Nakul Shivani/ New Delhi

If you are looking for inspiration, a story of grit and determination, then look no beyond than Mohammad Auyob Mir.

This 23-year-old visually impaired student from Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district has recently cracked the Junior Fellow Research (JFR) Examination.

The JFR is a scholarship given by the University Grants Commission to students for research and higher studies. The successful candidates are selected through a competitive examination and given a monthly stipend.

23-year-old Auyob hails from Sogam Lolab tehsil of Kupwara district in north Kashmir.

Even though he was not visually impaired since birth, Ayoub discovered his challenge only with advancing age. By the time he completed his 12^th class schooling he was diagnosed with 70 per cent visual impairment.

But this did not deter him from working hard on his academics. He continued to excel in his studies.

With enough support from his parents and teachers in his school and later his college, Ayoub completed his graduation in political science in 2017 and later his post-graduation from Aligarh Muslim University. He studied listening to audio recordings of lectures and took assistance of special software designed for the blind.

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He attributes his success to his teachers at the AMU. Speaking to mediapersons from his home in Kupawara, he said: "Qualifying JRF is not something I have achieved alone, the professors at AMU have a major contribution to my success. The seniors also played a critical role, in my career, they guided me through the entire journey of JRF."