Kanpur, UTTAR PRADESH :

If we have faith in ourselves, we can do anything. Shahid also believed that if everyone can do it, then I can also do it. And today Shahid is successful. This time he has got 475 rank in UPSC Civil Service Examination. Whereas in the previous examination he had secured 695 rank. 

Talking to BeyondHeadlines, Shahid says that last time I got IRS. But I want to become an IAS, so I continued my preparation. However, it is not so easy to prepare along with training, so this time I could only get 475 rank. On this rank you will get IPS. 

But you have to become an IAS? 

On this Shahid says, ‘Absolutely! I have to become an IAS. Insha Allah, I will continue my efforts next time as well. However, he also says that it may be difficult to appear in the exam next time because my training is going on in Nagpur right now. And it is almost impossible to appear in the exam during this time.’ But Shahid’s spirits are definitely high. 

It was not so easy for Shahid Ahmed of Kanpur city of Uttar Pradesh to do this. In 2016, his father suddenly passed away. The burden of responsibilities fell on him, despite this Shahid kept on preparing and succeeded in his second attempt last year. And now in the third attempt, he has also improved his rank. He is hopeful that in the future he will definitely become an IAS along with getting a good rank.

Shahid’s family earlier lived in Kidwai Nagar in Kanpur, but now they have shifted to Jajnu area. His father Haji Jameel Ahmed was a businessman. His mother Bano Ahmed takes care of the household chores. He is the fifth child in a family of six members. He has four elder sisters and a younger brother.

Shahid completed his 10th and 12th from Virendra Swaroop School in Kanpur. Then he came to Delhi for further studies. In 2015, he completed his BSc degree in Chemistry Honours from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University. And now he is studying law from Delhi University. He is currently in the final year of BA LLB.

Shahid says that when I was in school, I had decided that I wanted to join the civil service because I always liked administrative things. I was a captain in the school. I used to manage many things in the school. That’s when my teachers told me that I should join the civil service. From there, I tried to learn about it. I read about it on the internet, then I decided that this is what I want to do.

Shahid had taken law as his subject. He says, because I am also studying law. This helps me a bit in other papers as well. That is why I thought it was better to take this.

Talking about his preparation, Shahid says, “I joined a coaching institute in 2016, but left it within a month. I did not think coaching was going to be of any use. I gave the test of Hamdard Study Circle and got selected. Then I stayed here and studied on my own. Here I got a chance to meet good people. I made friends with good people. The atmosphere here is very good. In 2017, I came to Jamia Millia Islamia. Here too I got a lot of guidance and help.

Shahid tells those who want to join civil service that before starting preparation, it is most important to research the syllabus and previous year question papers and understand them. Because there is a lot of material to study. But we have to study according to the syllabus very thoughtfully and with planning. It is also important to understand the demand of the exam.

He further says that, along with studying, it is also important that you know how to write. Whatever you have studied, if you are not able to write it in the mains paper, then there is no use. Nothing is going to happen to you.

Shahid is very interested in cricket. He also reads a lot of non-fiction books. Shahid says that this will not directly help you in the exam, but it definitely makes a difference to your personality. In such a situation, it can be beneficial for the interview. However, it is not necessary that it is beneficial for everyone. But it is certain that it creates a perspective to look at things.

Shahid says to the youth of his community, have you ever thought why we are less in government jobs. Ask yourself what is our percentage in civil service. Have you ever thought that there are not as many people here as there should be. What is the reason for this? Actually, lack of education is the real reason for this. The religion in which the importance of education has been emphasized the most, today the people of the same community are giving the least importance to education.

He further says that, my parents were also not educated, but they understood the importance of education and got all the brothers and sisters educated. In such a situation, it is important that all parents pay special attention to the education of their children. There is a need to pay special attention to the education of girls. They have a lot of potential. They just need to be allowed to move forward. If you support them a little and promote them to study, then in the future they will do the best. 

He further tells the youth that, first of all, you should believe in yourself that if everyone can do it, then we can also do it. Do not think that this is a very difficult exam. We will not be able to study. This thing should be removed from the heart and mind.

Finally Shahid says that, I always regret that if my father was here, he would have been happy with this success. He has educated me after a lot of struggle. I will have this regret in my heart throughout my life that I wish I could have seen my son doing this work or I could have achieved this success during his lifetime.

source: http://www.beyondheadlines.in / Beyond Headlines / Home> India> Real Heroes / by Afroz Alam Sahil, Beyond Headlines / April 20th, 2019