Bhubaneswar: The world of success teems with many rags to riches stories; they work like a beacon for people from the lower strata of society. The recent Odisha Civil Services Exam results has brought to fore one such story of aspiration and achievement.
Meet young Birendra Tripathy, who has got 67th rank in the OAS merit list. A resident of Rental Colony in Bhubaneswar, Birendra comes from a humble background. His father, Mayadhar Tripathy, and brother Surendra run a small eatery in the city. With the meager earnings from the shop, Mayadhar takes care of his family and the education of Birendra and his younger sister.
Birendra said he has seen real struggle up close and so wanted to do something to provide support to people. When asked how he managed his studies despite his family’s financial problems, Birendra said he had received help from many people like his teachers. He also got a government scholarship.
As a child, Birendra used to help his father at his shop by serving water and food to the customers. It was while watching the hard work and struggle of his father and uncle, the youth decided to do something in life, he revealed to a local news channel.
Birendra believes that in order to achieve success, the first thing that one needs to have is strong will power.
Asked about his future plans, he replied, “I have decided to give my hundred per cent to what ever I do. I am also preparing for IAS (Indian Administrative Service) and if I succeeds in qualifying, it would help me to get better coverage by widening the scope to work.”
So what is his suggestion to civil service aspirants> “I would suggest that they work hard with belief and someday they will definitely achieve success.”
On the issue of civil servants giving up their jobs to join politics, Birendra said, “If they feel they can serve the people better by joining politics then its okay because in a job, a person’s scope for working for people is confined to certain limits. But as politicians, they get wider scope to work for people as they can reach out to people directly.” As for himself, Birendra said he believes in maintaining a distance from politics.
Asked about his reaction to the JNU violence on Sunday evening, he said education is a noble thing, politics should not be involved in it. “Education builds character and so it should remain just education and politics should not be involved in it. Students politics is okay, but too much outside involvement by vested interests should be condemned.”
Birendra’s family are overjoyed with his success and said he was always a mild tempered, studious and hard-working boy and they always hoped he will do well in life.
