The Mukerji Nagar area in Delhi is known as a hub for students preparing for the UPSC exam from all over the country. Thousands of young people gather here, dreaming of jobs in the Indian Civil Service (IAS) and other government positions. Some students can afford to live in expensive rooms, while others use hostel facilities or private boarding houses. However, there are also those who do not even have a room to live in, but whose dreams remain big.
This is the story of Mohammad Minaz, who came from the Darbhanga area in Bihar state. Minaz has been preparing for UPSC for about a year and a half. He does not have a rented room, nor does he receive financial assistance from his family. He studies in a 24-hour library and sleeps on a chair in that same library at night.
In an interview with Lallantop, Minaz spoke about his lack of accommodation. The cost of staying in the library is approximately 1100–1200 rupees per month. He spends the entire day studying, and when night falls, he falls asleep on a chair in the same library. His belongings and clothes are kept in the library lockers. When he needs to take a shower, he goes to the Majnu Ka Tila area in Delhi, which is about 10 kilometers from the library. For Minaz, the trip there is not only related to hygiene; he also eats at a gurdwara. After that, he returns to the library to continue his studies.
Minaz reported that food is served at the gurdwara around 12 PM and around 8 PM. However, he usually only has lunch during the day. He believes that visiting the gurdwara twice would take too much travel time and reduce his study time. The journey to Majnu Ka Tila costs him about 20 rupees. Including the library fee and minor expenses, his total monthly expenditure reaches 3000 rupees. This raises the question of where he gets these 3000 rupees from?
Minaz explained that he earns money by performing tasks related to opening bank accounts through a specific application. He receives about 300–400 rupees for opening one account. Monthly, by completing about 10 such orders, he earns approximately 3000 rupees. With this money, he tries to cover the library fees and other necessities. He emphasizes that if he took a permanent job, he would not have time for preparation. After working in a company for 8–10 hours, commuting and travel would take many more hours, totaling about 12–13 hours. He also needs rest. Therefore, he prioritizes UPSC preparation over earning money.
Minaz's family lives in Bihar. His parents are over 70 years old; his father suffers from diabetes, and the family's financial situation is not very stable. His elder brother works and supports the family. Minaz has not told any of his parents how he lives in Delhi. He tells them that everything is fine and that he is studying hard. He does not want his elderly parents to worry because he is sleeping in the library and eating only one meal.
Minaz has four sisters; three of them are already married, and the family has debts. One sister continues to study and tries to cover expenses by tutoring children at home. Minaz strives to succeed as soon as possible to provide for his parents and sister. His biggest concern is his parents' age, and he is unsure how long he can be with them. Therefore, he wants them to see his success with their own eyes.
Minaz prepares for UPSC without attending courses. His approach to studying is also different. He shares that since the 10th grade, he learned from his teacher that simply reading books is not enough for preparing for any exam. First and foremost, it is necessary to understand exactly how questions are asked in the exam. Based on this thought, he studies past UPSC questions. First, he analyzes the question pattern, and then he creates a study plan according to that pattern.
He is convinced that by studying past exam papers, one can better understand the topics, question-setting methods, and current affairs trends that will be on the exam. Expensive preparation and mentorship are beyond his budget, so he studies independently and consults with other students who have taken the UPSC exam.
When asked why he doesn't take private work, he replied that although private work could change his family's situation, his dream is to clear UPSC. Minaz says that his desire to serve the state arose since his secondary education. He worked in various places, but after graduating from university, he decided to focus on UPSC preparation.
His goal is solely civil service.
