The 21-year-old Muslim boy ‘Ansar Ahmad Shaikh’ has cracked the UPSC exam in his first attempt, but this is not what makes his achievement noteworthy. Ansar, the son of an autorickshaw driver from Jalna’s Shedgaon village in Maharashtra, who secured an All-India Rank 361, has an even more gripping story hidden behind, considered to be a phenomenal achievement.

Ansar Ahmad Shaikh came to Pune 3 years ago, to pursue Bachelor of Arts, political science degree from Pune’s Fergusson College and focus on his UPSC preparations. But, while studying there, he faced the religious discrimination, who had to change his surname from “Shaikh” to a more acceptable “Shubham” to get accommodation and food in the city without hassles.

As reported by Indian Express, Shaikh said he will proudly say his real name now. “I remember when I went to look for a PG accommodation, my friends who were Hindus got rooms but I was refused. So the next time, I said that my name was Shubham, which was actually my friend’s name.”

“Now I don’t have to hide my real name. I am Shaikh, not Shubham. I can tell everyone now,” Ansar said with tears in his eyes.

Ansar stood firm against all odds and achieved phenomenal victory over them. Recalling the hardship he faced, Ansar said,”My father has three wives, my mom is the second. In my family, education wasn’t so important. My younger brother dropped out of school and my two sisters were married off at an early age and didn’t study much. When I called home and told them that I cracked UPSC and in all likelihood will be an IAS officer, they were shell shocked.”

“My brother, a garage hand, supported me throughout, without which this would have been impossible to achieve. I am indebted to him,” Ansar said.

Ansar says he’s been a topper all throughout school and college except Std X where his scores were slightly low. Talking about his preparation for the UPSC, Shaikh said he prepared for 10-12 hours at a stretch for 3 years without a break.

Ansar Shaikh’s story is all about courage and determination. But it also highlights the biased mindset of the society towards minorities. Having been a victim of religious discrimination himself, Shaikh has now vowed to promote Hindu-Muslim unity and bridging disparity as a future IAS officer.