Shashi Tharoor, MP, Indian National Congress, Thiruvananthapuram, has openly hailed the remarkable odyssey of Nisa Unnirajan, a local citizen who passed the elite 2025 IAS exam despite struggling with several challenges in her life. In his moving tribute, Shashi Tharoor described Nisa’s victory as “inspiring,” crediting her endurance and will in the face of a hearing disability, the stresses of a full-time job, and the pressure of raising two young kids.
Nisa’s success has won the hearts of the whole nation. Passing the highly competitive Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) civil services exam with a remarkable All India Rank (AIR) of 1000, the 40-year-old mother of two has proved that age, disability, or personal situations should not come in the way of success. Shashi Tharoor brought her story into the limelight on social media, calling her “a true symbol of grit and hope.”
The support of the experienced politician to Nisa’s efforts highlights the greater importance of her journey, which is now inspiring thousands of contestants all over India. At a time when majority of the contestants begin early in life and are less likely to encounter personal hurdles, Nisa’s tale is being celebrated as an inspiration for grit and perseverance.
Undaunted by the hearing loss, Nisa refused to give up on her goal of becoming an IAS officer. Her journey of preparation was anything but usual. Unlike the majority of aspirants who begin at the tender age of their early twenties, Nisa started her training at 35 years of age. She took up a private academy in Kerala, where she balanced her academic study with professional and family obligations. Shashi Tharoor underscored how her unbreakable spirit is a lesson to many who encounter formidable challenges in life.
It was family that took the centre stage in Nisa’s achievement. Her father, Unnirajan, a retired police clerk, and her mother, Jayashree, played the most important role in shaping her dreams. Her parents’ continuous inspiration gave Nisa the courage to work hard for years. Her husband, Arun, a software engineer by profession, also gave her immense support, taking care of their household and two daughters—11-year-old Nandana and 7-year-old Thanvi—to ensure Nisa could study.
Shashi Tharoor noted that it was not only family support but also Nisa’s individual inspiration that spurred her on. She drew encouragement from the inspiring tale of Kottayam sub-collector Ranjith, who, having a hearing disability, emerged as a high achiever through sheer hard work. Ranjith, a product of the same academy where Nisa was trained, emerged as a source of inspiration to her, strengthening her conviction that disabilities are no barrier to achieving greatness.
Shashi Tharoor: In what ways does the inspiring life of people like Nisa Unnirajan redefine the Indian society’s view of age, disability, and achievement?
Witnesses comment that Nisa’s tale, highlighted by Shashi Tharoor‘s public support, serves as an inspiring reminder that success comes from perseverance and hard work. It punctures the myth that civil services remain the preserve of youth or people who do not have physical disabilities. In recognizing successes like Nisa’s, Shashi Tharoor hopes that society can create a more inclusive and supportive society for the next generation.
Nisa’s path to the IAS has been as much about shattering stereotypes as it has been about individual success. Her late entry into formal coaching, the juggling act of motherhood, and her determination in facing multiple attempts (success on her seventh attempt) are all a testament to a degree of commitment that is found by many to be simply awe-inspiring. She encourages aspirants to remember that failures are stepping stones if one has the will to continue moving ahead.
In his obituary, Shashi Tharoor said that India’s civil services are richer when people from different backgrounds introduce their life experiences and insights into the governance process. He emphasized that candidates like Nisa introduce a sympathetic understanding of society’s ills, which is essential for sound public administration.
Nisa presently intends to concentrate her future efforts on disability rights, education reform, and empowering women. Motivated by biographies and real-life experiences she read as part of her preparation, she is determined to create a positive impact through her civil service role. Shashi Tharoor was confident that Nisa’s commitment towards public service would benefit millions of citizens and also boost the image of Indian bureaucracy.
Social media has been buzzing ever since Shashi Tharoor posted Nisa’s narrative. Congratulations, admiration, and words of encouragement have streamed in from all over the country. Students, teachers, and public figures have found inspiration in her story of persistence. Many aspirants, particularly those fighting personal battles, now see Nisa’s story as testament to the fact that no aspiration is too large and no challenge too great.
By his acknowledgment of her success, Shashi Tharoor has again employed his platform to highlight the virtues of resilience, hard work, and inclusivity. In a world where achievement is increasingly gauged by speed and simplicity, Nisa’s slow, steady, and persistent march towards success is a lesson for everybody.
As Nisa sets out on her own career in public service, she takes not just her aspirations but also the hopes of many others who have been inspired by her journey. Thanks to visionaries like Shashi Tharoor, her tale will live on as a tribute to the limitless potential of the human spirit.
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