Zeba breaks the glass ceiling

Jameel Fatima Zeba

The phone never stops ringing. Every time she picks it up, there is a flood of congratulations. Her house in Manikonda is a beehive of activity with friends and relatives dropping in to compliment her on her achievement. In fact the Muslim community in Hyderabad is yet to get over the euphoria of Jameel Fatima Zeba's spectacular success in the coveted civil services exam. Having notched up the 62nd rank in UPSC exam 2017, she has made the community proud. Her accomplishment is all the more stunning as she happens to be the only Muslim girl to crack the civil services exam from Telangana in the last 70 years. Even in the undivided state no Muslim woman could make it.

Zeba being felicitated

A programme organised by the Centre for Educational Development of Minorities the other day to felicitate the young achiever drew overwhelming response. A large number of NGOs and individuals turned up to congratulate Zeba. Her feat is expected to inspire other girls. "But she will always be remembered as the first Muslim girl to break the glass ceiling", says A.K. Khan, Advisor to the Government, Minorities Welfare.

So what's her success mantra? Just three words. "Hard work, perseverance and patience", remarks Zeba. Of course her can-do and never say die spirit are the other factors. When you work all through the night you have your day. Zeba is now enjoying her moment under the sun. As her name suggests, Zeba has bestowed a dash of grace and hope to the Muslim community whose percentage in the civil services is barely 3. Several women's colleges are now planning to invite her to their premises to motivate their students.

 Clad in a red salwar suit with her head covered by a green scarf,  24 year old Zeba doesn't betray signs of super intelligence. But when she starts speaking her determination and positive outlook comes across. "Come out of the comfort zone and don't ever give up", she advises civil service aspirants.

Zeba cleared the UPSC exam in her third attempt - each time putting in more effort. She studied for 8 to 10 hours a day without getting distracted by other pursuits. "The credit goes to my parents who supported me all through" she says. However, she is sad that her mother, Deeba Fatima, is not alive to witness her success. She died in 2009.

"I wanted her to do engineering but she refused point blank and decided to go for civil service and I respected her decision", says Zeba's father, Habibullah Khan, a geologist in NMDC.

What made her opt for civil services? "It gives one the opportunity to bring tangible change in the society", she says. For brief periods she worked with NGOs like Make A Difference and Teach For India and this only firmed up her decision to become an IAS officer to reach the underprivileged sections of society.

Zeba, who graduated from St. Francis Degree College, Begumpet, has been a head girl all through her career. While excelling in academics, she has been a role model for her peers - mature, responsible and fostering positive relationships. She loves reading - both fiction and non-fiction. A great fan of John Keats, she loves poetry.

Does she read any newspaper? "Of course The Hindu", pat comes reply. "It helped me a lot in preparing for the exams", she says.

 J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.