A fully occupied study hall in Dharwad. Candidates spend anywhere between 10 and 12 hours in these study halls bringing their own study materials to prepare for competitive examinations.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
While Dharwad has become the epicentre of protests by job aspirants in the last couple of months, it has also brought to the fore another aspect of the city, which has traditionally been known as the centre of culture and education in North Karnataka.
In the last couple of years, coaching centres have mushroomed in the city and so have what are called “study halls”, which are libraries of sorts. Surrounding them is an economy, which is very different from the traditional educational and cultural ecosystem that Dharwad has always been known for.
The life of these candidates revolves around these coaching centres, study halls, rooms (for some PGs), and dining messes scattered over Saptapur, Srinagar, Jayanagar, Kalyan Nagar, and adjoining localities. They spend an average of ₹5,000 to ₹6,000 per month for food and accommodation, excluding fees for appearing for competitive examinations.
Viresh Naregal from Banavasi in Uttara Kannada district is among those whose aspiration for public service is supported by parents belonging to a middle-income group. The lone son of a retired government employee, Mr. Naregal’s dream is to crack the Karnataka Administrative Services (KAS) and has been burning the midnight oil for the last four years. “Now because of the delay in recruitments, my parents are asking me to return with a promise to mobilise funds for a small business. But I want to be in public service. It is not just for job security, it allows you to serve people,” Mr. Naregal told The Hindu.
Mr. Naregal shares his rented house with six others, including Karthik from Hosapete and Shrimanth Ammanni from Kalaburagi, who come from middle-class families with small land holdings. There are hundreds like them who come to Dharwad with dreams of securing a government job as they believe that Dharwad with its “educational atmosphere” will help them study and crack the competitive examinations.
“For long, Dharwad has been an education centre. Cashing in on the brand name of Dharwad, over 30 coaching centres have come up. After getting coaching for six months or so, these candidates turn to the around 150 study halls scattered in various localities,” said Bhavanishankar Gowda, State co-convener of Job Aspirants’ Struggle Committee.
Every day, hundreds of candidates — mostly graduates with a dream of government job — frequent these 24/7 study halls, marked by narrow cubicles and chairs. They spend days and nights there.
Affordability factor
While it is common for job aspirants from various districts of North Karnataka, including Koppal, Vijayapura, Raichur, Bidar, Ballari, Bagalkot, Kalaburagi, Haveri, and others, to depend on Dharwad for the exam preparations, of late, the affordability factor is drawing candidates from South Karnataka districts, including Kolar and Chickballapur.
Unlike Mr. Naregal, whose family continues to support his dream albeit with some difficulty, not many candidates can afford to stay back for longer periods in Dharwad. In order to pursue their dream, they end up working part time, doing catering jobs, working as security guards, and in some extreme cases doing masonry work to meet expenses. Some get free food along with monthly wages for serving food in the mess.
Times of desperation
“There are hundreds who stay back, working part time and keep preparing only with the hope of cracking an examination. However desperation is creeping in because of the inordinate delay in recruitment,” Mr. Naregal said, adding that this angst among aspirants over the issue is valid.
(This is the first of a three-part series)
Published – February 26, 2026 07:09 am IST
