Despite having a dissertation and a promising scientific career, Mohd Firdous Malik continued his work, which did not attract public attention. Since 2017, he has been engaged in providing free education to rural children, organizing the delivery of stationery, conducting medical campaigns, digital literacy camps, and gender sensitivity seminars, as well as explaining government programs to the population about which they were unaware.
He did this consistently, year after year, quietly and without media coverage. This continuous work led him to various events, including a parade on Republic Day in New Delhi in 2019 and an International Youth Exchange in South Korea. The culmination was his visit to Rashtrapati Bhavan in October 2025.
President Droupadi Murmu honored him with the 'MY Bharat National Service Scheme Award 2022-23'. He became one of thirty NSS volunteers recognized nationwide that year. However, what was particularly memorable about Firdous was that he never viewed social service as a deviation from his education; on the contrary, he used his knowledge as a tool to help his community.
This approach—shifting from the question 'what will I gain' to 'what can I give'—is a rare phenomenon, more valuable than any award. True education does not just enhance a resume; it fills a gap that another person could not fill on their own.