House torched by ultras, KAS topper trumps over adversity

Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 19

Anjum Bashir Khan Khattak, who has topped the Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) exam, is an inspiration for young people aiming to join the state administration as he defied all odds to realise his dream. He hails from a remote area in Poonch and his ancestral house was torched by militants in 1998.

For Khattak, who belongs to the Mohra Bachai area in Surankote tehsil in border district of Poonch, the act of militants was a turning point as his family shifted to Jammu after that.

“I harboured the dream of getting into the state administration when I was just in Class VIII. The credit of this success goes to my parents who encouraged and supported me during the bad times. Our ancestral house was set on fire by terrorists at Mohra Bachai which led to shifting our family base to Jammu,” the 27-year-old topper said. “All these years, I did not give up and continued to toil hard in difficult times for accomplishing my dream,” he said.

The KAS results were declared late on Monday evening. Khattak’s father Mohammed Bashir Khan is a retired lecturer and mother Ghulam Fatima is a government teacher.

“There is a lot of potential and talent among young people hailing from remote and hilly parts of the state but they need opportunity. You won’t believe that primary and secondary schooling in Poonch district is pathetic,” said Khattak who studied at the primary-level at Surankote. He said, “Barring a private school, you will not find even a single good government school in the district. How will you expect a candidate from the remote area, like Surankote, to compete with a candidate from Jammu? There is an urgent need for revamping the primary and secondary schooling in the government sector. I was lucky enough that I got an opportunity to complete my Classes X and XII in Jammu.”

Khattak, a computer engineering graduate from Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri, has set his priorities after joining the administration.

“The policies formulated by the Centre as well as the state government are good enough but poor implementation remains a major issue. No individual can alone bring revolution but I will work for bringing accountability and transparency in the system,” he said.

Meanwhile, Aliya Tabassum of mountainous Kishtwar has stood second and Fareed Ahmad of Bhaderwah in Doda district has secured third rank in the examination.

Attack a turning popint  

• For Khattak, who belongs to the Mohra Bachai area in Surankote tehsil in border district of Poonch, the act of militants was a turning point as his family shifted to Jammu after that
• Khattak’s father Mohammed Bashir Khan is a retired lecturer and mother Ghulam Fatima is a government teacher
• Meanwhile, Aliya Tabassum of mountainous Kishtwar has stood second and Fareed Ahmad of Bhaderwah in Doda district has secured third rank in the examination