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
IRSSE (Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers) officer
IRSSE Gaurav Govil Debarred from Central Deputation for 5 Years Over Non-Compliance with CVO Appointment
Delhi High Court-resized-DelhiHC
Faith vs Discipline: Delhi HC Backs Army in Termination of Officer, Upholds Dismissal For Refusing Religious Parade Participation
IRS Officer Indian revenue Services
Senior IRS Officer Caught in Bribery Case: ₹25 Lakh Seized at Mohali Residence, ₹45 Lakh Demanded – Know the Full Story
PNB Housing Finanace
PNB Housing Finance Elevates Bhavya Taneja as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) - Know More About Him
Air Marshal Jasvir Singh Mann
Air Marshal Jasvir Singh Mann Takes Over as Senior Air Staff Officer, Western Air Command - Know More About Him
Rajgir Sports
Bihar’s Mega Sports Push: Playgrounds, Stadiums & Talent Hunt Transform State; Over 50 Lakh Students Join
Indian Oil IOCL
Indian Oil (IOCL) Finalizes LCOH for India’s Largest Green Hydrogen Plant at Panipat Refinery - Details Inside
RECPDCL Handover WRNES Talegaon Power Transmission Limited SPV to Adani Energy
RECPDCL Hands Over WRNES Talegaon Power Transmission SPV to Adani Energy Solutions - All Details Inside
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
Modernising Governance: A Digital Transformation in Gangtok
IMG-20250523-WA0036
Abhishek Singh's SECRET: Vipassana, Anthropology & Smart Answer Writing | Video Interview 
Madhav Agarwal UPSC
From Gwalior to the Top 20: What Drove Finance Pro Madhav Agarwal to Crack UPSC CSE 2024 with AIR 16? | Exclusive
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
ANUBHAV SINGH UPSC IFS 2024
9 Years, 8 Attempts, 7 Failures: How Anubhav Singh Cracked UPSC IFS 2024 with AIR 3 Against All Odds | Exclusive
Anubhav Singh’s inspiring journey to UPSC IFS Rank 3 showcases relentless perseverance, strategic preparation,...
Jogender Sihag
“I Cleared UPSC, But My Grandfather isn’t Here to Hear it,” Jogender Sihag, AIR 521, UPSC CSE 2024
"Life is short; make the most of it, whether in civil service or any other field. Just have a clear vision...
WhatsApp Image 2025-05-28 at 18.56
Didn’t Clear UPSC But Found Something Greater: A Story That Will Change How You See Success
She left a top finance job for UPSC, did not clear but built a thriving wellness brand instead. Veda's...
Social Media
parveen kaswan elephant
Elephant Outsmarts Electric Fence! IFS Parveen Kaswan Shares Incredible Video!
In the now-viral 51-second clip, the intelligent giant approaches a wooden pole supporting high-voltage...
UPSC Latest IAS IPS IFS
UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 Tomorrow: ICLS Officer Altap Shaikh Shares Last-Minute Motivation for Aspirants
His five-post thread offers encouragement, practical advice, and emotional support - not just for those...
Anupam Sharma IFS
#BoycottTurkey: IFS Officer Anupam Sharma Sparks Nationalist Call to Action
IFS Sharma urged citizens to avoid Turkish agricultural imports
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Leopard into Well Indore
Wildlife on the Edge: Why Leopards Keep Falling into Wells in MP’s Mhow & How Communities Are Navigating Coexistence
Harry Hobbs of Kolkata and Other Forgotten Lives
Nine Colonial Lives That Shaped Calcutta: Devasis Chattopadhyay’s Fascinating Chronicle | Book Review
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
IMG-20250523-WA0036
Madhav Agarwal UPSC
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT