No dream too ambitious, no goal too distant: Auto driver's daughter is Maharashtra's first Muslim woman IAS officer

Renowned for registering the highest number of farmer suicides, the dry and barren Yawatmal district of Vidarbha in Maharashtra has reason to celebrate now. It has produced the state's first Muslim lady IAS officer. Adiba Anam, daughter of an auto driver, is the state's first Muslim woman IAS officer to join the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) ranks after securing the 142 All India Rank in the Union Public Service Commission this year.

Although Ashfaq Sheikh (Adiba's father) was not fortunate enough to carry on his studies further due to circumstances, which forced him to leave in tenth standard, he made a resolve that his daughter would not go through the same thing. He provided Adiba with every kind of facility and assistance, an intelligent student since childhood.

Two of Adiba's younger brothers are also on her footsteps. After scoring 98% in 10th standard and 97% in science stream in 12th standard, Adiba left Yawatmal and shifted to Pune, where she graduated in Mathematics.

Most of the students are not sure of their future after graduation. But my mind was set on civil service exams from Class 12 onwards. I knew what I desired and did whatever I had to become it. My maternal uncle, secretary to Seva NGO, introduced me to IAS officers, and out of curiosity, an interest was born. I made IAS a target and worked night and day towards it," she said.".

She enlightened that the route to success wasn't simple; it contained plenty of obstacles as well as roadblocks, yet she was well prepared to move forward towards fulfilling her IAS dream.

Once I had graduated, I started studying for civil service exams. My first two attempts were unsuccessful, but I never lost hope. In the second attempt, I reached the interview stage but did not make it to UPSC's final select list. I considered it a challenge and pledged to study harder," explained Adiba.

"Studying is difficult to study, especially for girls in societies dominated by men like Muslim, but my parents encouraged me. I owe a great debt to my mother, who was an immense source of strength and support to me. The society was against girls going for higher studies, but my father told me not to worry about society, and focus on the destination. My parents never let the pressure of society even approach me," she said.

Adiba said she has an extremely modest economic background. "As a auto driver, it was a problem for my father to fund my education expenses. But he would not let the resource constraint hold back his children. It was a long-drawn fight, but the parental pressure constantly overcame obstacles," she stated.

IAS is the stepping stone to serving society. "My area of interest will be to work among the underprivileged, especially girls. I want to work in the education and health sector," Adiba said.

Leading civil service aspirants never to give up, she states that failures in life occur but one must learn from them and emerge stronger. "Failures are part of life. We have to learn from our mistakes and make fresh attempts with more corrective measures," she further added.