IAS 2nd rank holder from J&K wants to change perception about state

The second rank holder in the 2015 Indian Administrative Service exam from Jammu & Kashmir Athar Amir Ul Shafi Khan wants to change the perception about his state in the rest of the country.

''When we talk about Kashmir, we only think about untoward incidents...there is a need to change this perception,” Athar, who is undergoing training at the Indian Railways Institute of Transport Management in Lucknow, said.

Khan was selected in the IAS exam in 2014 but his ranking was low and had been offered the Indian Railway Traffic Service. He said he wrote the exam again in 2015 to improve on his 560 ranking.

Khan, who hails from Devipora village, 60 km from Srinagar in Mattan area of South Kashmir's Anantnag district, told Deccan Herald, ''Jammu & Kashmir is not only endowed with naturally beauty but also is culturally very rich,'' he said.

Khan (23), who is the youngest candidate from Kashmir to crack the prestigious examination, stressed on the need to rope in youths from the state in the process of development.

Goals

Khan, who is IIT-Roorkee alumni, said his priority as a civil servant would to be ensure he was ''accessible'' to citizens. After his schooling from Iqbal Memorial Institute, Anantnag, Khan passed his 12th examination from Tyndale Biscoe, Srinagar in 2009.

“I have opted for Jammu and Kashmir cadre. I will be happy in case I get chance to work there. I think there is a lot of scope to fulfil aspirations of people of my state,” he said.

Khan’s elated father Mohammed Shafi, who teaches economics at the Government Higher Secondary school in Anantnag, said, “The best moment in a father’s life is when he is known for his children’s feats and today my son has given me this happiness."

Dr Shah Faesal had created history in 2010 by becoming the first Kashmiri to top the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam.

Congratulating Khan, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said she is sure his feat will inspire many other youngsters. “There is no dearth of talent in our state which Athar has proved today. Many congratulations for having successfully cleared the exams with flying colours and my best wishes as you start your journey to serve the people,” she said in her message.