Veteran Indian politician Sharad Pawar has made a name for himself as a powerful force in politics by using cunning and having a keen grasp of the political system. His rise from modest beginnings to become a political heavyweight, born in 1940 in Maharashtra, is a tale of tenacity and deft manoeuvring through the corridors of power.

Pawar was born on December 12 to Shardabai and Govindrao Pawar. One of the seven siblings, the politician was an average student but was active in student politics. Ahead of Sharad Pawar's birthday 2023, here's a look into how he cemented his position as a political heavyweight.