Shammi Abidi, IAS: Profile, Husband and Family

Shammi Abidi is an IAS officer of 2007 batch serving in Chhatisgarh. She has recently stole the limelight when her innovative attempt to enhance the status of education in the district of Kanker got wide appreciation.

Kanker district of Chhattisgarh is reeling under the Maoist problem. Left Wing Extremists don’t want locales to get educated and hence they have created a ring of terror among teachers and social activists working in the field of education. Shammi Abidi took this issue in a different way and the result is for everyone to see. Similarly, her work in the area of rural health and Modi’s Clean India initiative is noteworthy.

Profile of Shammi Abidi

Shammi Abidi is from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Her family is considered quite well educated among Muslim dominated area where they live. Shammi’s father is a lecturer and her mother is a home maker. When her father started to go for higher education for his daughters, some issues were raised among the community. Actually, it is still considered that highly educated Muslim girl may find it difficult to find a good match when it comes to marriage. Fortunately, Shammi’s father was made of different stuff. He never saw any difference between son and daughter and ensure good education for all of his children. Shammi graduated from Lucknow University while her siblings studied from Delhi University and Jamia Milia.

After completing her graduation, Shammi went to Delhi for the preparation of Civil Services Examination. She took admission in Vajiram and Ravi and started preparation. Her hard work coupled with unmatched dedication was evident in her result as she secured 16^th All India Rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2006. Unfortunately, she couldn’t get her home state UP and got Chhatisgarh. This, in fact, turned out to be a blessing in disguise as there are lots to do in the state suffering from insensitive problem of Left Wing Extremism. Shammi is doing the same and has already made the entire Muslim Community proud of her. She has also said that her desire to become a role model for those Muslim girls of India who want to do something different.

Shammi Abidi with husband Arif Sheikh

Husband of Shammi Abidi

Shammi Abidi is married to Arif Sheikh of Pune.

Arif Sheikh is an Indian Police Service Officer and is posted in Raipur. Both of same state cadre and hence it is not difficult for them to manage their family life.