The topping of the IAS selection list by Dr. Shah Faesal is no mean achievement. In a country of 1.2 billion people if a young man tops the selection list of the toughest competition, it is a commendable feat and Dr. Faesal truly deserves the kudos he is getting. In the present choked atmosphere of siege in Kashmir, any achievement by a Kashmiri any where in the world makes one feel proud and gives the hope to the common people that our youth are more capable and talented than what they are usually projected to be. Over the years an impression has been created by a section of the media that Kashmiri youth are only capable of creating disruption and turmoil. One need not go into the details of the present situation and the reasons for its creation. These are very well documented facts especially those relating to the events of last two decades. It is not for the first time that Kashmiris have been selected in this prestigious service. There have been many young men and women from J & K who were selected in IAS earlier and who rose to quite high positions in bureaucracy. Shafi Pandit, C Phonsog, Iqbal Khanday, Khurshid Ganai, Asgar Samoon, Sushma Chowdhary, S S Bloreia, Atal Dullo, S L Bhat, and so on. It is not that the Kashmiris lack talent and capability. In fact, outside India Kashmiris have excelled in many fields. They have risen to appreciable positions in various organisations where they have got an opening. In regard to India, the main problem for Kashmiri Muslims has been their shying away from the Indian Central Services. There has always been a psychological barrier between the Kashmiri Muslim youth and India. They have considered everything Indian as alien. This alienation has been created by the attitude of both the sides. The Kashmiri leaders especially the ones advocating “Azadi” have kept a distance from everything Indian. They have been propagating that everything short of “Azadi” is taboo.

The Indian Central Services have an interesting history. These were created by the British to keep their hold on the country. The service was called the ICS or the Indian Civil Service. To keep a country of the size of India together was not an easy job. The British inducted people from the elite class into the Civil Service to ensure the writ of the Crown ran throughout the length and breadth of the country. They created an edifice with its centre at Delhi to keep the colony as part of the empire. The Governor General administered the country through these Central Services. After Independence, the Government of free India also depended upon the same colonial edifice to run the country. Only the name of the Service was changed to Indian Administrative Service and other relevant services. Delhi continued to be the seat of absolute power and the system of governance remained virtually unchanged. Earlier the British Aristocracy was running India through the Indian Civil Service and after Independence the Indian elite ran the country through Indian Administrative Service. For quite some time the Service was the most sought after career opportunity. The competition to get into the service was the toughest. The brightest and the competent opted for induction into the ranks of the Central Services. However, the most preferred and prestigious stream was the Foreign Service. The prestige of the service started getting diluted after reservation quota and the globalisation phenomenon accompanied by massive liberalisation. With the opening up of the economy and the entry of multi-national corporations, the most sought after area of employment for the brightest and the competent from the elite became the corporate sector. The greener pastures overseas also attracted the brightest. These newer avenues have somehow lessened the glamour of the Central Services. Moreover, perks wise the Government Service cannot compete with the private sector. The only attraction of the Central Services especially the Administrative one is taste of power it gives to the individual officers over the destiny of their fellow citizens. There is also the perk of life long pension. Over the years there has been politicisation of these services and the politicians have been patronising specific officers of their own choice. Frequent transfers based on political considerations have made it an annoying service in some states. Moreover, a number of retired bureaucrats have been joining different political parties which have also given a political tinge to the service.

In the case of Kashmir, the members of the Central Services have played the same role as these used to play during the British rule in India. Except for some brief periods during the rule of Sheikh Abdullah, most of the important administrative positions in the state have been held by the Central Services Officers who mostly came from outside the state. These Central Services Officers from outside the state are considered colonial officers and they are resented by the local officers who in some cases are more competent than the outsiders. In fact, their service has been given the nickname of “East India Company”! The Central Service Officers in turn had named the local officers group during the time of Sheikh Abdullah as the “Kashmir Syndicate”. Apart from the “Azadi” leaders keeping the Kashmiri youth away from these services, the other factor has been the attitude of authorities in Delhi. They have always distrusted the Kashmiri Muslims. Kashmiri Muslims would not have felt so alienated had there been sizeable representation of these in the Central Services including those connected with the Security. On the contrary, Kashmiri Hindus got a disproportionate share in all these Central Services including the ones connected with the National Security. The topping of the IAS selection by a Kashmiri youth has given a lot of food for thought for all concerned. The leaders of the “Azadi” have to think about it. Their goal is not going to be diminished or diluted if they participate in all other pressing issues being faced by the common people. The induction of the elite into the Central Services during the British rule did not in any way affect the Indian Freedom Movement. The struggle for freedom was so extensive and strong that the country was free in spite of these services. In fact, some members of these services may have been instrumental in furthering the cause of freedom. One of the greatest issues presently faced in Kashmir is the unemployment. The government itself has registered over half a million educated unemployed youth. It is no point in making them slaves by giving a meagre dole. If the alienation of the youth is to end, Kashmiris have to be fully trusted irrespective of their religion and they have to be encouraged and provided facilities for competing in all Central Services including those connected with the security and intelligence. Dr. Faesal may have shown the way and it is for others to follow it to demonstrate that the Kashmiris are no less talented than any one else. Given the trust and the opportunity, they have the capability to rise to the top in every sphere of activity.