EP-235 | Maharashtra Politics, Dark Side of UPSC, Savarkar Controversy | Avinash Dharmadhikari

ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash

Avinash Dharmadhikari is a renowned Indian bureaucrat, author, and educator, celebrated for his contributions to public service and youth empowerment. A former IAS officer from Maharashtra, Dharmadhikari resigned from his prestigious post in 1996, choosing to dedicate his career to educating and mentoring the next generation of civil service aspirants and social leaders. Known for his deep commitment to societal transformation, he founded the Chanakya Mandal Pariwar, an institution aimed at nurturing aspiring civil servants through a blend of values-based education and rigorous training. Dharmadhikari is also an accomplished writer, and his works include Aswastha Dashakanchi Diary, a popular Marathi book chronicling his journey and reflections on India's social and administrative challenges.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Avinash Dharmadhikari opens up about the challenging realities of the UPSC exams and shares why he left the civil services to focus on politics and education. Reflecting on his role in Anna Hazare's Anti-Corruption Movement, he discusses his subsequent disillusionment with the Aam Aadmi Party and later with the Shiv Sena. Dharmadhikari also gives his perspective on the current political landscape in Maharashtra, analyzing why the Mahayuti alliance struggled to create a more significant impact in the state in the 2024 General Elections.

In this candid conversation, Avinash Dharmadhikari further explores Vir Savarkar's role in India’s independence movement, and explains Savarkar's vision of Hindutva.

0:00 - Introduction

0:45 - Quitting Civil Services

6:22 - Contesting Elections

9:00 - Anna Hazare's Anti-Corruption Movement

14:30 - Corruption in UPSC Selection Process?

17:03 - Importance of 'Character Building' for UPSC Aspirants

21:40 - Disillusion with Shiv Sena

26:10 - Savarkar's Role in Indian Freedom Struggle

32:49 - Where Does Loyalty of Civil Servants Lie?

35:27 - Mahayuti's Poor Performance in 2024 Lok Sabha Polls

41:43 - Foreign Interference in 2024 General Elections?

44:30 - Indian Youth Disillusioned with Media & Governance?

47:10 - Increasing Tolerance for Corruption Among Politicians

51:13 - Flaws in Indian Democracy?

54:15 - Reservation Protests & Farmer Suicides in Maharashtra

59:00 - Importance of Rural Development Projects

1:00:43 - Rising Trend of Civil Servants Entering Politics

1:03:13 - Dark Side of UPSC Coaching Institutes