Who Is Bhavna Kesar? First Woman To Become Judge From Rajouri, J&K

On April 5, Bhavna Kesar of Naushera, Jammu and Kashmir, became the first woman to clear the judicial civil services exam from the Rajouri district. The daughter of a tailor, she broke all societal barriers to achieve this remarkable feat and bring pride and joy to the community. The people of Naushera welcomed the trailblazer with much fanfare, showering her with flowers and confetti. Speaking to NDTV, Kesar shared that she is extremely happy but also expressed that she feels dejected that no other women were able to celebrate this achievement like her. "I hope that more women dream big and enter the field of law," she remarked.

Kesar had been working as a Reader at the J&K High Court when she appeared for the examination to be a judge. As the first female judge from her district, she wishes to encourage more women into legal studies. Speaking to NDTV. she said, "I want to tell all girls and women to follow their dreams and study hard."

Who Is Bhavna Kesar?

Bhavna Kesar belongs to Naushera, a small town in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. Her father is a tailor and her mother is a homemaker. She reportedly used to help her father at his shop before pursuing law. Kesar completed her schooling at TMP School, Naushera and then went to Punjab for college.

She pursued a Bachelor of Arts (LLB) at the Punjab University, in Chandigarh and then went on to pursue an Master of Law. After attaining her LLM degree, Kesar enrolled for a PhD when she was selected as a Reader in the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir. While working there, she got the opportunity to become a judge.

Kesar said that with the support of her family and her unwavering determination, she cleared the judicial exam and became the first woman from Rajouri to become a judge. "My family never made me feel different because I am a woman. They never made me feel inferior. In fact, they pushed me to study harder and follow my dreams," she told NDTV.

Sharing some works of motivation to women aspiring to get into law, Kesar said, "We tend to have a mindset that achieving our dreams is tough but if you stay motivated, everything is easy. You have to be your own motivation instead of looking for an external source. You can be inspired by someone else but the primary motivation always comes from within."