Economic hurdles couldn’t stop Kulgam girl to dream big

Kulgam, Dec 03: A young girl’s selection as Assistant Professor in Economics by the J&K Public Service Commission (JKPSC) was a remarkable achievement, considering her humble family background filled with struggles.
Mehnaza Jan, daughter of Hussam Um Din Akhoon from Malpora Kulgam, cleared the prestigious JKPSC examination despite facing significant challenges due to her economically weaker background. Scoring 52.02 marks, Mehnaza demonstrated that her background couldn’t deter her dreams and ambitions.
Speaking to Rising Kashmir, Mehnaza said that belonging to a humble family shouldn’t hinder anyone’s aspirations. She credited her family’s support, saying that she worked tirelessly to prove that her efforts wouldn’t go in vain. Managing studies along with family responsibilities, she pursued her dream of becoming an Assistant Professor, which eventually materialized.
“My father’s role as the sole breadwinner for our seven-member family, working as a painter, is unparalleled. Besides, the increase in AP seats by the Lieutenant Governor’s administration turned out to be a fortunate opportunity for me,” she said.
Mehnaza highlighted her challenges of pursuing the Master’s degree at Kashmir University without owning a cell phone. It was only through contributions from family friends that she managed to acquire an Android phone, enabling her to continue her studies for the AP position.
Often, when living in a poor family, one doesn’t receive such support, and people seldom speak about you. However, thankfully, this job will significantly improve our family’s condition, she said.
“I had no idea about the NET, SET, and other exams. It was during my university days that I learned about them. I hadn’t even appeared for any competitive examinations, yet it was due to the fairness and the best efforts of my family that I managed to secure this seat against all odds,” she said.
Mehnaza also expressed gratitude for the kind support from the tehsil administration, particularly Tehsildar Kulgam, who consistently assisted with documentation and provided valuable guidance for her future endeavours.
“I would like to mention that the teachers supported us a lot, especially Haroon sir, and MTTM sir from the tourism department, along with other teachers and officers. Most importantly, I continued my religious education alongside my academic studies. Even during university, I used to seek guidance from religious scholars online, in addition to pursuing worldly education,” she said.
She added, “The primary cause of societal degradation and people becoming unproductive is their lack of emphasis on the teachings of the Quran and Hadith. They prioritise chasing money over eternal values in life. The purpose of our existence is to plant goodness here and reap its rewards in the hereafter.”
Mehnaza has a message: “This life lasts for 60 to 80 or 90 years, but the hereafter extends for millions of years. Try to utilise your time and money by helping others. Also, for those candidates who couldn’t qualify for this exam, it doesn’t mean they were not intelligent, but it’s written by Allah’s will. It’s not their fault. Allah has written something better than this for them. But the important thing is to trust in Allah.”