Peon’s daughter engineers success in UPSC

On Thursday,Kaur’s dream came true when she ranked 138th in the open merit list of the All India Civil Services Examinations. A civil engineer from Punjab Engineering College (PEC),Kaur is from Ramdasia scheduled caste. She hopes to better her rank in the reserved category list yet to be declared.

The news about her achievement has just begun to sink in her hometown Morinda. The small town was abuzz with mediapersons on Friday,heading for the small house in Ward 8,near the sub-tehsil office where Singh works has a Class IV employee.

The tall 29-year-old girl is flanked by her mother Amarjit Kaur and grandfather Mohinder Singh. She doesn’t tire talking about her journey from a local private school to PEC. Her early years as an engineering graduate were a struggle as she didn’t get a job for the first two years. She then decided to put her engineeringcareer on hold.

The baptised Sikh girl appeared continuously since 2005 except in 2008. In 2007 she had missed a spot by just three marks in the Civil Services (Mains). Kaur said: “My family is my pillar of strength.”

The television drama Udaan,about a poor girl making it to become an IPS officer,was also her muse. “I am proud to be a peon’s daughter and have always wanted to make my father proud,” Kaur said. Her father,however,does not wish to take voluntary retirement,nor is Kaur pushing him to. Ranjit Singh will serve for the next 5 years till superannuation.

Kaur’s main aim is to fight the social evil of female foeticide and to warmpeople to the achievements of girls. She said: “I have given preference for the Punjab cadre.”

Eldest of four siblings,Kaur has no plans to marry yet. Her younger sister Hardeep Kaur,25,has recently been recruited as a contractual teacher at a government school. Another sister Mandeep Kaur,21,is preparing for medical entrance exams while brother Gurpreet Singh,23,is stydying law at PU.

Kaur studied till her school finals at the Shivnanda Senior Secondary School,Morinda,her higher secondary from DAV Model Senior Secondary School,Sector 15,Chandigarh.

Apart from taking coaching classes and personality-enhancement sessions,Kaur also visited Delhi for special assistance. Her father funded her studies through bank loans and money borrowed from other sources. Kaur said: “With not much guidance,I depended on coaching,classmates,newspapers and literature to chase my passion.”

CM notices
Punjab ChiefMinister Parkash Singh Badal congratulated Kaur on Friday and said: “Notwithdtanding adversities,Sandeep Kaur’s pursuit of excellence will certainly motivate other disadvantaged aspirants.” Chamkaur Sahib SDM J C Sabharwal handed over to Kaur an appreciation letter from the Ropar DC.