THE MILLI GAZETTE
While studying in a SMC (Surat Municipal Corp.) Primary School, generally considered as dirty, filthy and backward, Yasmin Shaikh of Ring Road, Surat wanted to become a physician. She enjoyed sufficient intelligence to be a doctor. But Yasmin knew that her father, a primary teacher, was not having enough money for such an expensive education. Therefore, she chose arts instead of science and ultimately became a teacher. But she was having a pain in her heart for not being able to become a doctor. She may have failed to become a doctor, but she succeeded in qualifying for prestigious and more powerful Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy. S.P.) post.
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Gujarat Public Service Commission (G.P.S.C.) examination over and above her school duty, tuition, house care and child care. Narrating her struggle, right from primary school to become a class one Police officer, she says, ‘When I was admitted in a high school named Madrasa Tayabiah High School in Surat, after completing my studies from SMC Primary School girls studying in my class and also other girls were hesitant to become my friends. they were saying, Yasmin is coming from a ‘numbered’ school (earlier govt. primary schools were known by numbers, now recently they have been given names)’ therefore let us avoid her. Her struggle was not yet over even after completing Madrasa High School. As she got very good percentage of marks in 12th std., she easily got admission in the best M.T.B. College of Surat city.
‘Although I got admission in M.T.B. College, but once a girl with a ‘numbered’ school tag, became now ‘cyclewali’ girl. Perhaps I was the only girl who used to go to college on bicycle. Other students were looking at me as if I were a wonder item. But I remembered my father’s advice’ – said Yasmin.
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‘I had visited a class one officer for getting certificates attested. The said officer asked me, how many persons know you? I replied, many in Surat. The officer asked, how will you feel if the whole of Gujarat and the whole of the country know you? I said, I like that very much. That officer advised me to appear in G.P.S.C. exam Now, this advice became the aim of my life’, said Yasmin.
Thereafter, Yasmin did not think of any other matter, except to pass G.P.S.C. ‘Many times it so happened, that when I sat at night to study, I got so engrossed that morning ‘Azan’ from Masjid was heard. During examination days, I was hardly sleeping for an hour or two. I have passed both preliminary and main examinations by strong concentration,’ saying Yasmin adding that ‘most difficult hour faced by me was at the interview preparation time.’
‘I was pregnant when I was preparing for the interview. The interview date given by G.P.S.C. was 4 March and the date of child birth given by my doctor was also 4 March! I wrote a letter to the commissioner and requested him to change the date and my appeal was granted.
The Milli Gazette for more
(Thanks to Pritam Rohila)