Early Life of Mohammed Ali Shihab

Shihab was born in the district of Malappuram in Kerala. His life took a tragic turn when his father passed away, leaving behind his mother and five siblings. Shortly after, Shihab was sent to an orphanage where he spent a significant part of his childhood. His journey from an orphanage to becoming an IAS topper is truly awe-inspiring.

Education and Career Path

After completing his pre-degree, Shihab worked as a primary school teacher. Simultaneously, he attempted various competitive exams, clearing several of them including those for clerk, peon, jail warden, forester, and railway ticket collector. He also earned a Bachelor's degree in History by appearing as a private candidate.

Pursuit of IAS

Shihab's dream was to become an IAS officer and serve the underprivileged. To prepare for the exam, he joined a coaching institute. He acknowledges the role of coaching in his success, stating, “Without the coaching, I would not have made it to the Civil Services.” However, life presented him with another challenge - his newborn daughter was diagnosed with arm paralysis. Juggling between hospital visits and exam preparation, he had to quit the coaching institute and continue his studies at home.

Despite the difficulties, Shihab never lost sight of his goal. He sought the help of a Civil Service training institute's faculty in Kerala to streamline his preparation. Battling all odds, he successfully cleared the Civil Services Exam in 2011.

You can also draw inspiration from other IAS toppers. For instance, Dr. Shena Aggarwal, the IAS topper of 2011, has a remarkable success story. Explore more about her journey here . Here are some of the IAS toppers from 2018:

Shihab's success story underscores the significance of IAS coaching in cracking the UPSC exam. Coaching provides a structured approach to IAS preparation and aids in processing a vast amount of information.

It also provides guidance on how to cover the extensive IAS syllabus .

Shihab’s Choice of Optional Subject

Shihab initially chose Geography and History as his optional subjects for the UPSC IAS Exam and received coaching for both. However, he later switched to Malayalam Literature finding Geography challenging. Learn more about Malayalam Literature as an optional subject .

The Key to Success in IAS

Shihab attributes his success to the discipline instilled in him during his time in the orphanage and the guidance he received during his exam preparation. Despite limited resources and time constraints, he studied diligently. His mantra is “Be stronger than your strongest excuse”. Today, he uses his position to improve the lives of people in remote villages. His journey serves as a beacon of hope for underprivileged youth across the country. If Shihab could achieve his dream against all odds, what's stopping you?

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