Father toils in fields, son runs for Khaki

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

“I am from Buldhana district. We have barely one and a half acres of dry farmland and many mouths to feed. My parents work all day for two meals. Only a government job can change our situation. That is why I am determined to wear the khaki uniform,” said a 21-year-old aspirant at the ongoing police recruitment drive at the rural superintendent of police office ground in the TV Centre area.

Interactions with candidates and parents after the physical tests reflected a shared narrative of poverty, perseverance and aspiration. Manoj Jadhav from Padalishinde village in Buldhana is attempting the recruitment for the second time. Preparing since 2021, he scored 41 out of 50 in the physical test and expressed confidence of selection this year. Similar determination was voiced by Sumit Shejul from Mehkar and Saurabh Thorat from Virgaon in Vaijapur. Coming from farming and middle-class rural families, they said their parents’ struggles motivate them. “When we remember their hard work, we do not feel tired while running,” they said. Outside the ground, parents waited anxiously. Piyush Pawar from Nevasa, who runs a small tea stall, said he dreams of seeing his son in uniform, calling a government job more secure than private employment. Dadasaheb Sonawane, a city rickshaw driver, said he wants his son to achieve what he could not. “There is dignity and respect in the police uniform,” he said. For many rural families, the recruitment ground is more than a test venue it is a turning point where hardship meets hope.