"Nothing can match the post of a district collector", says M Abubacker Siddique

"I've broken the jinx" exulted Shah Faesal. One of the main reasons for this jinx is that Muslims do not appear in sufficient numbers for these examinations. Explaining why, Dr Syed Hamid says: “Apart from the small middle class, most other Muslims live in bastis where the din and dust would never let a student study in equanimity. Segregation has become so acute that I don’t see things changing very soon.”

But not everyone believes there is reason to despair. M. Abubacker Siddique, for one, is a delighted man today. Back in 1994, this HSC alumnus achieved the brilliant feat of securing the 2nd rank in the UPSC examinations, setting a record that has only now been broken by Faesal. The IAS officer, who is now the private secretary to Union home minister P. Chidambaram, says, “Finally someone has broken the record!” Giving a glimpse of the strong bonds that exist between the institute and its alumni, he says, “I still go back to HSC, and I was on a mock board that interviewed Shah Faesal. Faesal and I, we are the absolute evidence to show that the system is fair.”

As Siddique sees it, low recruitment of Muslims into the civil services is a matter of perception: “Any community needs to know that there is a good chance of getting through and doing well. Once you can see that happen, your numbers will start rising.” Creating more Siddiques and Faesals is clearly vital to changing perceptions, and in order to do so, Siddique says, HSC needs to widen the pool. He says that it should actually move away from the rigorous process of putting applicants through tests and introduce a canvassing system to find bright students and motivate them into giving the UPSC exams a shot. In order to do so, Siddique believes, what needs to be stressed is not the power echelons of New Delhi, but the power they will have to change things at the grassroots. “As an IAS officer, no post can give you more satisfaction than that of a district collector. You get to see things as they happen, and you get to intervene. Nothing can match that.”

From an article by Shreevatsa Nivetia on Hamdard Study Circle in Outlook. More than 165 Muslims have made it to Civil services through Hamdard Study Circle.

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Read the success story of Shah Faisal and Mariam Farzhana Sadiq here and here

'Shah Faesal is a role model for Muslim youth', says Dr Syed Hamid

 Shah Faisal with Dr Syed Hamid

This is the first time our student has topped in civil services examination. We are certainly and legitimately proud of that. We were working toward this end and ultimately we have achieved what we have been working for. Earlier the highest position the Hamdard Study Circle got was the second position in civil services – that was our student Abu Baker Siddique from South (Tamil Nadu).

We are also proud of the fact that this has happened in respect of a candidate from Jammu and Kashmir where condition has not been favorable for serious study and yet the young man has proved that despite of all the difficulties in the way one can be successful and eminently successful. Shah Faesal is a role model for the youth all over, particularly the youth in Jammu and Kashmir.

Of 875 successful candidates this year there are only 21 Muslims. How can Muslims presence be increased in civil services?

You have raised a very important point which has been worrying us for quite some time. The present proportion is not satisfactory because Muslims are 13.4% of India’s population and a community of this strength should have got much more than we have actually got.

I was a member of the Sachar Committee which visited most of the states. Wherever we went and wherever we asked authorities as to why the number of Muslims in services is very insignificant, invariably they answered that they get success according to the numbers in which they appear for competitions.

So the major difficulty now is that not enough Muslim candidates are appearing for civil services examination and other examinations. Our major effort should to increase our catchment area, to persuade young men to appear for competitions for various posts, not only civil services. There are so many posts for which they can appear.

It should be our endeavor and endeavor of everybody interested in the welfare of the community to persuade them to appear in large number. If they work hard then nobody would be able to prevent their success. What has happened today would be an encouragement for many of our youth. It is not just Shah Faesal has succeeded. He has become an inspiration for Muslim youth and youth of weaker sections.

As a legendry educationist in India what’s your message to the Muslim community?

My message to the Muslim community is: Be sure that if you work hard then you will be rewarded. It is not that you will be discriminated all the time. There are sometimes cases of discrimination but despite of those cases we must move forward. I am sure if we become a little more serious and make a greater effect we will succeed. I am always sure that by Allah’s grace in the next 10 years there would be a very substantial change in our condition.

From an exclusive interview given to senior journalist Mumtaz Alam Falahi for Two circles.net

To read the full text of the interview click here