Karkala truck driver’s son Muhammad Shaukat Azeem secures 345th Rank in UPSC
Mangalore: In a story of perseverance and determination, Muhammad Shaukat Azeem, the son of a truck driver from Jarigudda in Kasaba village near Karkala, has secured the 345th rank in the prestigious Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) this year.
Azeem’s success is not just personal—it is the realization of a long-cherished dream nurtured by his family, especially his mother. “I was a small boy when a Puneeth Rajkumar film was playing on television. In it, he played an IAS officer. My mother looked at me and asked, ‘Will you also become an IAS officer when you grow up?’ I didn’t even know what that meant back then, but I wanted to fulfill her wish,” Azeem recalled, speaking to Vartha Bharati after the results were announced.
The only son of Sheikh Abdullah, a truck driver, and Maimuna, a beedi worker, Azeem has faced many hurdles on his path to success. The family lives in a rented house, and despite efforts, they have been unable to build their own home. “My parents never let me feel the burden of our struggles. My father always gave me money for my needs with a smile, even when it was difficult. My mother constantly motivated me,” he said with gratitude.
A multilingual achiever fluent in Beary, Urdu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, and English, Azeem completed his primary education at a local Urdu school before moving on to high school, PUC, and later a degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering.
He credits his modest academic beginnings and family struggles as the foundation for his determination. After scoring 92% in SSLC and 74% in PUC, Azeem said his mother’s words continued to push him toward his goal. During financially tough times, help came in the form of Karkala-based businessman K.S. Imtiaz Ahmed, who supported Azeem’s educational journey. “He ensured I did not stop my education for lack of funds. His support was a turning point,” Azeem said.
To prepare for the UPSC exam, Azeem joined the reputed Hundred Study Circle in Delhi, where he also worked alongside his training. His first success came in the 2022 UPSC exams, when he was selected for the Indian Defence Audit Service and posted in Pune. Not content with that, he continued his preparation and has now achieved an even higher rank in the 2024 results, increasing the likelihood of an IAS posting.
“I may have studied hard, but this achievement belongs to my parents and everyone who stood by me. I only hope to serve the country with honesty and dedication,” Azeem said, expressing happiness over fulfilling his mother’s dream.
With his inspiring journey from a humble background to the doorstep of the Indian Administrative Service, Muhammad Shaukat Azeem stands as a shining example of how dreams, when combined with dedication and the right support, can come true.
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
