Ahmedabad’s Madiha Pathan from Muslim-dominated Juhapura area qualifies to become Gujarat’s ‘Secret Secy’

She has secured 10th rank in the Gujarat Public Service Commission exam. The qualification will bag her the coveted role of Rahasya Sachiv (private secretary) in any high-profile government department.

The Rahasya Sachiv, literally meaning Secret Secretary, is a bureaucratic jargon in Gujarat for private secretary (Stenographer, Grade I) level officer.

He or she is tasked to keep key government documents to process policies and projects in coordination with IAS officers.

For Madiha, a graduate of Commerce and Law, the journey to appearing on the list of GPSC qualifiers was not paved with curves.

Her parents are well-educated. Her mother is an advocate and her father is Grade 1 officer (Principal Private Secretary) in Gujarat High Court.

Both provided her enough attention and guidance to prepare for public service.

“But our education is one plus side for her. The other is her own determination to get a good education and make a place for herself by going through competitive exams. We have followed and taught our kids the motto of Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) who emphasised utmost importance on pursuit of education,” said Madiha’s father Habibullah Pathan.

Madiha sat for the GPSC examination in 2019 and her result was declared at the end of January 2023. “She had appeared for her GPSC exam soon after completing BCom. From 2019 onwards, all academic and competitive activities were blocked due to Covid outbreak; she had to wait for her result this long. Meanwhile, she pursued and completed her Law graduation course in the intervening period,” said Pathan.

Pathan rules out that Muslim students and aspirants – whether boys or girls – face any discrimination or roadblock when it comes to pursue their dreams in Gujarat.

“If people face discrimination, it may be individual experiences. If a student is honestly and laboriously pursuing his or her dreams, there is no hindrance for him or her,” he emphatically said.

Echoing her father, Madiha told this correspondent that she has followed the principle that “if you have determination, you will achieve your destination.”