https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

No Son, No Problem: How Sanjita Mohapatra Became the Family’s Strongest Pillar

Born into a lower-middle-class family where her mother initially wished for a son, 2020 batch IAS officer of Maharashtra cadre, Ms Sanjita Mohapatra defied societal expectations, overcame financial hardships, and left a stable PSU job to chase her UPSC dream—securing an All India Rank 10 and now empowering women and improving education as CEO of Amravati Zilla Parishad.
Indian Masterminds Stories

When Sanjita Mohapatra was born, her mother had hoped for a boy. So deep was her disappointment that she even considered abandoning her newborn daughter. Yet, despite this initial hesitation, Sanjita’s mother became her greatest pillar of support, ensuring that her daughter received the best education possible, even in the face of financial struggles.

“Although she once wished for a son, she never discriminated between us,” recalls Sanjita. “She sacrificed everything to give us a good education, despite our family’s hardships.”

The struggles were real. At one point, Sanjita’s father, burdened by financial instability, transferred her to a Hindi-medium school to cut costs. But her mother firmly resisted despite her limited education, knowing that quality education was the key to a better future. This decision proved to be life-changing.

IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE

Sanjita was always a high achiever. Her journey was never easy, but she was determined. After completing her B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from the College of Engineering & Technology, Odisha, she secured a job at Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). She worked as an assistant manager for five years, gaining invaluable experience in the public sector.

But something was missing. The dream of becoming an IAS officer never left her. “I learned a lot from SAIL, and it gave me an insight into how a PSU functions,” she says. “But my heart was set on something bigger.”

THE LEAP OF FAITH

Sanjita had attempted the UPSC exam multiple times while studying and even during her tenure at SAIL. Each time, she faced failure. But failure didn’t break her—it only fueled her resolve. In 2018, she made the boldest decision of her life: she resigned from her secure, well-paying job to dedicate herself entirely to UPSC preparation.

This was a high-stakes gamble, considering her family’s financial struggles. However, by this time, she and her sister had ensured financial stability for their parents, even building them a house. With her family secure, Sanjita focused all her energy on her dream.

Her hard work paid off. In 2019, she cleared the UPSC Civil Services Exam with an outstanding All India Rank of 10. It was the culmination of years of perseverance, resilience, and unshakable determination.

GIVING BACK

Today, as the CEO of Amravati Zilla Parishad, IAS officer Sanjita Mohapatra is committed to empowering others, especially women. She is working tirelessly to strengthen self-help groups (SHGs), providing them with branding, packaging, and marketing support to create a sustainable livelihood for rural women.

Her passion for education hasn’t wavered either. She is focused on improving the quality of education in Zilla Parishad schools, ensuring that every child – regardless of their background – receives the opportunity to succeed, just as she once did.

For Sanjita, clearing the UPSC was never just about personal achievement. It was about giving back to a society that had supported her when she needed it the most. “I don’t dream of changing the world overnight,” she says. “But I do want to start small, connect with people, and solve their basic problems. If I can make them smile, I will consider my work successful.”


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Odisha Government
Odisha Elevates Two Promising IFS Officers to Senior Time Scale, Strengthening Forest Leadership - Know More About Them
Yogi Adityanath UP
Uttar Pradesh Floods: CM Yogi Adityanath Forms ‘Team-11’ for Swift and Transparent Flood Relief Across 12 Districts
DGR Job Fair
DGR Job Fair 2025 Held in Delhi to Empower Ex-Servicemen with Career Opportunities in Emerging Tech - Details Inside
omc
Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) Begins Dispatch from Dubna Mines, Strengthening Supply Chain and Industrial Growth
NFDC
NFDC Launches Free Residential 3D Animation & VFX Training for North East Youth - Here's All You Need To Know
CM Yogi
CM Yogi Adityanath Reviews Rs. 42,891 Crore Development Proposals for Lucknow Division, Emphasizes Timely, Inclusive Execution
Mahanadi River
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai Assures Odisha of Consideration on an Amicable Solution to Mahanadi Water Dispute
MP News
Madhya Pradesh CM Dr. Mohan Yadav Pays Tribute to Pt. Ravishankar Shukla on His Birth Anniversary
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
How IAS Karn Satyarthi Transformed Gumla Through Empathy and Innovation
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
IRAS Ananth Rupanagudi’s Take on Corruption, Reform, and Duty
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
What Most Indians Don't Know About Jim Corbett
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
BPSC Bihar police
From Lantern Light to Police Uniform: How Praveen Kumar from a Small Bihar Village Cracked BPSC to Become SDPO
From a lantern-lit village in Bihar to becoming an SDPO, Praveen Kumar's journey is a testament to resilience,...
IAS Priyansha Garg
Why Mindset Matters: IAS Priyansha Garg’s Mental Health Mantra for UPSC
After two failed prelims, Priyansha Garg cracked UPSC with AIR 31 in her fourth attempt, proving how...
Ashish Akshat
From Setback to State Topper: How Ashish Akshat Topped JPSC While Working Full-Time
Ashish Akshat from Dhanbad topped JPSC 2023, proving that resilience, discipline, and family support...
Social Media
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve: From India’s First Sanctuary to a Tiger Conservation Success Story | International Tiger Day Special
IAS Supriya Sahu Hails Mudumalai's Role in Tiger Conservation on Tiger Day. Declared in 1940, Now Among...
Mangroves
Mangroves: Nature’s Shield Against Disasters, Says Officer Parveen Kaswan on Mangroves Day - Watch His Post Here
Mangroves, with their dense, interlaced root systems, form a mesh-like structure that serves as a buffer...
Retired IPS Inderjit Singh Sidhu
Purpose Doesn’t Retire: How 88-Year-Old Retired DIG Becomes Chandigarh’s ‘Quiet Warrior’ of Cleanliness
Inderjit Singh Sidhu’s Dawn Patrol Earns Applause, Mahindra’s Praise for a Man Who Chose Action Over...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Odisha Government
Odisha Elevates Two Promising IFS Officers to Senior Time Scale, Strengthening Forest Leadership - Know More About Them
Yogi Adityanath UP
Uttar Pradesh Floods: CM Yogi Adityanath Forms ‘Team-11’ for Swift and Transparent Flood Relief Across 12 Districts
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT