Father was a railway employee, mother a housewife
Benno Zeffin’s father Luke Anthony Charles has been an employee in the Indian Railways, while Benno Zeffin’s mother Mary Padmaja is a housewife. Benno did his schooling from Little Flower Convent Higher Secondary School, located in Chennai. Despite being visually impaired, he never gave up. She has been smart in studies since childhood. She used to come first in speech competition in school. In an interview, Beno Zefin had said, ‘My family never made me feel that I was disabled. My school life was very good and all the teachers in my school supported me at every turn.
(Photo source-linkedin/beno-zephine-azhagiri-ifs-2549a02a0)
I had decided in my childhood to join civil services.
Beno had decided on his goal during his school days. He had decided to join the civil service. Although it was not easy for him. He learned Braille script. Studied in the same. After leaving school, he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from Stella Maris College, Chennai. Then obtained Master’s degree from Loyola College in the year 2013. She was active as a member of the Loyola Students Union and a member of the Loyola Women’s Forum.
UPSC preparation with blindness
When most people see obstacles, Benno Zefin Ajagiri sees possibilities. Beno’s goal was still incomplete, as soon as he left college, he started preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, one of the most difficult and prestigious examinations in the country. Find books written in Braille. Installed such software in the computer which works on voice, after listening to them, extracted study material through internet and prepared from it.
Father would bring Braille study material, mother would read out newspapers and books.
Beno got along with his parents at every turn. He had told in an interview that his mother Padmaja used to read newspapers to him. She would read books to me for hours. Not a day goes by when mother does not read the newspaper. Whereas father used to bring study material available in Braille. Apart from this, Beno used to listen to news on TV.
When Beno Zefin conquered the world
The next year after leaving college, in 2014, Beno Zefin took the UPSC Civil Services Examination. The result of this examination was declared in 2025. In his very first attempt, Benno secured 343rd rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination. This was nothing less than winning the world for him and his family. The dream that Benno had in school came true. He is an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer.
Where is IFS officer Beno Zefin today?
IFS officer Beno Zefin Ajagiri is today posted as First Secretary (Commercial and Political) in Jakarta, the national capital of Indonesia. He got posting in the Indian Embassy located in Jakarta in the year 2025. Prior to this, she had served as First Secretary (Information/Political/Policy Planning) in the Indian High Commission, Kuala Lumpur for three years, Under Secretary (Policy Planning and Research Division) in the Ministry of External Affairs for three years and Third Secretary (Language Trainee) in Paris for two years.
India’s first visually impaired Foreign Service officer Beno Zefin Ajagiri inspires youth, women and the disabled. She often says, ‘We are too precious to let disappointments come to our minds.’ Even though she does not have light in her eyes, still she is playing an important role in illuminating the society by inspiring the youth. (all photos credit- Insta/beno_zephine)
