CBSE topper from Kashmir wants to be a human rights activist

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 14

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class XII topper in Kashmir wants to become a trained human rights activist.

Asma Shakeel (19) topped the Class XII examination in Kashmir by scoring 492 marks out of 500 with pass a percentage of 98.2 percent, the results of which were announced on Monday. And unlike her batchmates, she wants to become a human rights activist.

“I have interest in international law and human rights has a special place in my heart. I want to really contribute in that particular field. Maybe, I do my JD (degree) or DPhil (doctor of philosophy) in that particular subject,” she said.

Daughter of a businessman from Baghat Barzulla in Srinagar, Asma has a twin sister and an elder brother. Her mother is a homemaker.

She said her choice of being a human rights activist is linked with the present conflict.

“We can’t isolate ourselves from what we all are going through,” she said, while urging parents to give their children the liberty to choose subjects of their choice.

A student of Delhi Public School, Srinagar, she was selected in April by Georgetown University to study international politics on a 100 per cent scholarship. She had applied to six foreign universities, including Georgetown University, for further studies.

The Class XII exams were held prior to the Covid outbreak. Her school DPS, Athwajan, has recorded 100 per cent result.