Tag Archives: Mohammed Hussain

UPSC: Mohammad Hussain, who had failed in his first four attempts, sat in a mosque and cried out to Allah before succeeding in his fifth attempt

Amazing Feats, Education, Education - Gold Medallists, Toppers, Merits, Achievers (wef. June 12th, 2023), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wadi Bundar, Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA:

Syed Mohammad Hussain said Failing in four attempts disappointed me, but it did not let me break down. I worked hard and cracked the UPSC exam.


Hussain, a resident of Sholapur Lane, Wadi Bandar, Mumbai, has secured the 570th rank in the UPSC Exam 2022.


Success for Hussain was full of struggles and hard work. Hussain lives in a small shanty on the roadside adjacent to the Wadi Bandar Majgaon Dock area. It is the hub of godowns; loading and unloading heavy vehicles is routine here. When I reached Wadi Bandar, Hussain met me enthusiastically and immediately reminded me by saying, Sir, I promised that this time I would definitely give you an interview opportunity.” Now that it has been fulfilled, I remembered that meeting in my flashback. After a while, Hussain got busy between some TV channels and YouTubers and then said, “Sir, we sit at a place nearby; the house is small; people will keep coming to meet me; we will not be focused.” We reached the nearby Jafar Sulaiman Hostel. Hussain said, Sir, the complete preparation of my 5th attempt has been done at this place.

On a question about the journey from primary to graduation, Hussain replied that he studied from 1st to 5th standard at Khwaja Shia Asana Ashri School, then joined St. Joseph High School Dongri in 6th standard, from where he passed the 10th exam in 2012 with 61% marks. Later, I passed 12th Commerce in 2014 from Anjuman Islam Alana Junior College in Vermont with 72%, joined Elphinstone College for graduation, and completed my B.Com. in 2017 with 86%.


Hussain reveals the story of how the idea of doing UPSC came to his mind. My father is illiterate; his childhood was spent in an area that was once considered a hotbed of crime. My father had dreamed of making us government officers by giving higher education to my siblings. He was a member of the Mohalla committee, so he used to participate in the programmes organised by the police station. When I was a school-going boy, I had the opportunity to visit government offices. Then I got inspired by the officers, and the idea of becoming an officer came into my mind at an early age. After graduation, I decided to pursue a career in competitive exams. My father wished that if the situation in the area were to change, I would have to prove myself.

Not having much career awareness, I moved from Mumbai to Pune based on whatever I had learned by myself. There I took admitted to Unique Academy and started regular civil service studies. Alhamdulillah I qualified for the preliminary exam on my first attempt in 2018 after only eight months of preparation, but failed the main exam due to my lack of experience in studying.

Meanwhile, I came to know about Jamia Residential Coaching Academy. I cleared its entrance and went to Delhi, where I learned a lot from seniors. Appeared for the 2019 prelims but didn’t qualify. The reason was that I focused all my attention on the main study. As I had no experience studying, it was a big lesson for me.

Unfortunately, due to the Corona lockdown, I returned to Mumbai. Here, then, CEO Maqsood Khan Sahib gave me an opportunity to prepare in Haj House. With all the facilities near my home, I worked hard and qualified for the 2020 and 2021 prelims, respectively, but failed again in the mains. Due to some unavoidable circumstances, senior students left the Hajj House. It was a sign of great sorrow for me.

At the same time, with the efforts of Maqsood Khan sb., a centre for the preparation of the civil service examination was started at the Jafar Sulaiman Musafir Khana hostel. I was very happy that Allah provided us with the means. It was impossible to study with uniformity among all the members of the house. After joining Jafar Sulaiman Hostel along with my own studies, I started coaching other students as well. Alhamdulillah, ever since this centre was established, students have been achieving success in one or another examination. The full credit goes to Maqsood Khan Sahib and his teammate, who laid the foundation of this centre in times of need. Despite very limited resources and a lack of facilities, doing my studies here has been quite fruitful for me. Having qualified in three out of the four attempts in the prelims, I was very disappointed with the continuous failure in the mains but did not let myself break down.

One day, I sat in the courtyard of the mosque in Jafar Suleman Musafirkhana and wept before Allah. I did introspection on myself and found out my weaknesses, strengths, and the reasons behind my failure. In the end, I stood up with determination by committing myself, “Now the next journey will be for success.” Then I qualified for the May 2022 preliminary exams. This encouraged me. The main exam took place in September 2022. Alhamdulillah, I had success in that too. In preparation for the interview, I went to Jamia RCA Delhi, where I got training and guidance from seniors. Through hard work and continuous mock interviews, I gained confidence and appeared for the interview in February 2023. Alhamdulillah, I succeeded with a 570 rank on my 5th attempt. Due to the support of my parents, relatives, friends, Haj House, Jamia RCA, Jafar Sulaiman Musafir Khana Civil Service Centre, and especially Maqsood Ahmad Khan Sb.

Mohammad Hussain said in a message to the students: The civil service exam takes time. It’s a test of patience and requires hard work with comprehensive planning, concentration, a positive attitude, and consistency. Sometimes you have to go through a lot of stress and pressure. I would like to tell the students that success is not within their realm and takes time.” It’s a test of patience and requires hard work with comprehensive planning, concentration, a positive attitude, and consistency. Sometimes you have to go through a lot of stress and pressure. I would like to tell the students that success is not within their realm.” It’s a test of patience and requires hard work with comprehensive planning, concentration, a positive attitude, and consistency. Sometimes you have to go through a lot of stress and pressure. I would like to tell the students that success is not within their realm. Everyone has a share in it. Meet the professionals with whom you want to make your career, get full knowledge of the field, and work hard.

