From Jalna’s Jam-Packed Streets to India’s Elite: Ansar Shaikh’s UPSC Victory Lap

In a country where dreams struggle to keep up with cruel realities, Ansar Shaikh's story is a beacon of hope for crores of individuals. Hailing from Maharashtra's Jalna region, where his father was an autorickshaw driver and mother a farmhand, Ansar defeated all odds to become the youngest IAS officer of India, clearing the UPSC Civil Services Examination at the age of 21 years in his first attempt itself, and securing All India Rank (AIR) 361 in the year 2016.

 

Plain Roots: Ansar's father, Yonus Shaikh Ahmad, was an autorickshaw driver, and his mother, Adeela Shaikh, was a farmhand. There was never money to spare, and Ansar even worked in a restaurant to fund a computer course during school vacations.

 

Academic Merit: Despite the hurdles, Ansar scored 91% in his 12th class board examinations and graduated in Political Science from Fergusson College, Pune, with 73% marks.

 

First Attempt Success: Ansar cleared the much-hyped UPSC exam in his first attempt, opting for Political Science as his optional subject and Marathi as the medium of the Mains and Interview.

 

Family Sacrifices: His older brother quit school to work in a garage, helping the family and financing Ansar's schooling. Ansar's sister got married at 15, illustrating the sacrifices his family undertook.

 

Current Posting: Ansar Shaikh is currently Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Cooch Behar, West Bengal, and has been posted on key administrative positions in the state in the past.

 

Inspiration: Ansar's life is a metaphor for perseverance, hard work, and the power of education. He has a tendency to remind aspirents, "Poverty has nothing to do with success. Your background doesn't matter much; hard work and determination do".

 

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Ansar Shaikh's move from mopping hospital floors to the corridors of power is a testament to the fact that with determination and support, anything is achievable. 

 

Source: Times Now, Vajiram & Ravi, Wikipedia, Indian Masterminds