Collector without UPSC route! A reminder of hard work & resilience in the face of inequality

Becoming an IAS officer is often seen as a journey that begins with years of gruelling preparation for the UPSC exam, long hours of study, expensive coaching centers, and endless pressure.

But the life of B. Abdul Nasar tells a very different, and much tougher, story of reaching the same goal. His journey is inspiring, but it also carries a quiet sadness when you see the hardships he endured to get there.

Nasar’s early life was marked by struggle. He lost his father when he was just five years old, and his mother worked as a house cleaner to keep the family afloat. Even then, the family could not afford a proper home, forcing Nasar and his siblings to grow up in an orphanage in Kerala for 13 long years.

Childhood for him wasn’t about games or school trips; it was about survival. By the age of ten, he was already doing small jobs like cleaning and delivery work. As he grew older, he balanced school with work, taking up roles such as newspaper delivery boy, tutor, and even phone operator, just to support his family.

Eventually, his persistence paid off when he secured a job as a clerk in the state health department. For many, this stable government job would have been the destination. For Nasar, it was just the start.

He didn’t have the time or money to attempt the UPSC exam, so he took another route: he poured his energy into excelling at the job he had. With years of consistent hard work and an unshakeable commitment to excellence, his efforts did not go unnoticed.

Over more than two decades, he rose steadily through the ranks of the state administration. His remarkable track record eventually earned him a promotion to the Indian Administrative Service in 2017, fulfilling a dream he had chased for years, though in a way few could imagine.

Nasar’s journey to the collector is nothing short of extraordinary. But it also highlights a harsh truth: while talent is abundant, opportunities are not. His success is a testament to resilience and dedication, but it also reflects the quiet struggles of countless others who never get the chance to show what they are capable of.