Tarun Nandi/Kolkata

Abdul Hamid of village Kukhura in the Birbhum district of West Bengal has become the national topper in Arabic in the 2026 UGC-NET examination.

The University Grants Commission (UGC)’s National Eligibility Test determines the eligibility for the award of Junior Research Fellowship, appointment as Assistant Professor, and admission to PhD in the Indian universities.

Abdul Hamid has achieved this while working with his father in the agriculture field and herding cows and goats.

Even in the face of financial difficulties, Abdul Hamid scored 266 out of 300 marks and has topped the list of 1,649 candidates.

Many academicians say that scoring such high marks is a remarkable accomplishment in any language, especially a foreign one.

According to family sources, Abdul Hamid was born and has lived amidst adversity.

His father, Abdut Toab, is a well-known scholar in the village, taught at a secondary education centre (MSK) for almost two decades on a low salary.

Along with teaching, he tilled land to grow food for the family.

Abdul Hamid received his primary lessons in Bengali, English and Arabic from his mother. He then left the rural Madrasa for his higher education.

After achieving incredible success in the Alim examination in 2017 and the Fazil examination in 2019, he graduated from Alia University, Kolkata.

Thereafter, he completed his post-graduation from Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, with a CGPA of 8.75. He also mastered English language skills from the Ramakrishna Mission.

His studies were interrupted due to temporary financial difficulties at home. However, after his marriage in 2025, Abdul started dreaming anew with the encouragement of his wife and father-in-law.

Despite facing financial difficulties, this talented student kept his goal in mind and started preparing for the exam at the Siuri centre without joining coaching.

According to Abdul, he has been studying day after day, relying on YouTube and a few books and his own notes, along with leading the prayer in a mosque.

Finally, when the results were announced on August 28, a wide smile appeared on his face. It is safe to say that all obstacles have succumbed to Abdul's indomitable will and hard work.

Abdul Hamid wants to do higher research in Arabic by doing a PhD from Delhi University or JNU.

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He believes that if there is mental preparation, hard work and honesty towards the goal, then success can be achieved even without coaching.