Saima Khan has made history by passing the UPSC exam for the second time.

It is said that 'the destination is achieved by those who have life in their dreams, nothing happens with wings, it takes courage to fly.' Saima Saraj Khan, daughter of Ghazipur's Kamsarbar area, has proved this proverb true by achieving success in the UPSC exam.

Saima's father, Saraj Ahmed Khan, is a successful businessman and builder. He belongs to the Usia village of Kamsarbar, a Muslim-majority area in Ghazipur, while his residence is in the Alipore area of Kolkata. Saima was preparing for the IAS and IFS under the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) from Kolkata's Educate ICSE Academy. Saima Khan, who belongs to Kamsarbar, has once again set a new example by achieving success in the UPSC exam. She had previously passed this difficult exam, in which her rank was 165, while this time she has achieved 135th rank.

This success is not only a matter of pride for her family but also for the entire area and is an encouraging example for the youth. Notably, after the announcement of the UPSC 2023 results, she achieved 165th rank in her fourth attempt and received the honor of becoming the first woman civil service officer from Kamsarbar. Saima is related to the family of the late Deputy Saeed Khan, a well-known educator from Jessia. She is the only sister among three brothers.

Saima's education mostly took place in Kolkata. She completed her eighth-grade education from St. Paul's Boarding and Day School, Kidderpore. After that, Saima completed her 12th grade from Ashok Hall Girls Higher Secondary School and then took admission in St. Xavier's College. During her graduation, she did honors in Sociology. During this time, a desire to work in the field of public service arose in her heart. Saima was also associated with an NGO. She says that when she met people at the grassroots level and saw their problems, she felt that she wanted to do something for them, no matter how small.

She said that for such work, some kind of institutional authority is required, and this thought motivated her to take the UPSC exam. Saima has been a student of Educate IAS Academy and, after passing the preliminary exam, she also guided other candidates at the institute for some time.

Regarding her preparation journey, Saima said that she had almost distanced herself from social media and social activities for several years. She said that for four to five years, she had almost stopped going to relatives' places or attending wedding ceremonies. Her only social activity was that she would meet her childhood friends once a month. She said that she did not have a fixed time for studying, but she spent as much time as possible on her studies.

Mentioning her difficult journey, Saima said that failure was the biggest challenge for her. After failing three times, she almost felt like giving up every day, but she had no other plan for her career. All her dreams were associated with the UPSC, and she knew that if she had to achieve something, it would be through this route.

Saima's success is not just a story of passing an exam, but it is also a strong example of Muslim women's education and empowerment. In a society where many girls still have limited access to education and career opportunities, Saima's success conveys the message that if there is family support and self-confidence, no destination is far. She specifically addresses Muslim girls, saying that dreaming and trying to fulfill those dreams is every girl's right. Women can be successful in any field, they just should never give up on their dreams.

It is said that history repeats itself, and there is no excuse for achieving a destination. Saima has proven that women can also achieve great successes with clear objectives, hard work, and strong determination.

Kolkata is not just called the 'City of Joy'. From this city, Satyendranath Tagore, the first ICS officer of united India, emerged. Today, Saima Saraj Khan has achieved success and has become the first woman administrative or civil service officer from the Kamsarbar area. Her success has brought a wave of joy to the entire area and district. Saima said that behind her success is the significant role of her parents' encouragement and guidance. Her father, Saraj Ahmed Khan, has been motivating Saima towards education since childhood and has been supporting her at every difficult stage. Saima says, 'My father used to say since childhood that education is the greatest power. If you get an education, the paths of life open up automatically.'

Advising UPSC aspirants, Saima said that it is essential to be honest with oneself. If someone is studying for five hours, they should focus on quality rather than quantity. She said that consistency is crucial, and candidates should focus on their preparation without worrying too much about the results. Saima's message to women is that they should never give up on their dreams, no matter which field they are in. She repeats one of her slogans, 'Where there is a will, there is a way. Problems and failures are part of success. If you want to be successful, never let them dominate you.' Today, Saima Khan's success is a message not just for Ghazipur but for Muslim girls across the country that with education, hard work, and determination, every dream can be turned into reality. Dushyant Kumar's poem aptly reflects her entire journey.