Shahana was a research scholar in International Relations at Calicut University.
In 2017, Sherin Shahana TK fell from the terrace of her house in Kerala’s Wayanad and she was bedridden for a year and half following the accident.
Sherin Shahana TK, a resident of Kambalakkad village in Kerala’s Wayanad district, has set an example for all by securing 913th rank in the recently declared civil services exam results despite being confined to a wheelchair due to an unfortunate accident. In 2017, Sherin Shahana TK fell from the terrace of her house and she was bedridden for a year and half following the accident.
Despite all the difficulties, she was determined to pursue her childhood dream of a career in civil services.
In an interview, Shahana expressed the need to accept herself and her circumstances, acknowledging that her present life held a greater significance. During her time confined to the bed and subsequently, in a wheelchair, she found solace in a singular dream of cracking the UPSC exam and her world was confined to her mother only.
Shahana’s mother, Anima, had limited formal education, having studied until Class 4, and her late father, Usman, never had the opportunity to attend school. Her father had passed away in 2015. Financial difficulties compelled her two older sisters to discontinue their studies after Class 10. However, their elder sister, Jalisha, continued her studies despite all difficulties and she is now a research scholar in Mathematics.
Shahana, on the other hand, received her early education at a local government school before pursuing her higher studies at a college in Sulthan Bathery, Wayanad. She successfully earned a post-graduate degree in political science. Unfortunately, the accident in 2017 left her quadriplegic, but she found solace in the support of her friends and well-wishers. Despite the tragic incident, she persevered and accomplished the UGC-NET examination, enabling her to resume her academic journey.
She then joined as a research scholar in International Relations at the University of Calicut. In 2020, Shahana joined the Absolute IAS Academy in Thiruvananthapuram. The academy offered a specialised program named “Butterfly,” specifically designed for aspiring civil service students with disabilities. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, she managed to attend coaching classes and continue her preparatons for civil services.