Umesh Khandbahale hails from the small village of Mahiravni in Nashik district, Maharashtra. After scoring just 21 marks in English, he faced the setback of failing his class 12. Undeterred, Umesh sold milk and assisted his father in farming, emerging stronger from these challenges. His determination ultimately led him to overcome challenges and achieve his dream of becoming an IPS officer. Let's explore his inspiring success story.

Education

Umesh's early education was at a boarding school, where he excelled until class 10. However, his English exam in class 12 proved to be a significant hurdle, as he scored only 21 marks and ultimately failed. This setback proved challenging for him. Following his failure, Umesh left the boarding school and returned to his village, where he began working alongside his father selling milk. Each day, he would cycle to the Nashik market to sell the milk he collected from their village. During this challenging time, Umesh also faced taunts and discouragement from others.

UPSC journey

One day, while on his way to Nashik, Umesh visited the campus of Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University. After discussing his educational aspirations with the officials, he decided to enroll. He successfully passed his class 12 in 2005 and then joined KTHM College under Pune University, where he earned his BA, BEd, and MA degrees. During this time, Umesh learned about the UPSC exam and, after a few months of coaching, relocated to Delhi to pursue his goal.

Perseverance and success

Umesh made his first attempt at the UPSC in 2012 but faced disappointment when he was unsuccessful. His second attempt also did not yield the desired results. However, in 2014, during his third attempt, he achieved an impressive 704th rank and earned his place as an IPS officer of the West Bengal cadre. With this remarkable accomplishment, Umesh became the first person from his village to achieve this prestigious position.

Overcoming challenges

According to reports, Umesh discovered YCMOU two years after his initial setback, a fact he now regrets. Had he known about it sooner, he believes he could have completed his class 12 studies earlier. He maintains that failing in class 12 didn’t become an obstacle; rather, it facilitated his admission into the university. To further his education, Umesh made a dedicated effort to complete both his graduation and post-graduation in English, the very subject in which he had initially struggled.