From the historical place Langate, once called Tehsil Utter Machipora—the only tehsil that catered up to Pattan, Baramulla, to the Polytechnic College, the journey is hard to narrate and almost unbelievable. The tale of this success story needs to be read by our youth and by those who have been discouraged by life for one reason or another.
Some stories are inspiring and encouraging, we must read and share them. They give us experience and a way forward. The one I mention here is none other than my childhood classmate, who left education after matriculation and remained idle, despite being very good in both studies and common sense. Let us know him not for what he achieved, but for how he achieved it, after a huge struggle and at a time and age when most people have already given up on education. It will be a lesson for us to follow and a source of encouragement for those who left their careers halfway.
Hailing from the northern side of Kashmir, Langate, Iqbal—at 45 years old, with four children and having left academics some 25 years ago, has proven that age is just a number. At such an age, individuals often abandon all dreams of education and professional growth. Most people become hopeless and helpless. In a situation where one has four children, limited resources, and only a single source of income, it is almost unimaginable to return to education. Yet, Iqbal fought through numerous challenges, enrolled in a polytechnic college, and pursued his dream of becoming an engineer. Not only did he make it possible, but he also emerged as one of the top performers in the Valley.
He is a beacon of hope and an inspiration to our young generation, carrying the message that dedication and enthusiasm are the keys to success. Due to domestic responsibilities, Iqbal couldn’t continue his studies after the 10th class, but the dream of becoming an engineer remained alive in his heart, and he never gave up on it. From 1997 to 2022, he was occupied with social and family pressures and problems. After a 25-year gap spent supporting his family, he secured admission to the Government Polytechnic College, Baramulla. Despite immense responsibilities, financial challenges, and being the sole breadwinner for four young children, Iqbal not only earned his engineering degree but also made all Kashmiris proud by becoming the state topper. His journey is a testament to conviction, dedication, and willpower.
Iqbal’s journey remained very tough. He took up various temporary jobs to support his family, sometimes working as a contractor, at other times as a government employee or a laborer. But none of these roles brought him satisfaction, as he continued to dream of becoming an engineer. The goal was always there, simply waiting for the right time. In his father’s eyes, education beyond high school was a luxury the family could not afford. What they needed was stability. A government job, his father insisted, would bring respect and security to the family. Being the eldest, Iqbal also carried the burden of responsibility.
When Iqbal resigned from his government job, his family and friends were shocked. His father was furious. Neighbours whispered about his recklessness, how could someone walk away from a secure job in such uncertain times? But Iqbal was resolute. He didn’t know exactly how or when, but he was determined to pursue his dream of becoming an engineer. This shows us that dreams never die if we are dedicated and hardworking. Today, his father and friends may recall that Iqbal was not the failure they once perceived him to be, he proved his worth.
The credit goes to none other than his wife and friends, because a wife is often the foundation of a man’s success. It is rightly said that behind every successful man, there is a woman. His wife not only helped him nurture his dream but also made it possible by supporting him through all times, whether good or bad. Emotional support is often more valuable than financial assistance.
Why is this an extraordinary story? Why do such stories need to be told to younger generations? Why do we want these stories to be promoted and shared widely? It is because of their uniqueness and extraordinary nature that they serve to boost the morale of our youth. At 45, with four children and a 25-year gap in academics, Iqbal did what many would consider impossible—he returned to college to pursue his dream of becoming an engineer. Today, he stands tall as the state topper in engineering from the Government Polytechnic College, Baramulla, defying not only age and circumstance but also society’s expectations. His journey is a powerful reminder that dreams never die if one dares to chase them.
Iqbal’s life was never easy. Coming from a modest background, he was compelled by family pressure to leave academics after the 10th class and take up a government job. For his father, further education was an unaffordable luxury. Stability, respect, and a steady income mattered more than personal ambition. Iqbal, being the eldest, bore the responsibility of holding the family together. Though he worked sincerely, whether as a contractor, a government employee, or a mate, his heart was never truly in it. His dream of becoming an engineer lingered silently within him, waiting for the right time to surface.
While his classmates were free from responsibilities, Iqbal had to juggle multiple roles every day, father, homemaker, student, and sole provider. Each morning, he prepared breakfast for his children, helped them get ready for school, and then embarked on his own academic journey. He was the first to arrive in class, the most eager to ask questions, and often the last to leave the library. Evenings were spent caring for his children, and nights passed under the dim light of a single bulb, immersed in textbooks and assignments. The emotional and physical toll was enormous, but Iqbal’s commitment never wavered.
What makes Iqbal’s achievement even more remarkable is not just that he studied among much younger students, but that he outperformed them all. Competing against bright young minds in their academic prime, Iqbal emerged not just successful, but as the state topper. His name was printed in newspapers, his professors lauded him publicly, and even the neighbours who once whispered doubts now spoke of him with pride. His story turned into an inspiration, making not just his family proud but giving the entire state a reason to celebrate.
While many of his peers and childhood friends had gone on to become professionals with high-paying jobs, Iqbal’s path was different—delayed, uncertain, yet ultimately more meaningful. He had the courage to start over when others would have given up. He endured mockery, hardship, and the weight of responsibilities most students could never imagine. Yet, he made it. Today, Langate speaks of him not just with admiration but with hope. Schools and community groups invite him to share his story, and his presence alone lights a spark in those who had begun to think dreams were out of reach.
Iqbal’s success sends a clear and powerful message to the youth of Kashmir, especially those drifting toward hopelessness or entangled in drugs and destructive paths. He is living proof that even with limited resources, immense pressures, and long-lost opportunities, one can still rise and shine. His story must be taught as a lesson to our younger generation, an example that should be followed, not forgotten.
In a region where the aspirations of becoming a doctor or engineer are often clouded by economic realities and social constraints, Iqbal has become a symbol of what is possible. He left behind security, faced scorn, battled odds, but never let go of his dream. That is how a father of four children, burdened by responsibilities and decades of sacrifice, became the state topper in engineering.
His journey is a tribute to hard work, perseverance, and undying ambition. In his own words: “Dreams delayed are not dreams denied. What matters is that you never stop believing. You water that dream, even in silence, and one day, it will bloom.”
So, here’s to Mir Iqbal Jeelani, the boy who never stopped dreaming and the man who proved that with hard work and dedication, even the most distant dreams can become a living reality. That is how, as a father of four children and at the age of 43, he not only fulfilled his dream of becoming an engineer but also became the topper of the state. With this level of dedication, he has no intention of stopping here. His dreams have only grown stronger, shaped by the power of perseverance. “I will continue,” he says, “I plan to qualify the NATA (National Aptitude Test in Architecture) first, and then join the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) next year.

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