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Journalism of Courage
It was a moment of sweet success for Hingoli native Aniket Kokre when the results of the MPSC Civil Judge Examination 2022 were declared on March 29 this year. The 28-year-old aspirant, who worked as a daily wager during summers to earn enough money to pay for college, secured the 26th rank in what was his first attempt to clear the examination.
Growing up in a rural farming family in Kalamnuri taluka with only one and a half acres of land that was completely dependent on the monsoon, Kokre could not rely solely on the income from the farm. “My mother was the only breadwinner, and she used to work in other fields on daily wages to fund my studies. This inspired me to work hard and achieve something in life to turn our circumstances around and make my parents proud,” he said.
Kokre completed his schooling at Akhada Balapur ZP School and then did his LLB and LLM at Narayanrao Chavan Law College in Nanded. “During graduation, I worked part-time for a legal firm in Hingoli district court but the pay was irregular and insufficient. So, I started working as a daily wager at Waluj MIDC in Aurangabad for around four months every year during the summer vacation. My work involved moving and organising medical supplies and equipment. The money saved during that period was used to fund my college fees, books and accommodation,” he said.
“After my LLM in 2021, I shifted to Pune and started preparing for the competitive exam at Ganesh Shirsat Academy in Sadashiv Peth. Studying consistently and maintaining a never-give-up attitude helped me clear this exam,” he said.
While the notification for the Maharashtra Public Service Commission’s (MPSC) Civil Judge Junior Level and First Class Judicial Magistrate Examination came in 2022, the Preliminary examination was held the following year and the Mains in 2024. The final interview round was conducted last month, just a couple of weeks before the results were announced.
Explaining his daily routine, Kokre said, “A typical day used to start at 6 am and end at 11 pm. During the entire preparation phase, I emphasised the quality of study hours over quantity. After qualifying for the Mains exam, I did not have money to purchase books, but my friends were really helpful and shared their resources while also making sure that I never had to spend money on meals.”
Dedicating his success to family, teachers and friends who stood with him through thick and thin, Kokre said, “My family inspired me to get into this field. Ganesh Shirsat, a law faculty, guided and directed me in qualifying for one of the toughest exams. Meanwhile, my friends motivated and helped me to remain calm and composed, which is crucial in every stage of this exam.”
Kokre’s experience now serves as an example for aspirants from rural areas who prepare for various competitive examinations amid limited guidance and opportunities compared to their urban peers. “Students should not be a victim of their situation but should derive inspiration from their challenging circumstances and study while keeping their parents in mind. Determination to work hard is more important than one’s intelligence. Candidates from rural areas must not carry any inferiority complex or compare themselves with aspirants from well-off colleges and urban areas,” he said.
Expecting to get independent charge as a civil judge by next year, Kokre said he would focus on ensuring judicial accountability and transparency in handling cases, besides working on the pendency of cases by relying on technology for e-summons and other purposes.
