By Kashif-ul-Huda
Indian Civil Services Exam is one of the most difficult exams to crack. It requires years of committed preparation. Candidates who are successful in the written exam are then called for interviews; the intriguing questions asked can even make the best prepared minds scratch their heads.
The Muslim share has been 3-4% for last few years, much below their population share of 13%. Every Muslim success is celebrated and the successful candidate considered role models for young students.
A Muslim family in Kerala has given Indian Muslims an opportunity to celebrate three times. It’s very rare that a family will see three of their children qualify for civil services exams. Father S. Abu and mother P. K. Sulekha are proud parent today, their youngest daughter Shainamol A was ranked 16th in the recently released civil services exam results.
Shainamol A, post graduate in Economics, followed her sister Shaila and brother Akbar A in the path to civil services. Shaila, also a post graduate in Economics, is a 2002 batch of Indian Civil Services and is now posted in Maharashtra. Akbar A, a law graduated, found his name in the list of 2004 and joined Indian Police Service (IPS) and is now posted in Kerala.
Shainamol while talking to TwoCircles.net called it a grace of God and attributed the success to her hard work. Having her siblings in civil services motivated her to try for civil services exam.
A graduate of Union Christian College in Aluva in Kerala, Shainamol wants to join civil services so that she can help the community that she will be serving. After retirement she wants to look back to her years of service with satisfaction.
Father Abu is all praise for his three children, crediting their determination, hard work and constant prayers. He thanked Allah for letting his children reap the benefit of their hard work.
Talking about the Muslim community of India he said that slowly this realization is setting in that advancement in social and economic fields can come through education.
Mr. Abu, advising parents, said that children should be given ample opportunity for studies, a congenial atmosphere at home, time and basic amenities.
The future belongs to young people and therefore TwoCircles.net asked Shainamol to suggest steps that the Indian Muslim community can take to get rid of its backwardness. She suggested that attitude of the community needs to change. More emphasis should be given on education and employment generation programmes.