Meet the newly recruited young Muslim IAS officers

New Delhi, August 31: They are very young, brimming with full energy and fresh ideas, want to do something for the country and the community. This year 30 Muslims cracked Civil Services exam – some of them were felicitated by Zakat Foundation of India here at India Islamic Cultural Centre on 29^th August 2013. Dr. Syed Zafar Mahmood, former civil servant, has made hard efforts in last few years through the Zakat Foundation of India to increase the presence of Muslims in the civil services. His efforts were well applauded by eminent personalities present at the felicitation program. Former Delhi High Court chief Justice Rajendar Sachar, former secretary, Petroleum Ministry, Mr. HK Khan and former IFS, Mr. Ishrat Aziz were all praise for Mr. Mahmood. They congratulated the young civil servants and wished them their bright career. One by one, seven successful fellows of Zakat Foundation came up to the dais and thanked Mr Mahmood and Zakat Foundation generously for the valuable support. They also tried to inspire the new batch of fellows preparing for the civil services. On the sidelines of the program, Muslim Mirror interacted with some of the young civil servants to know their mind – what they want to do for the country and the community and how they are going to bring change to one of the most corrupt bureaucratic system of the world.   Anees C (Kerala) Who would you like to give credit for your success? Thank you very much for wishes from Muslim Mirror. I have seen your website, you are doing wonderful job. I would like to give credit for my success to Allah Almighty first of all, and the family who supported me throughout these years, and the community which has done lots including the Zakat Foundation of India, the Hamdard Study Circle.   Why did you decide to opt for civil services? Civil Services was my childhood ambition. My father was working in a university. He used to advise me regarding the backlog of Muslims in services including civil services, so it was a childhood ambition and gradually the ambition grew along the time.   Ours is one of the most corrupt bureaucratic systems in the world. As a young civil servant, what’s your plan, how are you going to change it? As the young generation is going up, we are getting a change also. And being a Muslim, we will have to be a Muslim civil servant – that is a faithful and honest officer.   Every year many Muslim youths from Kerala are getting selected for civil services. How do you think this is going to change the lot of the community in Kerala? Kerala Muslim community is more developed in education because their political system is also very strong. Many people are getting educated. Now there is 100% education including among Muslims. This is benefitting their ratio in civil services also. And when more people are joining it the community will grow more.   Naveed Trumboo (Kashmir) Who would you like to give credit for this success? First I thank the Almighty who gave me the success. My parents who were all support for me all the way; during the one and half years of preparation, they encouraged me and inspired me and fulfilled all my requirements, my sister was also very supportive. My teachers, guides and counsellors all supported me. I thank all of them.   For last some years, many youths from Kashmir are clearing Civil Services. Couple of years ago, Shah Faisal from the valley had topped the civil services exam. How do you see at the development? It is a very positive development. It is good that youths from Kashmir, who were always interested in education, are showing keen interest in civil services. They are also getting success. This year as many as 11 youths from Kashmir cracked the civil services. The positive message from this development that goes to the entire Muslim community and the entire country is that Kashmiris are doing excellent in education also and want to make improvements in the system.   Waseem Akram (Uttar Pradesh) You have got success thrice in three years in civil services – every year improving your rank. You come from Moradabad — one of the most backward Muslim districts in Uttar Pradesh. How do you see your success for the community, for Moradabad and you? It is an encouraging sign. Lots of fellow community members are starting planning. Many of them have come to Delhi to start preparation for the civil services. Some of them have even qualified the recent prelims. Let’s see what happens. But it has been an encouraging wave for them. They are feeling that in governance and administration there is a place for them. But earlier there was no such thinking in them. They always looked themselves as outsider. You are an engineering graduate from Jamia Millia Islamia. What prompted you to opt for civil services? I had been in contact with some of the aspiring civil servants preparing. I had the privilege of living nearby the Hamdard Study Circle. I would meet some of the candidates who were preparing for civil services. I was mainly attracted by the exposure and experience they were getting. So I thought why not I and decided to go ahead. After engineering, my original plan was to go abroad for higher studies.But during recession my corporate bank scholarship was scuttled then i had to look for some other alternative.   As a young civil servant, how are you going to bring changes in the corrupt bureaucratic system of the country? If the constitution and laws already existing in place are applied in true letter and spirit, there are lots of chances of improvement. The system itself can be reformed from within. There is no requirement that we overthrow it entirely by revolution or some movement. The system has provision to weed out bad things from them. But what we need is effective implementation of the policies being formulated and a dedicated cadre of officers.   Sayyid Rabbi Hashmi (Kerala) I am very thankful for my teachers, friends and family for their support. Zakat Foundation of India provided us best available coaching and best bank of faculties and scholars in my preparation for interview. They have done a good job and in my preparation their role is very important. You come from Kerala — one of the most Muslim populated states in the country. Do you think more Muslims coming to civil services will help the community in Kerala to go ahead? Truly. Zafar Mahmood’s Zakat Foundation held several camps in Kerala since 2009 and selected many candidates for the preparation of civil services. Many of them have cracked the civil services. I am very proud of my friend Mohammad Ali Shihab who set up an orphanage in Kerala. He is in civil services. All these are contributing to the welfare of the community.   You know well that our bureaucratic system is one the most corrupt in the world. How are you going to make it a clean job for you? UPSC is planning how most able persons are brought to civil services and how to make it better. Even then this is a reflection of the society. Even in bureaucracy society will reflect. I understand that introduction of fourth paper on Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude all are in this direction.   Muslim Mirror