India Untold
At the age of just 7, Mohammed Ali Shihab began selling bamboo baskets alongside his father in the village of Evannappara in Malappuram, Kerala.
Shihab's father passed away unexpectedly in 1991, leaving his uneducated mother to face the challenge of finding suitable work to support the family.
Struggling to make ends meet, his mother decided to place Shihab in an orphanage, where he would have access to food and education.
The orphanage became a turning point for Shihab, as he excelled in his studies during his time there.
Shihab spent a decade in the orphanage, where he completed his schooling. To support his higher education, he worked as a peon.
His academic brilliance enabled him to pass 21 government job exams, securing positions such as jail warden, railway ticket checker, and roles in the forest department.
In 2011, he achieved an impressive 226th rank in the UPSC exam, ultimately becoming an IAS officer.