinations, results of which were declared today. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has congratulated Aamir for his brilliant achievement.
Athar Khan, who was among seven qualifiers of IAS 2014 examination from Kashmir, secured the second place in the prestigious examinations. A total of 1,078 candidates cleared the UPSC exam — 499 from the general category, 314 from the other backward classes, 176 from the Scheduled Castes and 89 from the Scheduled Tribes. Delhi-based Tina Dabi topped the test, followed by Athar and and Delhi’s Jasmeet Singh Sandhu.
Hailing from a modest family of Siknar, a remote village, in Devipora hamlet of Mattan area of Anantnag district, Athar completed his earlier schooling from his native village and later was admitted in Iqbal Memorial Institute (IMI) Anantnag from where he qualified 10th examinations. He then joined prestigious Biscoe Memorial School Srinagar and passed his secondary examinations.
Son of a senior lecturer, Mohammad Shafi Khan, Athar cracked almost all major professional entrance examinations in 2009-10 and finally joined IIT Roorkee and completed his Engineering from IIT Himachal Pradesh in July 2014. Athar had up to 2010 passed CET, AIEEE and BITSAT but IITJEE eluded him. He even joined Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu but continued to pursue his IIT dream. As Athar was studying BTech, at the same time, he prepared for civil services and qualified IAS for the first time in 2015. After completing his degree in July 2014, he joined a coaching academy in National Capital.
Athar, who is putting up in Delhi as he after cracking IAS exams for the first time was offered Indian Railway Traffic Services (IRTS), said that he wasn’t expecting second rank but good results compared to last year. The second topper was inspired by 2009 IAS topper, Dr Shah Faesal, who now is Director School Education Kashmir.
In his Anantnag home, his family’s joy has no limits and they want him to serve people of the Kashmir. “I am extremely happy. I want him to serve my own people and work for their welfare. I, from the day one, urged him to work hard and today all this is because of Athar’s hard work. He has made us and entire Valley proud by this achievement,” said his father Amir-ul-Shafi Khan.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti congratulated Athar for having secured the second position in the prestigious IAS 2015 exams. She also lauded the performance of all those who cracked the country’s premier civil services examination from the State.
Admiring Khan for his amazing success, the Chief Minister said she is sure that his feat will inspire many other youngsters to follow suit. “There is no dearth of talent in our State which Athar has proved today. Many congratulations for having successfully cleared the exams with flying colours and my best wishes as you start your journey to serve the people,” she said in her congratulatory message.
Athar’s grandfather, Ghulam Qadir Khan, wants him to be posted as Deputy Commissioner Anantnag “so that he serves his people first”. “Today Athar has made us, our village and our State proud by securing second position in prestigious IAS,” he said. Khan remembers a taunt of one of the village elder’s decade ago for being illiterate but today he is feeling proud as his grandson has achieved major feet. “First time, I answered that taunt when my son became lecturer,” he says proudly.
The 120-year old grandmother of Athar is eager to see her grandson. “There is no trust on life. I want him to come back as soon as possible,” she says as Athar’s house is abuzz with guests and congratulatory phone calls from relatives, friends, politicians and others.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh has congratulated the three toppers of the IAS/ Civil Services Exam 2015,the result of which was declared here today.
In a message to Tina Dabi, Athar Aamir Ul Shafi Khan and Jasmeet Singh Sandhu who stood first, second and third respectively, Dr Jitendra Singh said, in his capacity as a Minister dealing with the Department of Personnel & Training as well as the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, it gives him a special sense of pride to note that all the three toppers represent the hitherto lesser represented sections of society in Civil services, which is an indication that the IAS and Civil Services have finally moved away from being “elite services” as they were generally described earlier.
With Tina hailng from weaker section of society, Aamir hailing from Jammu & Kashmir and Jasmeet Singh belonging to minority community, he said, the top brass of future civil services servants will truly represent the aspirations of the average common man of this country. This will also go a long way in achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to provide citizen centric governance through civil servants who actually represent the common citizen of India, he added.
Working president National Conference and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also felicitated the candidates from Jammu and Kashmir for their phenomenal success in Civil Services Examination.
“I am particularly delighted over the phenomenal success of Athar Aamir Ul Shafi Khan, who has got second rank in the results declared today”, Omar said while conveying his good wishes to Athar and others.
He hoped that success of candidates from Jammu and Kashmir will inspire others to participate in such coveted exams in a big way and make their mark.
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