Success is often said to come through struggle. For 25-year-old Moin Ahmed, struggle wasn’t just a phase; it was the very foundation upon which he built his extraordinary dream. As the son of a Uttar Pradesh Roadways bus driver, Ahmed’s story is a powerful testament to courage, rewriting one’s destiny, and determination.
Ahmed, an IAS officer from the 2023 batch of the West Bengal cadre, hails from Jatpura village in Dilari, Moradabad. Let’s delve into his inspiring journey.
His father, Wali Hasan, worked as a bus driver for UP Roadways in Moradabad, while his mother, Tasleem, is a homemaker. He is the second of five siblings. During his childhood, Ahmed aspired to be a cricketer. However, with his father being the family’s sole breadwinner, affording
cricket kits and training fees became challenging. Reluctantly, he abandoned his childhood passion, learning his first major lesson in life’s hardships and planting the seeds for his future mission.
Ahmed excelled in his 12th grade exams and secured admission to a college at Delhi University. Unfortunately, the college fees were beyond his reach, and banks declined to provide education loans. This setback shattered Ahmed’s dream of studying at Delhi University, but he persevered and decided to pursue his graduation in his hometown, Moradabad.
To support his family and save money for his future, Ahmed began working at a cyber cafe. His diligence paid off, and he soon earned 40,000 rupees a month. While working at the cyber cafe, he decided to prepare for the UPSC Civil Services exam. Although his decision faced opposition—his father was upset, and some relatives deemed it career suicide—his mother, Tasleem, supported him. In 2019, he quit his job and moved to Delhi for UPSC coaching, taking a loan of 2.5 lakh rupees to fund his preparation.
Ahmed’s journey to Delhi was fraught with challenges; he often ran out of money and felt immense stress. However, he found a support system just when things seemed bleak. Guided by his mentor, IRS officer Asif Yusuf, and financially aided by Sahil Khan of the Atiya Foundation, Ahmed’s belief in helping others was reinforced through these acts of kindness.
Despite failing in his first three attempts, Ahmed’s determination remained unwavering. Confronting all obstacles, his persistent hard work eventually paid off in his fourth attempt. Ahmed secured the 296th rank in UPSC 2022 and became an IAS officer.
