He Cracked IPS, IAS, and Earned 20 Degrees, Why You’ve Probably Never Heard of India’s Most Educated Man
He Cracked IPS, IAS, and Earned 20 Degrees, Why You've Probably Never Heard of India's Most Educated Man
Dr. Shrikant Jichkar was not an average achiever, he was widely regarded as India’s most educated man, he earned an astonishing 20 degrees across a dazzling range of disciplines. From science and medicine to law, business, literature, and ancient languages, his insatiable curiosity and passion for learning made him a legend in academic circles, and beyond.
Born on September 14, 1954, in Katol, Maharashtra, Jichkar’s brilliance emerged early. He became a medical doctor (MBBS and MD) at a time when most were still figuring out their careers. But for Jichkar, that was just the first chapter.
Between 1973 and 1990, he completed 20 postgraduate degrees, appeared for 42 university exams, and bagged numerous gold medals and accolades. His qualifications included an LLB, an LLM in international law, an MBA, a DBM, journalism, and several MAs, in subjects as varied as English literature, political science, public administration, history, and Sanskrit. He capped it all with a D.Litt. in Sanskrit, one of the highest academic honors in India.
After passing the UPSC exam, Jichkar joined the Indian Police Service in 1978. But restless for more impact, he resigned and reappeared for the UPSCthis time for the Indian Administrative Service. Even after clearing that, he didn’t stay long.
Instead, he turned to politics. At just 26, he became the youngest MLA in the country, elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 1980. Over the next decade, he held 14 ministerial portfolios in the Maharashtra government, served as a member of the Legislative Council, and was later elected to the Rajya Sabha, where he served until 1998.
Despite his political commitments, Dr. Jichkar remained a lifelong learner and creative soul. He was a painter, photographer, actor, and orator. He built a massive personal library of over 52,000 books and even founded a Sanskrit university in Maharashtra, where he served as chancellor.
He was a devoted spiritual thinker and often spoke across the country on education, health, and religious harmony. Representing India at UNESCO, he combined his academic depth with diplomacy and public service.
In his early 40s, Jichkar was diagnosed with cancer in the adrenal glands. Yet he remained active, travelling and speaking until the very end. Tragically, on June 2, 2004, at just 49, he died in a car accident while returning from his farm near Nagpur.
Even two decades after his passing, Dr. Shrikant Jichkar remains a beacon of what it means to truly value education, not for prestige, but for purpose. His name is etched in the Limca Book of Records as India’s most educated person, but beyond the degrees and accolades, his legacy is about relentless curiosity, the courage to shift paths, and the belief that no learning ever goes to waste.
