By Shafeeq Hudavi, TwoCircles.net,
Kozhikode: It’s a long pending dream come true, not only for her but for the entire Muslim community in Kerala, especially the Muslim women.
Atheela Abdulla goes to work wearing the Hijab. “There is an option to wear or not to wear it. I opted the choice of wearing it. As a civil servant, I am obliged to not raise such question and do justice to my duty and post,” Atheela says.
Atheela Abdulla
Currently, she is posted as the Sub Collector and Additional District Magistrate in Malappuram, the district with second largest Muslim population in the country after Murshidabad in West Bengal.
Born at Valayam near Kuttyadi in Kozhikode district to Abdulla, an NRI businessman, and Biyyathu, a school teacher. Atheela completed her primary and secondary studies in Good Faith School in Kuttyadi. After completing the higher secondary studies from the Muslim Educational Society (MES) residential school at Chathamangalam in Kozhikode, she earned her MBBS degree from MES Medical College, Malapparamba in Malappuram.
But, the career as a doctor was not sufficient to fulfill her obligations to the society. “While it comes to lending service to the society, a doctor is confined with various restrictions. To become an IAS officer means a full time servant with adequate scope of service,” Atheela says.
Moreover, like most of the high school going girls, she always dreamt about a career as a civil servant with recognition. It was easier said than done. The challenge was not just the studies. Married, with two daughters, it was Atheela’s family, especially her in-laws, who helped her realize her dream. But what drove the family to help her accomplish her desire to become an IAS officer?
Her mother-in-law, Thahira, a retired school teacher, lent her support to Atheela with a “desire to draw Muslim girls towards civil service.”
“Our daughter-in-law has earned her place. This achievement might help in drawing more Muslim girls to civil services,” Thahira says.
Atheela’s husband Dr Rabeeh is pursuing his post graduation in medicine at Pariyaram Cooperative Medical College.
So, with hard work, burning the proverbial mid-night oil, Atheela became the IAS officer of Kerala cadre in 2012. She was appointed as the sub-collector trainee in Kannur district of Northern Kerala in 2013.
During the training period, her efforts to uplift the society received accolades as she initiated various schemes meant for child welfare. While it comes to discharging her duty as a civil servant, the doctor-turned-civil servant dreams of ensuring better service for the common men in different departments of the government. “One of my prime priority is to develop my office as friendly as possible for all who approach it for various purposes. I often come through several beneficiaries, who fail to get satisfying answers while approaching the government offices,” she says.
Atheela is trying to wriggle out of being a typical bureaucrats by making her office accessible to everyone and ensuring everyone gets satisfaction to his/her queries. “I try that none should leave my office without getting an answer,” she says.
According to her, environmental issues, which are least considered by the government officials, will be given befitting cognizance. And while it comes to her priority list, the welfare of senior citizen also assumes major consideration.
But it is her vision, her dream as an IAS that she says she will lay stress on the social sector in a bid to ensure the uplifting of the marginalised sector. “The social sector is in dire need for an emancipation.”
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