By Purushottam Nayak
Kandhamal, August 6, 2020: History was created in the Kandhamal district of Odisha when a local youth cracked the Union Public Service Commission examination of 2019.
Bibhuti Bhusan Nayak, son of a teacher, was ranked 819 in the exam when the result was declared on August 4. He is the third person from Kandhamal to crack the civil service exam since Indian Independence.
Radhankanta Nayak became the first Indian Administrative officer from Kandhamal in 1962 and three years later John Nayak became an Indian Police Service officer.
It took almost 55 years for Bibhuti Bhusan Nayak to clear the exam.
None of them are related to each other as ‘Nayak’ is a common surname in the area.
“I am happy with my success. Being a social worker, I worked in many places for people. I could have done in my UPSC better if I could get an opportunity early,” Bibhuti told Matters India.
He has faced many problems in life. He hails from Kalingi village of Daringbadi Block, some 300 kilometers southwest of Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Odisha. He is the second among seven children.
Bibhuti says if the government gives him an opportunity he would implement projects for rural youth, who are poorer and marginalized like him.
He completed his primary school from Kalingi Government School. He passed tenth grade from Lal Bahadur Bidyapitho High School, Daringbadi and Bachelors of Arts degree from Capital College, Bhubaneswar.
Financial constraints forced him to take up a teaching job in his village school, where his father Eilas was a teacher.
Later, he got a job in Malkangiri Collectorate for the post of Prime Minister Rural Development program.
In 2019, Bibhuti cleared the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS).
After resigning from OAS, he went to Delhi to prepare for the UPSC examination.
“I thank God wholeheartedly and sincerely. I am happy that my son has achieved his dream coming from a humble background,” Elias said.
The father saw Bibhuti was a sincere and efficient teacher when they worked together.
“Today I am glad which I cannot express in my words,” the proud father told Matters India.
His mother Premolata too said Bibhuti was studious and hardworking. “Bibhuti’s primary goal was to study well. In the process, he had to face many hardships. He has sacrificed a lot in life to reach his aim. I know him well that he has a heart and mind to work for people as a social worker. I hope and pray that he will work with great dedication for all,” she added.
As many as 21 young people cleared the prestigious exam this year. Two of them came within the top ten ranks.