First Goan Wanarmare youth defies odds to clear SSC exam

When 20-year-old Ganesh Pawar saw his SSC pass mark sheet, he could not hold back his joy, even though his pass percentage was just 44 per cent. The marks didn't matter because he became the first boy from the Wanarmares, a subtribe of the Kathkari community, to pass an SSC exam.

The news brought immense joy to Ganesh and his community as the former's perseverance and hard work had finally paid off. The community celebrated with sweets (pedas) that were distributed among the 13-14 families of the tribe.

“I always wanted to be in the police force,” says the soft-spoken shy Ganesh Pawar, a student of Vikas High School, Valpem, Virnoda, under the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education.

For his father Hanuman Baban Pawar, it was a proud moment because his son had overcome all odds to persist and complete the exam at 20. “For generations, no one has ever studied this far, but my son has achieved this. I’m very proud of him. We want him to study further, but because of his age, we have to see the options. Many kids from our community have studied till class 5 or 6, but no one has studied till class 10.”

The Wanarmares are a nomadic tribe traditionally found in the jungles of the Western Ghats, spread across Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka.

The tribe has settled in Goa for over four decades now enduring marginalisation, which made education a luxury for its members. 

Even if schools were geographically accessible, attending school for this community struggling to meet basic needs was a distant dream. 

Ganesh had to move to different schools to get admission, which in turn pushed back his attempt at the class 10 exam. “He is 20 years old now. Schools would ask for birth certificates which we didn’t have,” says Hanuman, who works as an agricultural labourer.  

Identified as one of India’s 75 particularly vulnerable tribal groups, the Wanarmares need focused attention and support to overcome their socio-economic hurdles.

Ganesh is the second one among the six siblings, including three sisters. While the eldest sister is married, two of them are studying in classes 7 and 8 and two of the brothers are in class 9. 

“There are some others from my community who are also studying in the same school. So I help my siblings and the young ones from my community with their lessons. I want them to study and shine," says Ganesh.

He is immensely grateful to his teachers and Peter F Borges, Chairperson of the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. 

"We are proud of Ganesh's accomplishment, which marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to ensure education for every child. His success reaffirms our belief that with the right support and opportunities, every child can overcome barriers and achieve their potential," says Borges. 

"This is a victory, not only for Ganesh, but it is a victory for the Kathkari community, and a victory for all of us who believe in the power of education to transform lives," Borges added.

Renowned for their expert archery and proud lineage tracing back to Eklavya, a revered figure in the Indian epic Mahabharata, the Wanarmares' rich heritage and skills underscore their resilience and unique identity.

In his pursuit of education, Ganesh faced hurdles like limited access to resources, basic necessities, and government programmes that could make his life easier. But nothing fell in his lap and he had to plod on with limited resources.

He overcame not just the challenges faced by many tribal communities but also the specific hardships of marginalisation within his own community. 

Ganesh's achievement becomes a symbol of hope and possibility for the entire Wanarmare tribe and demonstrates that education is achievable despite the odds.