Muslim Rickshaw Driver's Son Adopts A Hindu Name To Get Accommodation, Cracks IAS And Changes It Back With Pride

There's no dearth of the rags to UPSC success stories flying around this week, but the story of Ansar Ahmad Shaikh deserves special mention. The 21-year-old Muslim lad from Maharashtra had to change his surname to a more acceptable "Shubham" to get accommodation and food without hassles. ?He had come to Pune 3 years ago, as a Fergusson College student.?

But now he is determined to proudly flaunt his Muslim name and minority background and work for communal harmony as a government officer.?

Indianexpress

"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," Shaikh added. He hails from the Shelgaon village in Jalna district in the heart of drought-hit Marathwada region and considers the UPSC results as his "advance present" for his upcoming 22nd birthday on June 1, a thrilled relative told journalists.

Completing his schooling from Jalna district school, Shaikh is a BA in political science scoring 73 per cent in 2015 from Fergusson College, Pune. He opted for the same subject for UPSC to crack it at first go, securing 361st rank in the national list.

However, since he belongs to the Other Backward Class category, he is optimistic of an Indian Administrative Services (IAS) posting, which could catapult him as country's youngest IAS officer

"My brother, a garage hand, supported me throughout, without which this would have been impossible to achieve. I am indebted to him," an emotional Shaikh said as his mother and other relatives hugged him. Belonging to a disturbed family, he said his father Ahmad drives an auto-rickshaw and has three wives.

He used to beat his mother often and his two sisters were married off at age 14 and 15. However, braving all challenges and with the support of his brother and mother, the perpetual topper during most of his academic carreer doggedly devoted 13 hours daily to study and crack the UPSC exams at first shot.