When Aparajita Rai faced troubles after her father’s death, she decided to become a public servant and make sure that people’s problems are heard and responded to. After many years of hard work and dedication, she created history by becoming Sikkim’s first female IPS officer. Read about her difficult journey to success.
Aparajita Rai has created history by becoming the first woman IPS officer of Sikkim. The 28-year old girl was allocated IPS cadre after getting 358th rank in UPSC 2012 Examinations. She had cracked UPSC in 2011 too and became the first Sikkimese to get such a high rank in these exams.
Currently posted in Hoogly, West Bengal, Rai won many awards which proved her ability. Her major achievements involve 1958 Batch IPS Officers’ Trophy for the best Lady Outdoor Probationer, Shri Umesh Chandra Trophy for Field Combat, The 55th Batch of Senior Course Officers Trophy for Best Turn Out and West Bengal Govt Trophy for Bengali.
Born in aneducated family, Rai lost her father who was a divisional forest officer at a tender age of eight. After his death, all the responsibilities came on Rai and her mother who was a graduate school teacher. It was during that tough time that Rai witnessed the insensitive attitude of government officials towards people and she decided that she will become a part of this system and will be responsive to people’s problems.
“Anyone who comes to me should not face the same harassment or agony which people generally encounter in government offices,” Rai says.
Always a brilliant student, Rai’s talent shone even when she was in school. She was a state topper and scored 95 percent in ISC exams, receiving the Best Girl All Rounder Shrimati Ratna Pradhan Memorial Trophy in Tashi Namgyal Academy.
She later on completed her BA LLB and proved herself again by winning a gold medal from National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata in both Jurisprudence and Public Administration. She secured 768th rank out of 920 in her first attempt itself of CSE in 2010.
Keen on learning new things, Rai spends her free time learning guitar and doing aerobics. An empathetic person, Rai has always felt the need to give back to society and wants more students from Sikkim to take up this profession.
“There is no awareness about Civil Services. Majority of us think that the best we can get is a government job. Many young guys from Sikkim don’t want to go out and compete. It is only when you sharpen your edges, you will be sharp,” she says.
Had she not been an IPS officer, she would have fulfilled her dad’s dream of becoming a corporate lawyer. People like Rai are an inspiration to all of us and give us a hope for country’s brighter future. We congratulate the young girl and hope for bigger achievements.
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