Ovessa Iqbal is JK’s first Muslim girl to crack All India Civil Services exam in 2010. She had also qualified Kashmir Administrative Service examination in 2009. Born in Chushot, she did her schooling from Moravian Mission School, Leh and moved to Chandigarh to pursue her engineering from Punjab University Chandigarh in 2007. Ovessa started her journey with the help and encouragement of her elder sister Sameena Iqbal. In her third attempt, she cracked the Civil services examination and proved that nothing is impossible if you have the determination to achieve that goal.

Currently, she is under training and attached to WANA (West Asia North Africa) Desk, South Block, in Ministry of External Affairs and shortly she is going to Amman (Jordan) for her language training.

Ovessa says it is not difficult to crack the civil services exam and one “needs determination and consistency to qualify it.”   

“On an average, I used to study for 8 to 10 hours a day. Right from the beginning, the experience was good and interesting. It was not hectic but at times I used to lose both concentration and motivation, especially after I was dropped in the interview stage in 2009. But somehow I motivated myself and continued my efforts.”
"Nothing is easy before it is hard"


Q. You have completed your Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering right. What made you opt for IAS rather than going for your MBA, something that your parents wanted you to do?

After my graduation, I was looking for various options and UPSC was one of them. As preparing for UPSC itself, it was a time-consuming thing I started right away and guidance and encouragement from my professor at Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology was one of the factors for my step in this direction.

Q. A new beginning is mostly made with a new set of assumptions, values, hope, and aspirations. Define the set with which you have entered Civil Services.

While preparing for the examination, I was looking forward to a career which will give me a broad platform to work and where I’ll be able to make a difference in my life and the lives of people around me. I was not sure about which service I will get. To be true, before joining I only had a brief idea about the services.

Q. How did you choose your subjects, as most of the aspirants are sometimes confused about it?

For me also the most difficult part of the preparation was the choice of subjects, especially the second one. I tried studying a few other subjects before finally going with sociology. My first subject was geography, with which I appeared in prelims also. For mains, sociology was my second optional. It’s natural to have confusion especially when you are planning to choose subjects in which you have no background. I feel the best way is to briefly go through basic books like NCERTs and previous years papers of the subjects which you have in mind and then decide depending on a degree of comfort level you have with a particular subject.

Q. You talked about the lack of coaching centres in the state. Do you think that coaching is vital to clear the examination?

I took coaching. I took guidance/coaching in Chandigarh. Yes, our state has some drawbacks in terms of institutions, where a student can evaluate herself/himself, and they can prepare for these kinds of examinations.
 
I feel that coaching centers give you a platform to evaluate yourself. You know about your strong and weak areas (subjects) when you compete and compare yourself with the fellow students who are preparing for the civil services.

Q. Do you think that a good understanding of current affairs can play a significant role even in optional papers?

Yes indeed. If you closely analyze UPSC optional papers, there are some questions which are asked in the context of some current event.

Q. Would you blame society for not encouraging the students to dream high or is it the very conservative thinking of our society that is hindering the development of Ladakh?

I don't blame society. In fact, I feel proud when I think about the open-mindedness of the people of Ladakh. Earlier due to geographical reasons, we remained backward, but now we are catching up fast. I don’t see any hurdle, posed by society, to dream high. A youth of Ladakh have great potential if they invest their energy in the right direction.

Q. What changes are to be needed for the development of Ladakh as an ethnic group?

The onus of development of Ladakh as an ethnic group lies with today’s youth to a greater extent. With the current pace of developmental activities and the influx of tourists, it has become a challenge to maintain a balance between ethnicity and modernity. The first and foremost change should be the change in the mindset of the youngsters. They should understand the values of our traditions and culture and should not shy away from any opportunity which leads to showcasing of our rich cultural heritage.

Q. When you talk about women exploitation what sort of a picture comes in your mind?

Women exploitation is a multifaceted picture. You can’t rate one form of exploitation a little less or above another form. Exploitation in any form/way is a disgrace for a society.

Q. Are there any cases of women exploitation in Ladakh? Do you think Ladakhi women enjoy a good status as compared to others?

When it comes to the status of women, I feel proud that I was born in Ladakh. The status, which women of Ladakh enjoy in society, can be an example for the rest of the country. At the same time, I must confess that there are some cases of domestic violence against women. This may be mental or physical. Sadly in most of the cases, women are not aware that they are being exploited or if they are, then it is hardly known to others.

Q. What would be the steps towards the betterment of women? As these days crime against women have also risen up in Ladakh.

The first step in this direction would be spreading awareness among women about their personal rights. They should understand their self-importance and should not consider themselves as lesser to anyone. Parents should socialize their male child in such a way that they become responsible citizens and are sensitized enough regarding their behaviour towards the opposite sex.

There should be parity in treatment towards a male and female child. There should not be differential treatment of leniency and strictness depending on the sex of the child. This is long run will ensure better treatment of women.

Q. Finally, what is your advice to the young aspirants as you are a role model for all of them?
 

To be able to make your endeavor fruitful, you need to know, for eyes can’t see and ears can’t hear what the mind does not know. So you will need to know, but remember that knowledge is not facts and databases. Knowledge is understanding. Be prepared to understand. It is not easy. Given your talent, you will succeed, but only if you are willing to try. Be conscious of your own self and your strength. Decide what you want to be. Whatever you want, you will become. Have faith in yourself.