https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Son of a BPL Farmer Cracks UPSC

Hrudaya Kumar, the son of a BPL farmer from Orissa cracked UPSC CSE 2014 in his third attempt. Poverty did not deter him from setting a big goal and he gave his best shot to fulfill it. He says he feels proud of being the son of a hardworking farmer who still toils in fields.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Hrudaya Kumar from Odisha saw poverty from close quarters as his father was a BPL farmer, and growing up, life was not so easy for him. He also saw disappointment very closely as his passion was cricket and he wanted to make a career out of it but couldn’t. But, once he set his eyes on UPSC, there was no looking back for him, and he stopped only when he cracked the CSE exam in his third attempt. 

SON OF A FARMER

Born and brought up in Angulai, a remote village in the Kendrapara district of Odisha, Hrudaya is the son of a below poverty line farmer. He completed his schooling at a government school in the village and usually always stood first in class.

Young Hrudaya had his heart set on cricket. The sport was his passion, and he even represented his district in an inter-district cricket championship match. He wanted to make a career in the field, but fate had other plans.

“In primary and high school level, I excelled in studies. However, in plus two science, I passed in the second class. That was a setback that I could hardly digest. I was good at cricket. I had represented the Kendrapara district team in the Kalahandi Cup inter-district cricket tournament. I was caught in a dilemma whether to concentrate on cricket or studies. But my father advised me to go for higher studies. And that was the end of cricket for me as I wanted to fulfill my father’s wish. I never looked back since,” an emotional Hrudaya had shared with media after his UPSC success.

HIGHER STUDIES

After completing his secondary education, Hrudaya decided to go for a professional course. Therefore, he enrolled himself for a five-year integrated MCA course at Utkal University in Bhubaneshwar, Orissa. 

“I feel proud being the son of a hardworking farmer. We own 1.5 acres of irrigated farmland. My father still toils in fields to support the family. He had to dispose of land to meet our study expenses. My younger brother Rashmi Ranjan is studying MBA,” Hrudaya said.

It was during his years at the university that he decided to pursue civil services. He utilized the studious environment and started preparing for the civil services exam.

CRACKED UPSC IN THIRD ATTEMPT

For a long period of time, Hrudaya juggled between his preparation for UPSC and his university studies. During that time, he was also posted in the Jajpur district, Orissa, as Prime Minister Rural Development Fellow (PMRDF). His job was to interact with tribals in Naxalite-infested areas and oversee the implementation of poverty alleviation and welfare programs in backward areas. The Union Rural Development ministry was paying a hefty salary for the job assigned to him.

This job made him understand the plight of tribals even more and his will to get into civil services became stronger. He gave the examination but wasn’t able to crack it in the first two attempts.

However, perseverance and hard work paid dividends with Hrudaya tasting success in his third attempt in the civil services examination. “I believe that sincere labor never goes unpaid. By dint of determination and willpower, I had set the civil service target. But for family support, my civil service dream could never have been realized,” he concluded.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC on Implementation of Safeguards for Scheduled Tribe Employees
MP CM Collector Award Niti Aayog
Sampurnata Abhiyan: Madhya Pradesh Leads NITI Aayog Campaign; Collectors from 8 Districts Win Gold
Mohan Yadav
MP CM Mohan Yadav Pushes for Sustainable, Community-Driven Rural Water Policy; Targets 100% Tap Coverage by March 2027
Ajay Bhadoo IAS
IAS Ajay Bhadoo Gets Extended Term as DGFT - What It Means & His Career Journey
THDCIL_Receives_ABMS_Certification_for_Integrity_and_Transparency
THDC India (THDCIL) Awarded ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Certification by BIS - Details Inside
Ministry of Environment
Environment Ministry Clarifies Petrol Vehicle Tender, Cites E-Vehicle Flexibility
Bokaro Steel Plant
PESB Selects Priya Ranjan to Head Bokaro Steel Plant, SAIL’s Key Production Unit
REC Limited wins ‘Best Design Thinking Award’ at 5th Distinguished NBFC (DNA) Awards
REC Limited Bags ‘Best Design Thinking Award’ at 5th Distinguished NBFC Awards
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
Resisted Flawed Schemes, Transferred Thrice In Three Months, Found Solace In Writing
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
IAS SVR Srinivas on Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Tough Calls, and the Real Power of IAS Officers | Video Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
Dharavi Redevelopment: IAS Minds Turning 100-Year-Old Slum into a Modern City | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-12 at 7.27
First Attempt IRS, Fourth Attempt IPS: The Relentless Pursuit of Jitendra Kumar Yadav Who Cracked UPSC 3 Times
IPS Yadav is originally from Chhattisgarh. He was first selected for the IRS through UPSC and later for...
Social Media
Masahiro Hara
From Go Board to Global Use, How QR Codes Changed the World: IRAS Officer Ananth Rupanagudi Spotlights Masahiro Hara’s Vision
IRAS officer Ananth Rupanagudi shared a video on Masahiro Hara, the inventor of QR codes, highlighting...
IFS Susanta Nanda Video
A Mother’s Duty: Tigress Watches Over Cubs Splashing in Waterhole — Heartwarming Video Shared By Retd. IFS Officer Susanta Nanda
A tender wildlife video shared by Retd. IFS officer Susanta Nanda shows a tigress keeping watch over...
Mohanmala
Kaziranga Mourns: Beloved Elephant Mohanmala Passes Away After Five Decades of Service
Kaziranga National Park mourns the loss of Mohanmala, a beloved elephant who served over 50 years as...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
IFS S Krithiga
Eco-Friendly Cottages, Tribal Cuisine, and Conservation: Inside Tamil Nadu’s Pachamalai Project
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC on Implementation of Safeguards for Scheduled Tribe Employees
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT