Year: 2014
Exam: UPSC
Rank: All India Rank 1
Name: Ira Singhal

Four years before this phenomenal achievement, Ira scored enough to make it to the Indian Revenue Services. But her appointment was cancelled because of her disability.

Ira has ‘roundback’, or kyphosis, since birth. Technically called hyperkyphosis scoliosis, it is a spinal condition wherein the spine curves outwards more than it should. This has rendered her body 62 per cent disabled. Ira further said,

It was a big setback, being rejected after clearing all levels of the exam! I had to provide medical papers to prove that I could handle administrative jobs.

Ira sought legal intervention from Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) following her rejection. The court decided in her favour.

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Currently, Ira is a District Magistrate in Tirap, Arunachal Pradesh. She says,

Fighting mindsets is the biggest challenge!

And it begins from the beginning. In school, each day was an uphill task for her. Later, in college, she was discouraged from being a part of any society or club. The reason, she was informed, was that people will not take her decisions seriously. Ira added,

There was a constant a tussle with the boys, who thought that as a girl with a disability, I could not do anything useful. My friends were not comfortable to have ‘a strange-looking girl’ around them. The world is much more comfortable treating it as a charity and not as someone to have an equal opportunity

It is difficult to find someone who sees you as just human and not someone who is to be pitied. Every new person you meet, you have to convince them that you deserve a chance, be it in education or at work. When we set out to bring about a change, it must begin from where it all starts – schools. Schools need to be accessible and inclusive. The education system as a whole does not cater to everyone. School is the first place where mindsets are made and schools are where we can change them.

Ira has a heartwarming message for everyone aspiring to achieve their dreams out there. She said,

You’re the only person who has walked in your shoes. Do not let the world define you.

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