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    From becoming 1st Dalit woman to top UPSC to shattering stereotypes, Tina Dabi has carved her own path

    Synopsis

    From the very beginning, IAS officer Tina Dabi has set on defying societal expectations and setting an example of the empowered woman... her own way.

    tina dabiAgencies
    From becoming the first Dalit woman to top the UPSC (the Union Public Service Commission) exam in 2015, to hitting headlines for her marriages, and now motherhood, the IAS officer has become an aspirational figure to root for.
    Few government officials have managed to capture the public attention and imagination as Tina Dabi.

    From becoming the first Dalit woman to top the UPSC (the Union Public Service Commission) exam in 2015, to hitting headlines for her marriages, and now motherhood, the IAS officer has become an aspirational figure to root for.

    Here’s a look at her incredible journey.

    Serving The Country Through Generations!

    Dabi was born on November 9, 1993, in Bhopal Madhya Pradesh. According to reports, the entire family consists of government officials. Her father Jaswant, was the general manager at BSNL, while her mother Himani worked in the Indian Engineering Service. Her younger sister Ria is also an IAS officer.

    Brilliant From The Get Go!

    Dabi completed her class 12 education at the prestigious Jesus And Mary Convent School. She reportedly scored a perfect 100 in her Political Science & History papers! She went on to study Political Science at the Lady Shri Ram College for Women, where she was awarded ‘Student Of The Year’ for her impeccable academic performance.

    Making History

    Dabi started studying for the exam in the first year of college. She became one of the lucky few to crack it in the first attempt. She also became the first Dalit (a marginalised caste in India) woman with such a feat.

    In a 2016 interview with the Times Of India, she shared her strategy. She revealed that she went incognito from social media to focus on preparing for UPSC. But she also revealed tha although she deactivated her Facebook account, she made sure to shop with her friends every 15 days like a “typical Delhi girl.”

    In an interview with the Hindustan Times, Dabi said she focused on “studying smart,” for the exam. While mathematics was not her strong suit, politics was and she focused on it.

    A Failed First Marriage

    tina dabi 4Agencies

    However, that was far from Dabi’s first brush with the limelight. In 2018, she hit headlines for having an interfaith marriage with fellow IAS officer Athar Aamir Khan. Both were members of the Rajasthan cadre and fell in love while training. The marriage attracted the attention of some fringe elements of the right wing and the pair was subjected to much trolling.

    However, the marriage did not last long and the couple parted ways in 2021.

    A Second Chance At Love…

    Dabi’s personal life proves that it’s never too late to find ‘the one’! Dabi got married to fellow IAS officer Pradeep Gawande in April 2022.

    The two reportedly met during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, when both were in charge of ensuring supplies to the Health Department of Rajasthan. The duo got married in front of a picture of the late Dalit rights activist-lawyer BR Ambedkar.

    The new wedding also raised some eyebrows as Gawande was reportedly 13 years older than Dabi. Addressing their age difference during an interview with a TV channel, Dabi said she married Gawade as he was a good human being. She also said that age shouldn’t determine the future of a relationship.

    Her husband Gawande holds an MBBS degree from Ghati Hospital in Aurangabad. He hails from Maharashtra and is currently an IAS officer in Rajasthan.

    Mum’s The Word

    In September 2023, Dabi embarked on a new chapter of her life - motherhood. She welcomed her first child, a baby boy, on September 15. Later, she shared a sneak peek of her baby boy with her followers on Instagram.
    baby dabiAgencies


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