Shashi Tharoor Praises Kerala Woman, 40, Who Cleared Civil Service Exam Despite Hearing Disabilities

News18

26-04-2025

Last Updated:
Nissa Unnirajan started preparing for IAS exams at the age of 35 and battled a major physical handicap.
Indian National Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has lauded Thiruvananthapuram resident Nisa Unnirajan for her remarkable achievement of clearing the 2025 IAS examination. Calling her journey 'inspiring," Tharoor highlighted her resilience in the face of adversity.
Despite living with a hearing disability, balancing a full-time job, and raising two children, 40-year-old Nisa never gave up on her dream. She successfully cracked the prestigious UPSC exam on her seventh attempt, earning widespread admiration. Impressed by her perseverance, Tharoor shared Nisa's story on Twitter, commending her determination and calling her a true symbol of grit and hope.
It's never too late — an inspiring story! A 40 year old disabled mother from Thiruvananthapuram cracked the IAS while raising two kids. Congratulations Nisa Unnirajan! pic.twitter.com/sF8fZDCYXk — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 24, 2025
Clearing the prestigious civil services examination with AIR 1000. Nisa proved it is never too late to chase one's dream and no obstacle is bigger than the desire for success.
Family Support And Training
Nisa's success is also a moment of triumph for her family, whose unwavering support helped her achieve her dreams. Unlike many other aspirants, Nisa started her training late at the age of 35 at a private academy and had to work harder to crack the IAS. Her resilience was backed by enormous support from her father, Unnirajan, a retired police clerk and her mother Jayashree.
Nisa's husband, Arun, a software engineer, also provided her great support as she successfully balanced her responsibilities as a mother towards 11-year-old Nandana and 7-year-old Thanvi with her extensive preparations while also dealing with her hearing challenges.
Inspiration
While Nisa's story of perseverance through great odds has become a great source of motivation for many UPSC aspirants, she drew her inspiration from Kottayam sub-collector Ranjith. Ranjith, who also has a hearing impairment, trained at the same private academy as Nisa in Kerala. Apart from him, she motivated herself through other real-life stories and biographies. Nisa now hopes to serve the country with commitment and sincerity.