Anil Khadse breaking barriers, inspiring change
MAHARASHTRA: Anil Khadse, the first person from the Mang community in Vidarbha region, a Scheduled Caste (SC), to crack the civil services exams, now serves as the deputy director in the Income Tax Department in Nagpur. His achievement has become a source of pride, not only for his family but for his entire village.
Khadse’s success was celebrated in his village in Yavatmal with a grand procession, where he was paraded on horseback, with band music and the distribution of sweets. The celebration was a collective expression of joy, marking a milestone for both Khadse and his community.
Born in a small hamlet, Khadse’s education took place in a Marathi medium school. The Mang or Matang community traditionally engaged in occupations such as rope and broom-making, cattle castration, and leather work, has long faced social and economic challenges. Education was a privilege for children from the community, but Khadse’s grandmother, who worked as a “Dai” (a midwife), was determined to change that. “She urged me to study and pursue a government job despite. Her support, along with a modest pension of `3,000 after the death of her husband, made my education possible,” Khadse recalls.
He acknowledges the challenges of being from an “untouchable” community but notes that he faced little discrimination in his village. “Our house was on the outskirts of the village, but people respected my knowledge and encouraged me to study further,” he says. “They always told me to make our village proud by achieving something big in life.”
After excelling in his board exams with 83% marks, Khadse moved to Pune for computer engineering. It was during this time that he first learned about the civil services exams from friends. “The discussions sparked my interest, but financial constraints were a major concern,” he says.
To support his education, Khadse worked as an engineer for two years before resigning to focus entirely on preparing for the civil services. “I initially struggled with English. But I improved my skills by reading newspapers and novels,” he says with a sense of pride.
Reflecting on his childhood, Khadse points to the lessons he learned while waiting for a chance to play cricket. “I spent hours waiting for my turn. This taught me patience and endurance — qualities that help me in my role as an officer today,” he says.
Khadse also credits his social awareness to watching issue-based films, particularly from Telugu and Malayalam cinemas.
After multiple attempts, Khadse cracked a competitive exam, earning a posting in the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2017. However, he aspired for a higher position, so he left the job and returned to Yavatmal. To support himself, he taught students for `200 to `400 per month and continued preparing for the civil services exams without joining any private coaching.
Instead, he utilised government-run exam centres, which he believes play a vital role in helping students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
A TESTAMENT TO PERSEVERANCE
Despite securing a posting in the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2017 after cracking a competitive exam, Anil Khadse aspired to reach a higher position through UPSC. After working for two years, he left the job and returned to his village in Yavatmal district. To support himself, he taught local students for a modest fee of Rs 200 to Rs 400 per month and continued preparing for the civil services exams without joining any private coaching