The candidates from Srinagar to remote Kishtwar and Poonch to Reasi, displaying a never-say-die attitude, made the terror-plagued state proud by cracked the civil services.
More than 15 candidates from the strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir have cracked the civil services competitive examinations this year. One of them is among the first 50 toppers and two others are among the first 100 merit-holders in the country.
The candidates from Srinagar to remote Kishtwar and Poonch to Reasi, displaying a never-say-die attitude, made the terror-plagued state proud by cracked the civil services.
Civil engineer Abhishek Sharma, 24, from Kishtwar, had kept the UPSC exams a top secret since he had missed qualifying the last two times by a whisker, leaving his friends and well-wishers upset. In 2017, Sharma decided not to tell anyone outside his immediate family about the exams and interviews. Until he earned the 69th rank in the all-India merit list.
"It is a festive mood at my home. I am still on my way, but they are already celebrating. Except close family members, no one in the locality knew I was appearing for the interview. In my last two attempts I reached the interview stage but could no make it," Sharma told DNA.
Fazlul Haseeb, 26, did not lose heart when he failed to qualify the prelims in his last two attempts. It was an emotional setback to him and his parents, given his hard work. For Haseeb, giving up was not the option. Come 2018, Haseeb not only cracked the exam but notched the 36th rank. In the apple-rich town of Sopore, Haseeb had taken Urdu literature as the optional subject for UPSC.
"I was fine but my parents were very emotional when they heard I had cracked it," said Haseeb.
Jammu and Kashmir has a small fraction of officers in the civil services. Medical and engineering are still the favoured career choices among youth.
Amir Bashir of Mendhar-Poonch had qualified civil services last year but was not satisfied with his 1087 rank. An assistant director in the Ministry of Defence, Amir decided to reappear for the exams. He ranked 843rd this time.
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