Yawatmal, MAHARASHTRA :
Adibah Anam, rickshaw driver’s daughter, becomes Maharashtra’s first Muslim woman IAS officer.
Defying immense odds, Adibah Anam, daughter of a rickshaw driver from Yavatmal, Maharashtra, has achieved an extraordinary feat by securing All India Rank 142 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024.
With this, she becomes the first Muslim woman from her state set to join the prestigious Indian Administrative Service (IAS), according to Clarion India.
Raised in a modest household, Adibah’s story is one of sheer determination and purpose. She began her education in a Zilla Parishad Urdu School, scoring an impressive 94% in SSC and 92.46% in HSC (Science).
Though she once dreamt of becoming a doctor, her maternal uncle, Jan Nizamuddin Sahib, guided her toward civil services, believing she could bring broader change. He supported her emotionally and financially, becoming a pillar in her journey.
Adibah completed her graduation in Mathematics from Abeda Inamdar College, Pune, with 85.20%. Despite clearing the NET exam, she chose not to enter academia and began preparing for the UPSC.
Her early attempts were marked by struggle, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her third attempt, from Mumbai’s Hajj House under Maqsood Khan Sahib’s mentorship, brought her closer, but she still missed the final list.
Refusing to give up, she joined the Residential Coaching Academy at Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi, where she finally succeeded. Choosing Urdu Literature as her optional subject despite a science background, she showcased her academic versatility and deep cultural roots.
Her parents remained her silent strength. “My father never asked me to stop. He only said, ‘May Allah make you successful,’” she shared.
Today, Adibah’s success is a beacon of hope for marginalized communities. “This victory belongs to every girl told to stay behind,” she says. “This is just the beginning.” — With Agencies Inputs
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Indian Muslim / by Muslim Mirror Desk / April 27th, 2025