As many as six candidates from Kozhikode have cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE). Among them, Ajay R. Raj from Chathangottunada near Thottilpalam secured the highest position from the district with an All India Rank (AIR) of 109.

Mr. Raj secured a rank in the CSE by overcoming the challenge of visual impairment with determination and clarity of purpose. Although he lost his eyesight at the age of nine, he never considered it a barrier. Through careful planning and hard work, Mr. Raj achieved exceptional success. He is currently an officer in the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS).

Among the winners, Athira Sughathan K., a dentist who secured AIR 483, also stood out. She achieved this by defying fate. After a road accident, she lost her memory and the ability to move below her waist, leaving her wheelchair-bound. From that condition, she realised her dream and became an inspiration to today’s youth.

“I was in the third year of my BDS course when the road accident happened. I was on a ventilator for about a month and had lost my memory. However, I completed my BDS in 2020. After that, I developed an interest in the Civil Services. This was my fourth attempt and my first interview. I am very happy that I cleared the Civil Services Examination,” she said.

She was trained under ‘Project Chithrashalabham,’ a programme launched by Absolute IAS Academy, Thiruvananthapuram, to bring students with disabilities to leadership positions in society.

Other successful candidates from the district include Jaseela Jannath P. from Mayyannur (AIR- 397), Jahana Sareen V.P. from Perumanna (AIR- 511), Abdul Sufiyan K. from Thiruvambady (AIR- 695) and Muhammed Suhail from Unnikulam near Thalayad (AIR- 718).