Ch. Rashid Azam Inqlabi
“Zara num ho to ye mitti badi zarkhez hai saaqi…”- Allama Iqbal
In a moment that will be etched in the golden chronicles of Jammu and Kashmir’s tribal history, Iram Choudhury has blazed a trail of brilliance-shattering records and stereotypes alike. Securing an astonishing 40th All India Rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025, she now holds the highest position ever attained by a Gujjar candidate from the Union Territory.
Hailing from the scenic village of Leeran in Rajouri, Iram has not only excelled but has elevated the dreams of an entire generation. If she chooses the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), she could become the first-ever Gujjar girl from Jammu & Kashmir to represent India on foreign soil-a possibility that would write a new chapter in the tribal narrative of the region.
A Legacy of Daughters Who Dared
Before her, three brave daughters from Jammu & Kashmir had made their mark in the civil services: Ravida Salam, the first Gujjar woman to crack the UPSC; Dr. Rehana Bashir, who rose to the elite Indian Administrative Service; and Seerat Baji, who added to the legacy in 2023. But with Iram’s success, the threshold of aspiration has been lifted higher.
“Parwaaz hai dono ki issi ek fiza mein,
Kargas ka jahan aur hai, shaheen ka jahan aur.” – Allama Iqbal
From Kachahri to Classroom
Iram comes from a family rooted in public service and tribal justice. Her grandfather, Chowdhury Feroze, was a known figure in traditional Jirga-Kachahri forums, advocating justice with wisdom and dignity.
Her father, Nisar Hussain, and mother, Shamim Akhter, provided the moral compass and emotional strength that carried Iram through storms of competition. Shamim, a homemaker, nurtured not just a family, but a dream. Her siblings-Huma Nisar Lodhi and Bilal Lodhi-inspired by her journey, are now preparing to follow her.
After completing her MBBS from Government Medical College, Jammu (2018), Iram first cracked the Civil Services in 2022, earning AIR 852 and joining the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS). But she knew her mission wasn’t complete. With renewed dedication and spiritual resolve, she returned to the battlefield in 2025-this time, soaring among the top 50 in the nation.
“Woh manzil kya jo asaani se mil jaaye,
Maza toh tab hai jab har qadam pe imtihaan ho.”
IAS or IFS: A Choice Laden with Dreams
Her current rank opens doors to both IAS and IFS, two of the most sought-after wings of the bureaucracy. The community watches in anticipation-not just for her decision, but for what it symbolizes. An IAS officer can serve her homeland directly, helping reform policies and uplift tribal communities. An IFS officer, on the other hand, would represent not just a nation, but a Gujjar girl from the mountains of Rajouri on the global stage.
“Utho meri duniya ke ghareebon ko jaga do,
Kaakh-e-umra ke dar-o-deewar hila do…”- Iqbal
In Iram, young girls from the remotest hamlets-be it Kehora or Khevra-see not only a topper, but a torchbearer. She is the living proof that education, determination, and dreams can pierce even the most entrenched ceilings.
Her victory is not just personal. It is generational. It is tribal. It is poetic.
“Main akela hi chala tha janib-e-manzil,
Magar log saath aate gaye aur kaarvan banta gaya.” – Majrooh Sultanpuri
As we celebrate her unprecedented success, let us also prepare the soil for many more Iram Choudhurys to bloom. Let every village in Jammu & Kashmir become a cradle of courage, where daughters are not just raised, but encouraged to rise.
May her story be told in every tribal household, not as a fairy tale, but as a map to follow.
(The author is a former Deputy Commissioner and currently Advocate at the Jammu and Kashmir High Court)
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