Jailed rowdy's daughter fights against odds, scores 81 pc in ICSE

Seeing her father behind bars would be a traumatic experience for a 16-year-old girl. On top of that, remaining unfazed and focusing on one’s exams in such a situation would be a challenge that most people would find hard to even fathom. 

But studying with a single-minded dedication, Urvi Begum, whose father is in jail, has scored 81 per cent in the ICSE exams, the results for which were announced on Monday. What’s more, she aims to become an IPS officer and is leaving no stone unturned to achieve this dream! 

Urvi’s father, Tanveer Ahmed, is a notorious rowdy from Shivajinagar. Even though it was no ordinary task to manage her studies, she didn’t allow any of this affect her studies. There is a distinct tone of maturity in her when she acknowledges her family’s extraordinary situation without any qualms. She says she expected to score above 90 per cent but is nonetheless content with what she has achieved.

 “It was difficult for me to concentrate on studies as my father is lodged in jail and the only source of help was my mother and brother. I didn’t attend any coaching classes. I was attentive in the class. The guidance from my principal and teachers helped me sail through,” she says in a jubilant voice. “It’s a joyful moment but our house is filled with sadness as my father is behind bars.” 

Urvi gives her mother the credit for her success, saying she ensured the family crisis didn’t affect her children. “She just asked me to ignore everything else and concentrate on my studies. I had only one thing to do: go to school and study. Finally, the hard work paid off,” she says. 

Their dream: Civil service Urvi’s elder brother, 19-year-old Abdul Rahman, is not to be left behind. Although visually impaired, he passed ISC exams last year by scoring over 70 per cent. He didn’t attend any school meant especially for blind. He aims to be an IAS officer and is currently pursuing graduation in humanities at  the St Joseph’s Arts and Science College. “Life has always been a struggle for us but our only aim is to excel in studies. I help my sister and she helps me and this is how we have been studying throughout. Whenever we meet our father in jail, he only asks us to study well.” 

With her husband in and out of jail, Fahmida Begum has struggled to encourage her children to do well in academics.

 “It’s their hard work. I supported them in all ways that I could. Since Tanveer has been in and out of jail, we were together for just four years. In such a situation, the entire responsibility of taking care of the children was mine,” she says.