Tauseef Ahmad
Bandipora, Mar 07: Defying severe physical and financial challenges, a visually impaired youth from Naidkhai village in the Sonawari area of Bandipora district has cleared the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination, bringing pride and celebration to his family and the entire region.
Irfan Ahmad Lone, the son of a casual labourer, secured a place in the civil services list after years of perseverance and hard work. His father, who once earned just ₹3,000 per month as a casual labourer before the wage was later increased to ₹9,000, continued to support his son’s education despite limited financial means.
He lost vision in one eye during childhood after a pencil accident. Over time, the sight in his other eye also deteriorated, leaving him completely visually impaired. Recognising the need for specialised education, his father enrolled him at the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities in Dehradun, where he completed his schooling up to Class 12. He got AIR 957 in the final selection list of UPSC announced yesterday.
Speaking with the Kashmir Despatch, his younger sister Shabia said that she always believes her brother will crack the exam because of his hard work and dedication. “He has made the whole Bandipora proud today and has become an inspiration raising from such circumstances is itself an achievement for all of us.”
She said that Irfan pursued higher education at Hindu College under University of Delhi and completed his postgraduate studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Though he was offered an opportunity to pursue a PhD at University of Oxford, Irfan instead chose to prepare for competitive examinations.
Currently working as an Assistant Administrative Officer at the Life Insurance Corporation of India in Delhi, he could not immediately visit his hometown due to financial year-end work commitments.
His cousin told Kashmir Despatch, that the village has been celebrating since the results were announced. “His father supported his education despite earning very little as a casual labourer. Today he has made not only his family proud but the entire area,” he said.
Hundreds of people early morning gathered at her house to celebrate Irfan’s success and said that despite heaving challenges he could not stop and make entire area proud which are less known to the authorities.
Meanwhile, former minister and senior Naeem Akhtar also congratulated Irfan Ahmad Lone and his family on the achievement. He said Irfan’s success despite visual impairment and financial challenges is inspiring, adding that such accomplishments bring pride to Bandipora and motivate many young people to pursue their dreams.
