The Indian Forest Service 2021 exam results are out and since then one man’s phone hasn’t stopped ringing, Mahesh Bhagwat. He himself is an IPS officer from the 1995 batch. He mentored 108 this year and more than 50% of his students cleared the exams and at least 10 from the top 20 are on the merit list. For the last six years, i.e. since 2016, Mahesh Bhagwat has been the biggest commissioner as Rachakonda area wise is more than 5000kms, 4 districts and has mentored more than 1250 all-India service aspirants who have succeeded in the Union Public Service Commission exams, to join the all-India IAS, IPS, and Indian Forest Service as well as other Central services like the Indian Foreign Service.
Dr Kiranmayi Koppisetti, an IAS probationer who got All India Rank 56 in the UPSC exams in an interview with NDTV India news broadcast said the fact that he took out time is the most precious gift he gave all of them. If someone is giving time, that is the most precious thing they have given. Mahesh Bhagwat not only formed a Whatsapp group but also posted articles every single day. Even if I couldn’t read newspapers, what he posted kept me updated.’ She further added, “Sir also gave us 45 minutes to one hour on phone before the interview. I spoke to him for one hour and 15 minutes on phone. He suggested what areas I should go thoroughly prepared for the interview and that has helped me in answering in the final interview.”
Mohd Abdul Rawoof, another mentee of Mahesh Bhagwat, made it to the Indian Forest Service, with AIR rank 30, had come along with his parents to thank his mentor. In the same interview, Rawoof said that personally, sir has been taking out time out of his busy schedule to talk to aspirants on the phone or Whatsapp. Even when he is in the US, he called people who were having interviews that week. He takes time out for everyone, looking at their strengths and areas to improve, an almost customised approach.
“Professionally, he has an organised group in which he shares different study material, and different examples of people who work in the field, he invites his batchmates, seniors and juniors to give talks and guidance, on how different projects are working and so on.”
Mr Bhagwat has won numerous awards for focusing on social problems like human trafficking, child labour and child marriages. He said that his source of satisfaction is the success of the candidates. I have seen candidates coming from humble and challenging backgrounds, they are preparing for years together, and when they get desired success, IAS, police service IPS, IFS, the kind of satisfaction I am getting through their smiling faces is unimaginable.’