From darkness to determination: Irfan’s UPSC triumph

April 7, 2026 Unknown Wizards Valli Sarvani

Stories of perseverance often emerge from the toughest circumstances, inspiring countless others to keep going. Irfan Ahmad Lone’s journey reflects courage, loss, and an unbreakable will to succeed.

Hailing from Naidkhai village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora, Irfan faced adversity early in life.

A childhood accident damaged his eyesight, and within a few years, he lost vision completely.

By 2002, he was fully blind. Doctors at AIIMS advised his father to seek specialised education.

Despite earning only ₹3,000 as a labourer, his father, Bashir Ahmad Lone, remained determined. He eventually enrolled Irfan at a school for the visually impaired in Dehradun in 2004.

However, life tested him further. While adapting to blindness, Irfan lost his mother to a brain haemorrhage. This loss deeply affected him. Yet, the supportive environment at school helped him rebuild his confidence.

Surrounded by students facing similar challenges, he developed a positive outlook. He learnt to rely on determination instead of sight.

His efforts soon reflected in academics. He scored 91 per cent in Class 12, which opened new doors. He joined Hindu College, Delhi University, to study Political Science.

There, exposure to a competitive environment inspired him to aim for the civil services. Later, he pursued post-graduation in International Relations at JNU, completing it in 2019.

Meanwhile, financial responsibilities pushed him to work. In 2022, he joined Punjab National Bank and worked for 16 months.

Later, he secured a position as an Assistant Administrative Officer at LIC in November 2023. Although financially stable, he felt unfulfilled. His dream remained unchanged.

Therefore, he continued preparing for UPSC alongside his job. He used assistive technology to study through audio materials.

Listening, memorising, and revising became his daily routine. His discipline and focus never wavered.

Finally, his hard work paid off. In the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025–26, Irfan secured an All India Rank of 957. His achievement stands as a powerful message of resilience.

Now, he aims to serve his home district and inspire others. His journey proves that limitations can be overcome with determination and purpose.

Image from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on April 03, 2017