Kannur: It has been a difficult journey for 49-year-old Thalassery native Abdul Nasar to obtain the Kollam collector's seat. His journey would definitely inspire many around the world.

Abdul Nasar's life changed completely when he was five years old. He lost his father Abdul Khadar and was sent to an orphanage in Thalassery, Kannur in Kerala. His mother hoped that her child would be provided better food and education. He spent 13 years at the Thalassery orphanage.

It was in 1982 that the seeds of becoming an IAS officer was sown in Nasar's mind. He was in school, when the then sub-collector Amitabh Kant paid a visit to the institution. Upon seeing the young collector, Nasar too hoped that he would one day become a collector.

Nasar worked as a cleaner in hotels during his school days to finance his education. While pursuing his BA in English Literature at Government Brennen College, Kannur, he took up various jobs such as telephone operator and newspapers delivery person.

After his post-graduation in English literature, he had to forego his higher studies due to familial obligations. He enrolled in a short-term course to become a health inspector instead.

He then worked as a teacher at a school in Kannur. It was around this time that he cracked the PSC exam to obtain the post of deputy collector, which was his dream.

He passed the preliminary examination in 2002 and the main examination in 2004 and was appointed deputy collector in 2006. In October 2017, he was promoted to IAS officer.

Nasar is married to a higher secondary teacher MK Ruksana and the couple has three kids; Nayeema, Nuamul Haq and Inamul Haq.