JAJPUR: Mahesh Panda, a 32-year-old visually-challenged teacher, cracked the Odisha Civil Services Examination 2023 the results of which were declared on Friday.
A resident of Bada Biruhan village under Korei block of Jajpur district, Mahesh secured 300th rank in the examination. It was his third attempt. He has been working as an Odia teacher at Adarsha Vidyalaya in Kuleilo at Athagarh in Cuttack district since 2016.
Youngest among five siblings, Mahesh had blindness from a young age. His father Laxmi Narayan sustained his seven-member family on farming but his son’s blindness left him a worried man. Despite best treatments and visits to several eye hospitals in the state, doctors could not restore Mahesh’s vision.
However, Mahesh did not give up. He completed his high school from the School for the Blind at Nuapada in Cuttack through the Braille system in 2009. He graduated from Ravenshaw University and pursued a B.Ed from Central University at Koraput. Later, he did his post graduation in Odia from Utkal University.
Mahesh said there were no difficulties in studying up to Class 10 as education and boarding was free. “After passing out of the high school, it became a challenge as my father, the lone bread earner of our family, fell sick. Two Good Samaritans of my village came forward to assist me following which I moved ahead,” he said.
Besides, Yuga Nirman Vidya Parishad and Gayatri Mission, both in Cuttack, funded his education. “Otherwise, reaching here would have been difficult,” recalls Mahesh.
Mahesh had to juggle between teaching and preparing for the OCS examination. “Days were meant for teaching students in the school and nights for self preparation,” said the 32-year-old adding that technology made preparation easier for him.
He also thanked Lord Jagannath, his family and friends who helped him achieve the success. “I will work for the welfare of the state,” he said.