Formerly a child beggar, 17 year-old from UP wants to be an Agniveer

Sher Ali, 17, from Uttar Pradesh’s Agra city has set an example by not letting his circumstances come in his way of becoming an ‘Agniveer’. Ali, who recently scored 63% in his Class X board examination, has expressed his desire to get into the Indian Armed forces, TOI reported.

Ali comes from an underprivileged background with his parents involved in rag-picking. He lives in ‘jhuggi' cluster near the secondary education department office in Sadar sub-division of Agra district with his eight siblings.

"My exam results have given me confidence to aim higher. I am now aiming to join the Indian Army through the Agnipath scheme and serve the country," TOI quoted Ali as saying.


Naresh Paras, a child activist, convinced Ali’s parents to send him to school which was a difficult task for him. In addition to that, Paras also introduced him to dance and theater. Ali had acted in four plays.

“My child understood the importance of education and fought against all odds to qualify high school exams. All the kids in my neighbourhood look up to him now,” said Sher Ali’s father.