Bushra Mateen, a 22-year-old civil engineering graduate has set a new record by winning 16 gold medals at SLN College of Engineering, Raichur, Karnataka. She is about to receive the medals including the one for topper at the varsity’s annual convocation on 10 March.

She has started preparation for civil services. She did not appear for the placement drive due to the same. She says she wants to go for the UPSC as it provides a “bigger canvas” to serve the country.

She has drawn appreciation from various prominent personalities for her remarkable achievement. Bollywood actress Swara Bhaskar congratulated her and called out prejudices of the people who stereotype hijab.

“Congratulations Bushra! Apparently academic excellence & achievement and #Hijab are not mutually exclusive! Do we need to be ‘liberated’ from our prejudices,” Swara said in a tweet.

Bushra’s father is a junior civil engineer and mother is a bachelor in Arts. “He did diploma in civil engineering. I fulfilled his dream of getting a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering,” Bushra was quoted as saying by Times of India.

She completed schooling from St Mary’s convent and PU from Pramana PU College in Raichur.