The uneasy situation spawned by the Centre’s contentious moves of August 5 last year with regard to Jammu and Kashmir’s special status failed to deter the spirit of, at least, 16 IAS aspirants from the erstwhile state.
Among them is Abhishek Augustsya of Jammu. He is ranked at 38, and is at the top of the list of the successful candidates from J&K.
Ausustsya who is presently undergoing probation at National Academy of Audit and Accounts in Shimla said in an interview that he was happy to know that he has cracked the civil service examination. He said it was his fifth attempt since 2015. He did his schooling from DAV School in the border town of Ranbir Singh Pura near Jammu obtained a degree in computer sciences from NIT Srinagar.
A 23-year-old Nadia Beigh, who has completed her bachelors in economics from Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia university, is from frontier district of Kupwara Nadia Beigh has cracked the civil services examination. She is ranked 350 and is happy with her choice of choosing the civil services as a best career option.
This was her second attempt. “In 2018 exams, I did not even qualify preliminary exams but that only strengthened my resolve to join the administrative services,” said Beigh, who completed her grade 12 from a government school in her village. She is also the first person in her village to clear UPSC exams.
“As a child, I was influenced by Michelle Obama and how the first African-American first lady had fought racism,” said Beigh, who mostly relied on self-study but took coaching for optional subjects.
Beigh, who returned to Kashmir in May this year, recalled how internet services and phone lines snapped soon after revocation of Article 370 last year. “I couldn’t get in touch with my parents for 25 days… But Kashmir is a part of India and that’s the future of the valley. In fact, I would have loved to work in J&K but my rank may not allow me to do that,” said Beigh.
Among the other candidates from J&K who have cracked the UPSC civil service exam-2019, the result of which was declared on Tuesday are two more residents of Jammu Sunny Gupta (148) and Dev Ahuti (177). The others are Parth Gupta (240), Asrar Ahmad Kitchloo (248), Asif Yousuf Tantray (328), Namgyal Angmo (323), Aftab Rasool (412) from Trehgam area of Kupwara, Sabzar Ahmad Ganie (628), a resident of Gheeboom village of Kokernag in Anantnag district, Majid Iqbal Khan (638), from Shangus (Anantnag) and Stanzin Wangyal (716), Rayees Hussain (747), Mohammed Nawas Sharaf Uddin Sharafuddin (778), and Syed Junaid Adil (822) from Ladakh.
BJP’s J&K unit congratulated UPSC qualifiers from the erstwhile state and urged them to work for the peace and progress in the region. Party’s state general secretary (Org), Ashok Koul while extending warm greetings to all the successful candidates said, “More than 15 people have qualified UPSC exams in J&K and it is a pride movement for us.”