Interviewer Akhlaque Sk (career counsellor)  can be reached at sakhlaque@ymail.com.

source: http://www.thehindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> News> Education / by Shaikh Akhlaque / May 28th, 2023

Assam freedom fighter’s Tricolour to flutter again

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Freedom Fighters (under research project), , , , , ,

ASSAM :

CommanderSahibMPOs15aug2019

Khadi flag was specially made in 1947 after it was clear that the British were leaving

Nurul Hussain had intended to display his father’s most prized possession — a khadi Tricolour of 1947 vintage — to mark India’s 75th Independence Day.

But friends and neighbours in Sivasagar district’s Demow town, about 380 km east of Guwahati, advised him not to wait that long. He agreed to unfurl the National Flag on Thursday.

“They have a point. I am 78 and the only survivor among Mohammed Hussain’s five sons,” he said.

Mohammed Hussain spent the later part of his life as a cleric. Locals, however, knew him more as Commander Sahib than a maulvi. “He had sown the seeds of revolt against the British in this part. People gradually began to call him Commander Sahib. The British were so angry with his rebellion that they confiscated 47 ‘bighas’ of land he owned,” Mr. Hussain told The Hindu from Demow.

After Commander Sahib died in 1971, his youngest son took over the responsibility of preserving what his father referred to as his treasure box.

More than a flag

“The box contains much more than the spotless khadi flag. There are records pertaining to his joining the freedom movement under Mahatma Gandhi, his joining the Indian National Congress and assorted items associated with many a great leader,” said Mr. Hussain, who was the founder-teacher of the Demow Town High School in 1970.

The flag was specially made in 1947 after it became clear that the British were leaving India. The records, Mr. Hussain said, trace the history of the movement in eastern Assam from 1938 to 1947, including the Quit India movement.

Many among the town’s 30,000 people will turn up at the courtyard of the Hussain house for the unfurling of the flag at 7 a.m.

“Everybody knows Commander Sahib’s house. Many of us will be there for the unfurling to see a 72-year-old National Flag, neatly preserved, being hoisted for the first time since 1947,” said Umesh Chetia, a local resident.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Other States / by Rahul Karmakar / Guwahati – August 15th, 2019

Mohammed Hussain’s Mawa jalebi is a huge hit in the month of Ramzan

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Travel & Tourism, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

In a narrow lane, Burhanpur Mawa Jalebi is a 4×4 sq ft shop, no bigger than a kiosk.

Peak hours of business during Ramzan begin after 10 pm for Burhanpur Mawa Jalebi. (Source: Express photo by Vasant Prabhu)
Peak hours of business during Ramzan begin after 10 pm for Burhanpur Mawa Jalebi. (Source: Express photo by Vasant Prabhu)

Tight coils of pale yellow turn dark brown within minutes. As soon as they rise to the surface in the kadhai of hot oil, cooked to their thick core, Mohammed Hussain scoops them out with a frying ladle and deposits them in a shallow dish of thick sugar syrup. Immediately, the customers that have, until now, been watching Hussain intently, close in for the mawa jalebi.

During the month of Ramzan, Mohammed Ali Road in Mumbai wears a festive look. By 6 pm, the air is thick with a mix of aromas as all shops and stalls in the Khau Galli light up with fairy lights. Walk down the crowded lane and one notices that the jalebi is curiously missing from the scene. “That is because Mohammed Ali Road has only one jalebi shop, and not the regular variety but mawa jalebi, available at Burhanpur Mawa Jalebi,” says the cashier at Suleman Usman Mithaiwala, which sits at the Khau Galli junction.

In a narrow lane, Burhanpur Mawa Jalebi is a 4×4 sq ft shop, no bigger than a kiosk. Hussain and his brothers Mohammed Yusuf and Mohammed Hissar cater to the thickening crowd. “Mawa jalebi is a specialty from Madhya Pradesh,” says Yusuf between taking orders. “Our shop introduced Mumbai to this sweet, which is distinct,” he adds.

Made using mawa, arrowroot and milk, it is closer to gulab jamun in taste. “Its crispness comes from arrowroot, which gives the batter a better hold. Unlike the other jalebi, this doesn’t have the tinge of sour taste,” says Hussain.

Burhanpur Mawa Jalebi was started a decade ago by his uncle Nooruddin. “The recipe is original, passed on by a karigar in Mathura to our maternal grandfather,” says Hussain. This shop is a branch of the original, which has been in Burhanpur, for 45 years.

Open from 3 pm to 3 am during Ramzan and till midnight on other days, Burhanpur Mawa Jalebi prices its specialty at Rs 240 a kg. “With a hike in the rates of mawa and other ingredients, we will increase its price after Ramzan,” says Yusuf. Why not during the festive season, when they are bound to do good business? “Ramzan is a holy month; a time to reflect, cleanse self and do good. Acting greedy will bring us sin,” says Yusuf. Upon hearing the azaan at the nearby Minara Masjid, he takes a break and heads in the direction. It is time for namaaz before he breaks his fast.

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Lifestyle / by Dipti Nagpaul D’Souza, Mumbai / July 09th, 2015