Story of how Ansar Shaikh became one of the
youngest IAS officer of India
The UPSC civil service exam is
considered one of the toughest exams in the country. Lakhs of people take the
exam and only a few hundred make the cut
in the end. Only a proper combination of hard work, guidance and tenacity can
help UPSC aspirants crack these exams.
Many candidates, despite having all the
comforts and coaching that money can buy, fail to clear the IAS exam. But some
determined and zealously diligent
candidates achieve success despite all odds stacked against them. One such
inspiring person is Ansar Ahmad Shaikh, who cleared the UPSC civil
services exam, 2015 in his very first attempt. He secured AIR 361and he was
just 21; beating Roman Saini who was 22 when he became an
IAS officer.
Ansar is the son of Yonus
Shaikh Ahmad, an autorickshaw driver from Jalna’s Shedgaon village in the
Marathwada region of Maharashtra. His mother
worked in fields. His younger brother, Anees dropped out of school in standard
VII. Anees worked in a garage to support the family and
help his brother prepare for the IAS exam.
Ansar worked 12 hours a
day for three years to achieve his IAS dream. His success is especially
commendable counting the fact that education wasn’t a
priority in his family. In his own words Ansar describes his domestic
situation, “Education has never been a watchword in my family. My father, a rickshaw driver,
has three wives. My mother is the second wife. My younger brother dropped out
of school and my two sisters were
married off at an early age. When I told them that I had cleared the UPSC and
in all likelihood will be an IAS officer,they were stunned
shocked.” Ansar had been given West Bengal cadre.
Even though Ansar’s large
family struggled to make ends meet, he remained a bright student throughout. He
had secured 91% in his X board exams (SSC
Board). He has a degree in political science from Fergusson College, Pune.
Ansar has said, “I was
marginalized by three different categories. I am from a backward undeveloped
region, I hail from a poor economic background and I belong
to a minority community. I will tackle all these issues as an administrator
since I have witnessed these issues at close quarters.”
Ansar had attended a
private coaching class for his UPSC civil services
preparation. His family had to bear great expenses in this regard but were more than delighted when they got the
result they all had awaited. He thanked Rahul Pandve, his 30-year-old teacher
for giving him guidance and support.
(Pandve had also cleared the UPSC civil
services exam that year with AIR 200).
Ansar said on his success
“There is no alternative to hard work. During my struggle, my friends helped me
a lot mentally and financially and even my coaching
academy waived a portion of fees due to my poor financial condition”.
Hard work, family
and friends – played their part in leading Ansar to his dream job. But more
than anything, it is attitude that sets him apart from others – the
attitude to never back down and be steadfast in trying to achieve your dream.
