In a small corner of Pathardi in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district, the sound of iron being hammered on burning coal once defined the life of a humble family. Day after day, under the scorching heat, Akshay Haribhau Pawar’s parents shaped farming tools with their bare hands, earning just enough to survive. Their work was hard, exhausting, and uncertain. But amid the sparks of iron and smoke from the furnace, they quietly carried a dream — that their son would build a different future.
Years later, that dream came true when Akshay Pawar secured All India Rank 81 in the UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination, becoming the first and only IFS officer from the Ghisadi community — a nomadic and socially marginalised community that has long struggled for recognition and opportunity.
His success is not just a personal achievement. It is the story of an entire community rising with him.
A CHILDHOOD ROOTED IN STRUGGLE
Akshay was born into a humble Ghisadi family in the Veer Savarkar Maidan area of Pathardi. The Ghisadi community belongs to the Bhatka (Nomadic) category, and many families still depend on traditional occupations for survival. His parents worked as blacksmiths, making farming tools by heating and moulding iron manually.
Life was never easy. Money was scarce, but dignity and hard work were abundant in the household. Despite financial difficulties, his parents ensured that poverty never became a barrier to education.
Akshay completed his primary education at Zilla Parishad School, Nathamnagar, and later studied at Shri Tilok Jain Vidyalaya in Pathardi. A bright student, he eventually secured admission to the prestigious College of Engineering Pune (COEP), where he pursued B.Tech in Metallurgical Engineering.
The boy who grew up watching iron melt in furnaces was now studying the science behind metals in one of Maharashtra’s top engineering colleges.
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THE SEARCH FOR A BIGGER PURPOSE
After graduation, Akshay briefly worked as a business analyst. It was a stable corporate job, something many people aspire for. But deep inside, he felt incomplete.
In a conversation with Indian Masterminds, Akshay admitted that the corporate world was not where he truly belonged.
“After working for a short time, I realised that the job was not for me. I wanted to do something bigger for society,” he said.
The realities of his childhood and the struggles faced by his community constantly stayed with him. He believed public service would allow him to bring real change to people’s lives.
“There is so much to do for the betterment of communities. Many schemes exist, but bureaucracy has lost ground touch. I want to change that,” he said.
That thought became the foundation of his UPSC journey.
THE COVID INCIDENT THAT CHANGED HIM FOREVER
One painful incident during the COVID-19 lockdown strengthened his resolve further.
Akshay’s family runs a small shop attached to their home. During the lockdown, some policemen reportedly came and took action against them. Despite repeated explanations from the family about their situation, the officials allegedly detained them for a few hours and demanded money before releasing them.
The memory still hurts him deeply.
“My grandfather literally held their legs and requested them, but they still did not listen,” Akshay recalled emotionally.
That moment left a deep impact on him. He realised how helpless ordinary people often feel before the system, especially poor families from marginalised communities.
Instead of becoming bitter, he turned that pain into motivation.
THE LONG AND DIFFICULT UPSC JOURNEY
Akshay began preparing for competitive examinations in 2019. He first studied for nearly a year in Pathardi before moving to Delhi for around one-and-a-half years to prepare seriously for UPSC.
But his journey was far from smooth.
The COVID pandemic disrupted his preparation badly. Like thousands of aspirants, he struggled with uncertainty, lack of resources, and emotional pressure. Yet he refused to give up.
In 2022, he restarted his preparation with renewed determination.
The UPSC journey tested him not only mentally but physically too.
Just days before his Mains examination, Akshay was hospitalised for six days. His exam was scheduled to begin on November 14, but he was discharged from the hospital only on November 10. Weak and unsure of himself, he considered skipping the exam.
But his family stood firmly beside him.
“I was not confident about attempting the Mains, but my family kept encouraging me,” he said.
Even before the interview stage, he suffered from an intestinal infection. Yet he continued moving forward.
This was his fourth attempt.
Years of struggle, failure, illness, and uncertainty had pushed him to the edge many times. But every setback only strengthened his determination.
THE MOMENT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
On the day UPSC IFS results were announced, Akshay was too nervous to check them himself. Fear of disappointment had become familiar after years of preparation.
He switched off his phone and went for an evening walk, unable to gather the courage to see the result.
Then came the call from a friend.
He had secured AIR 81.
At first, he could not believe it.
He checked the result repeatedly — his roll number, his name, even the spelling — just to be certain.
When he finally returned home, emotions overflowed.
“When I reached home, my mother, my aunt, and I cried for almost fifteen minutes,” he recalled.
For his family, it was not just success. It was relief, pride, sacrifice, and years of silent struggle finally finding meaning.
A VICTORY FOR AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY
Akshay remains deeply grounded despite his achievement. He repeatedly says that his success belongs more to his family and community than to himself.
“My own effort is only 20 percent. The rest belongs to my family and community,” he said humbly.
Today, Akshay Pawar has become a symbol of hope for thousands of students from rural and underprivileged backgrounds. His story proves that dreams do not depend on social status, money, or privilege.
The son of blacksmith parents who once shaped iron tools with fire and sweat will now help protect India’s forests and serve the nation as an Indian Forest Service officer.
But even as he enters the corridors of power, he carries with him the pain, humility, and struggles of the people he comes from.
And perhaps that is what will make him not just an officer — but a compassionate public servant.
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