Kashmir could do with a few more like Dr. Ruveda Salam, the first IPS officer from the state

J & K is more often than not in the news for wrong reasons. This paradise on earth suffers from un-abating terrorism and its consequence, declining tourism.

Despite the harshness of life, the state has thrown up a few icons like IAS topper Shah Faesal and cricketer Parvez Rasool. To this list we can add Dr. Ruveda Salam.

Dr. Ruveda Salam is the first woman IPS officer from Kashmir. She is from the remote village  of Farkin, in the border district of Kupwara.
In 2013, Ruveda became the first woman in Kashmir to crack the IAS exam. Breaking from the stereotype, hers is an inspiring story.

The journey was not easy for Ruveda after she completed her medical training from Srinagar. She says, “I am not going to blame my religion but in our society girls are supposed to marry early.” It was with her parents’ support that she was able to fend off pressure from relatives. Dr. Ruveda adds, “My mother knew I had it in me. Both my parents supported my convictions.”

It was her father’s dream that she joins the Indian bureaucracy as an IAS officer. Dr. Ruveda wrote the UPSC again in 2014 securing a better rank of 878. Currently she is serving as Assistant Commissioner of Police in Chennai.

Reaching so far has not been easy for the 27 year old Ruveda. She reminisces of her growing years in the state, “When I was a child, tourism was booming in Jammu and Kashmir. All that changed in 1989. Anything could happen to anyone.Though things have improved, life is still tough for an IAS aspirant.Internet breaks down, civil services are affected and information is hard to get when this happens.”

Dr. Ruveda is proud of her Kashmiriyat roots and Sufi traditions.
After her IAS training, Dr. Ruveda was posted in Chennai which is climatically and culturally poles apart. Yet she has adapted to this city as she says, “I like Chennai as it is culturally diverse. Music festivals are held with a lot of pomp and show. Also this is the  best place to experiment different cuisines.”

She adds, “Being a Kashmiri, some people think we are anti-India. But I have been able to change that perception with my attitude and conduct. Now people receive me with affection all over the country. It all depends on how I relate to them.”

Dr. Ruveda is an inspiration to the next generation of girls from Kashmir. She says, “After cracking the IAS exam I had a brief stint at coaching IAS aspirants. You should see the level of enthusiasm in the classes. They would come to me and say, Didi, we also want to join IAS and IPS like you.”

Definitely looks like a promise of a happy future for a troubled state.

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