By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Maybe the Sachar Committee report has opened their eyes. The community knew it is backward but had little clue it is lagging so much behind the other communities in the country. The surge in the number of Muslims making it to UPSC shows the educated youths of the community now want to uplift it, and in the process contribute in nation building, on their own. The final list of successful candidates of the Civil Services examination 2008, released on May 4, has 32 Muslims, 4.04% of successful 791 candidates, a better progress from 3.6% in 2007. More heartening is the fact that many of the successful Muslim youths this year have come from humble background and are from the backwaters of the country.
Akhtar Hussain Ansari comes from Siwan in Bihar. His father runs a school and a madrasa in the village. Akhtar, who did schooling in his home town and graduation and post-graduation from Delhi University, has cracked the Civil Services examination in first attempt. He is ranked 453 in the final result of UPSC 2008.
Salik Perwez hails from Araria in Bihar. He did schooling in hometown and graduation from Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. His father is Araria district correspondent of Hindi daily Hindustan and mother homemaker. Ranked 603 in the UPSC 2008, Salik cleared it in second attempt.
Similarly, Shahid Alam comes from a humble background. He hails from Ranchi in Jharkhand. He did graduation and post-graduation in geography from Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi. His family was not in position to bear the expenses of his higher education and UPSC preparation. A Muslim charity in Delhi came out to help him and he cleared India’s top Civil Services in first attempt.
Below is a brief talk with some of the successful Muslim candidates of UPSC 2008.
Akhtar Hussain Ansari (Rank 453)
Credit for his success: My parents without whose help I could not make it. Then my teachers.
Inspiration: I was not good in education. I thought it would be very tough to clear it. I have many friends who cleared civil services. This inspired me and I thought I can also do.
State: Siwan, Bihar
Education: X from Bihar Board, XII from CBSE, graduation from Shaheed Bhagat Singh College of Delhi University, and post-graduation from Delhi School of Economics, then M. Phil and now doing Ph.D. from Jamia Millia Islamia.
Family: Six brothers and two sisters. They live with parent in the village. Father runs a school and a madrasa in the village.
Turning point: When I came to Delhi I thought I won’t get much. I was weak in education. I joined DU and topped in graduation. Though did schooling in Hindi medium but did graduation in English medium. Then I thought I have potential and I can achieve the goal.
Message to the youth of Muslim community: When I joined Jamia Millia Islamia and came in contact with the community, I found there is a pool of talent. They need some inspiration and determination, commitment and honesty. They have talent and they can achieve anything they want.
Salik Perwez (Rank 603)
Credit: Alimighty God and then father who stood behind me as an inspiring rock. My father always pushed me to do something extra.
Inspiration: I have never been inspired by any personality for UPSC. I thought it will be a better platform to serve people. Earning money was not a problem for me.
State: Araria, Bihar
Education: Schooling in hometown, graduation in French language from Jawaharlal Nehru University.
Family: Father is district correspondent of Hindi daily Hindustan in Araria, mother homemaker
Turning point: In school life I was much interested in sports and had my own sports club, my uncle was also a sportsperson. Once my teacher told me not to look to my uncle, rather to my father (journalist). From then I got serious to study.
Message to the youth of Muslim community: Work hard, be focused. There is no discrimination. Go ahead, Wish you luck!
Shahid Alam (Rank 540)
Credit: Almighty Allah, my parent, the Dept. of Geography of Jamia Millia Islamia and Dr Zafar Mahmood, director, Zakat Foundation of India.
Inspiration: To serve the society from very close quarter motivated me lot.
State: Jharkhand
Education: Graduation, post-graduation in Geography from Jamia Millia Islamia, doing Ph.D. from the same university
Family: One younger sister and parent
Message to the youth of Muslim community: The country needs your service. So please come out.
Tariq Mabood (Rank 499)
Credit: My parents, teachers and Hamdard Study Circle
Inspiration: I was commandant in CRPF. Earlier a teacher in UP. I thought Muslim representation in UPSC is low. So we should come out and try to grab it.
State: Banda, Uttar Pradesh
Education: Graduation from Pandit Jain College in Banda, post-graduation from Jhansi University, and B.Ed. from Kanpur University. I came to Delhi and joined Hamdard Study Circle. Cleared UPSC in first attempt.
Family: Father is Sub Inspector in UP police, mother homemaker, has one elder brother and two sisters. Sisters are also preparing for UPSC.
Message to the youth of Muslim community: A couplet of Josh Maleehabadi: Kaam hai mera tagaiur aur naam hai mera shabab naara hai mera inquilab inquilab inquilab (it means: change is my work, youth is my name, my slogan is revolution, revolution, revolution)