When people slept, Sumon Sahnaj of Dampur used to run in the darkness to realise her dream of joining an armed force. Her effort didn’t go waste.

Sumon Sahnaj, daughter of Shafiqur Rahman and Manuza Begum of Dampur under Hajo constituency in Kamrup district of central Assam, has been selected Sub-Inspector of Assam Police in the recently announced result of the  Police recruitment test.

Having joined the force, Sumon has become the first woman to join the Assam Police from Dampur, the largest indigenous Muslim-dominated village in Assam. Sumon Sahnaj’s success has brought hope to the family of Shafiqur Rahman, who worked hard as a daily wager to support his family.

The day the result of the recruitment was out, it turned out to be a joyful day for her family and the village.

"I used to get up at around 3.30 am and run in the darkness. I ran in the dark so that people do not see me. I ran even before preparing for the physical examination by the police department," Sahnaj told Awaz - The Voice after the results of the Assam Police written examination were announced.

“The place was flooded. I could not find a dry place to run. I ran in the mini stadium of Gopal Thana inaugurated by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma," she said.

Happy at joining the Assam Police, Sumon Sahnaj said she will, however, continue to work towards joining the Indian Air Force.

Sumon Sahnaj has a long cherished dreamed of joining the Indian Air Force. Sahnaj is an honors graduate in Physics from Pandu College, Guwahati. "When I was studying for my undergraduate degree, I thought I would prepare for my postgraduate degree in Physics and later do my Ph D degree.

“But after our college started online classes during the lockdown, Physics became a little difficult for me.

"It was difficult for me to understand Physics in online classes. At that time, I decided to prepare myself for a job. I thought that if I get a job, my family would be better off financially.”

"I am very happy. I got the job without paying a single rupee. Not only me, but all the recruitments these days have been fair and transparent. Since I am a girl from a lower middle-class family, I am an asset to my family," she said.