CURIOSITY AWAKENED

Born to a teacher-father and a homemaker mother in one of the arid regions of Satara, Wagh fought all odds to become a bureaucrat. Sudhir Suryawanshi meets the officer who is now helping students of his village develop a scientific temper

- Sudhir Suryawanshi

Ushar Wagh, who grew up in the drought-prone area of Khatav in the Satara district of Maharashtra, faced a childhood lacking basic amenities. However, this hardship turned out to be a blessing in disguise. He overcame various challenges to establish himself as a bureaucrat and now dedicates his efforts to inspiring rural students to embrace scientific thinking, empowering them to improve their lives.

Working as Deputy Director for the Western Region at the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the 33-year-old organizes study tours for children twice a year, providing them with valuable exposure.

A Government Zilla Parishad School passout, Wagh realized that the tough conditions in Khatav—one of the arid regions of Satara—are major factors contributing to the high rate of migration. Non-irrigated and unaffordable farming, coupled with a lack of job opportunities, forces young people to migrate to cities. Most youths move to Pune or Mumbai in search of work, leaving behind primarily senior citizens and children in the villages. These families rely on money orders sent by their working children and relatives in the cities.