BHIND/INDORE: A resident of Rawatpura Khurd village in Bhind’s Lahar tehsil, who lived and prepared in Indore, has secured the seventh rank statewide in the MPPSC Assistant Professor (Sociology) examination and been selected for a post in the Higher Education Department of Madhya Pradesh, a report said.
Journey from a farming household to a government teaching post
The successful candidate, identified as Pawan Kumar, comes from a farming family and completed his early schooling at a government school in Lahar. He later obtained a BSc from Government College, Lahar, and an MA in Sociology from Dr Bhagwat Sahay Government College, Gwalior, according to the report.
Pawan began serious preparation for competitive examinations while living in Indore and made multiple attempts at MPPSC and other tests over several years. He secured the first rank in the EWS category for the Assistant Professor (Sociology) recruitment and overall finished seventh in the state, the report added.
Setbacks, persistence and the role of Indore as a study centre
The report outlines a series of setbacks before the latest success. Pawan first appeared in the MPPSC State Service Examination in 2020, clearing prelims and mains and reaching the interview stage; however, that result was delayed because of a case related to the 87-13 formula, and he was not selected then. He failed to clear the mains in 2021 and again in 2022, but continued preparing.
His father, Satyendra Kumar Tiwari, said the family’s financial position was strained but relatives lent money so his son could move to Indore for studies. The father’s statement was quoted in the report:
"Family's financial condition was not good, but I borrowed money from relatives to fulfil my son's wish to study in Indore."
Relocating to Indore for coaching and study is a common pathway for aspirants from rural areas across Madhya Pradesh, given the city’s concentration of coaching institutes, libraries and peer groups preparing for state and national competitive examinations. Pawan’s experience reflects that wider pattern where access to urban educational resources supports rural candidates’ chances in public service recruitment.
Timeline of Pawan’s education and MPPSC attempts
| Year/Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Schooling | Government school, Lahar |
| Undergraduate | BSc, Government College, Lahar |
| Postgraduate | MA in Sociology, Dr Bhagwat Sahay Government College, Gwalior |
| 2020 | First MPPSC State Service attempt; reached interview stage but result delayed due to 87-13 formula case |
| 2021–2022 | Failed to clear mains in consecutive attempts |
| 2024 (Assistant Professor exam) | Secured 7th rank; 1st in EWS category; selected as Assistant Professor (Sociology) |
Implications for rural aspirants and local education planning
Pawan’s selection underlines several local development points: the continuing dependence of rural aspirants on urban study centres such as Indore; the financial strain families face when funding prolonged preparation; and the role of state recruitment in providing stable professional opportunities for graduates from non-metropolitan districts.
- Access to coaching and peer networks: Indore’s study ecosystem remains important for aspirants from surrounding districts.
- Financial barriers: Families frequently rely on loans from relatives to fund long-term preparation, as in this case.
- Resilience and multiple attempts: Success often follows repeated efforts and years of preparation.
Pawan’s selection to the Higher Education Department will place him in a role that could, in time, influence students from rural backgrounds. His trajectory—from government schools in Lahar to preparation in Indore and eventual appointment—illustrates the interplay between rural ambition and urban educational resources within Madhya Pradesh’s public service pipeline, the report said.
