In a heartwarming tale of resilience and determination, Vitthal Kisan Kolekar, hailing from the Menda Pal family, has transformed his life against all odds.
Lacking any educational background and facing dire financial circumstances, Vitthal's story is one of grit and perseverance, culminating in his recent appointment as a junior engineer in the construction department of the Satara Zilla Parishad.
Vitthal's parents, Kisan and Vijaya Kolekar, ensured that their three daughters completed their education up to the 10th and 12th grades, despite their limited means. Residing in Palashi (Tal. Baramati), the family has only two acres of dry land, which barely sustains them.
While Vijaya engages in farming, Kisan supports the family through labor and carpentry. Despite their own limited education, they instilled the value of education in their son, Vitthal.
Vitthal completed his primary education at the Zilla Parishad School in Palashi and went on to excel at the Anantrao Pawar School for his secondary education.
Known as a bright student from the beginning, Vitthal faced numerous challenges but never received discouragement from his parents. Instead, they encouraged him to “keep working hard and never give up.”
After the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Vitthal committed himself to relentless study, abstaining from distractions such as festivals, celebrations, and even mobile phones.
His hard work eventually paid off, leading to a celebration by friends and villagers who threw colored powder (gulal) in his honor rather than his father.
Vitthal graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering from JSPM College in Wagholi. To support his educational journey, Kisan learned to drive while working as a carpenter.
After graduation, Vitthal decided to dedicate himself to competitive examinations rather than seeking immediate employment.
However, financial constraints prevented him from accessing private tutoring, and lacking guidance on how to prepare, he took it upon himself to study independently.
Between 2019 and 2021, he successfully navigated the Engineering Services exams conducted by MPSC but stumbled at the interview stage. The pandemic caused a temporary setback in his aspirations.
He subsequently faced failures in examinations for construction engineers in the municipal corporations of Mumbai, Pune, and Pimpri-Chinchwad, as well as in city engineer exams.
Amid disappointment, Vitthal considered abandoning competitive exams, but his father motivated him to persevere. With renewed determination, he resumed focused studies at the Krishnaali study center in 2022.
Despite the weight of seven previous failures, he sat for seven consecutive exams for direct services in 2023.
After this arduous journey, on January 26, 2024, Vitthal was appointed as an assistant civil engineer in the public works department. In February, he became a junior engineer in the Panvel Municipal Corporation.
He later secured roles in the Water Resources Department and the Pune Zilla Parishad as an assistant civil engineer, and eventually succeeded in the city engineer position.
Vitthal’s journey has now led him to be selected as a junior engineer in the Raigad and Satara Zilla Parishads, marking a significant achievement in his life.