In the midst of the deadly second wave of COVID-19 in April 2021, civil services aspirant Mr. Devanand Telgote found himself fighting for his life. While preparing for the UPSC Civil Services interview in Delhi, the worsening pandemic forced the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to postpone the schedule. Mr. Devanand returned to his hometown, Akola in Maharashtra, where he contracted the virus.
What began as a moderate case escalated quickly. His chest severity score, initially manageable at 10, shot up to 20 — signifying nearly 80% lung damage. His condition deteriorated despite multiple negative RT-PCR results and the worsening lung involvement pushed him onto a ventilator.
At this critical moment, Mr. Mahesh M. Bhagwat (1995-batch IPS officer), Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Telangana, intervened. A strong advocate for mentoring aspirants, Mr. Bhagwat arranged an emergency airlift to KIMS Hospital, Hyderabad, where Mr. Devanand remained in the ICU for four months, requiring ECMO support twice.
Despite the prolonged and near-fatal ordeal, Mr. Devanand bounced back. He resumed preparation, cleared the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Mains, and secured an All India Rank (AIR) 112 in his first interview attempt. Throughout his recovery and preparation, Mr. Bhagwat maintained regular contact, motivating him to stay focused.
“He would call regularly and ask, ‘Are you preparing? How is your health?’ His support was unwavering,” Mr. Devanand said.
A Mentorship Programme That Changes Lives
Mr. Bhagwat’s commitment extends beyond individual gestures. He runs a mentorship initiative for Civil Services, Indian Forest Service (IFS), and CAPF aspirants. The programme functions primarily through WhatsApp groups and personal calls, with one-on-one attention as its cornerstone.
“Each candidate gets personal attention. I speak to each one of them for at least 45 minutes to an hour,” said Mr. Bhagwat.
His efforts have yielded remarkable results. In the latest Civil Services results:
- 220 out of 1,009 selected candidates were mentored by Mr. Bhagwat
- Over 80 of 143 selected candidates in the IFS were part of his mentorship circle
Notable success stories include Mr. Chadha Nikhil Reddy (AIR 11, CSE) from Nalgonda, and Mr. Cheruku Avinash Reddy (AIR 40, CSE) from Karimnagar.
Toppers Credit Mentorship for Their Success
Ms. Kanika Anabh, who secured AIR 1 in the Indian Forest Service Examination, attributes her success to both persistence and mentorship. Starting her preparation in 2021, she initially struggled to qualify in both Civil Services and Forest Services attempts. On her third attempt, she finally cracked both prelims and mains for both exams. Though she missed the Civil Services final list, she topped the IFS.
“I was introduced to Mr. Bhagwat’s programme by a friend. He would do one-on-one sessions with each of us. That kind of attention made a big difference,” she said.
Ms. Kanika emphasized the overlapping nature of the Civil and Forest Services prelims, which allowed her to prepare efficiently. Her journey reflects the structured guidance that Mr. Bhagwat’s mentorship provided.
A Beacon for Aspirants
Through his tireless efforts, Mr. Mahesh M. Bhagwat has become a guiding force for hundreds of aspirants across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and beyond. His mentorship is more than academic — it’s deeply personal, grounded in empathy, and driven by a sincere commitment to public service.
Whether it’s airlifting a critically ill aspirant or conducting hour-long strategy sessions, Mr. Bhagwat’s support is reshaping the landscape of civil services preparation in India.
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