In a stirring tale of grit and perseverance, a 32-year-old visually challenged teacher from Jajpur district has cleared the prestigious Odisha Civil Services (OCS) examination, proving that determination can outshine adversity.

Mahes Panda, who was born without vision, secured the 300th rank in his third attempt at the OCS, the results of which were declared recently. A resident of Bada Biruhan village in Korei block, Panda has been teaching Odia at Adarsha Vidyalaya in Kuleilo, Athagarh, since 2016.

Raised in a modest household as the youngest of five siblings, Panda grew up watching his father, a small farmer, sustain the seven-member family through sheer hard work. Despite repeated attempts at medical treatment, his eyesight could never be restored. “Finally, we left it to fate,” recalled his father, Laxmi Narayan.

Undeterred, Panda pursued his education with relentless focus. After completing matriculation at the School for the Blind in Nuapada in 2009, he graduated from Ravenshaw University, earned a B.Ed from the Central University of Koraput, and went on to complete his post-graduation in Odia at Utkal University.

Financial constraints threatened to derail his academic journey, but timely support from two local benefactors and organisations like Yuga Nirman Vidya Parishad and Gayatri Mission in Cuttack ensured his higher education continued uninterrupted.

Balancing his teaching duties with exam preparation, Panda relied on technology to aid his studies. “Days were for teaching students, nights for self-study. With technology, learning has become much easier for the visually challenged,” he said, expressing gratitude to his family and friends for their unwavering support.

Elated at his achievement, Panda has pledged to dedicate his career to public service. “I will dedicate my life to the welfare of the state,” he said with quiet resolve.

This year, 398 candidates qualified for the OCS examination, but Panda’s story stands out as a beacon of resilience, inspiring countless aspirants to dream beyond limitations.