Daily labourer's daughter cracks Indian Economic Service exam

"My father sweated it out to financially support me in my studies. He never made me feel the pangs of poverty. Whatever I achieved today is only because of my father. I dedicate my all India job to him," said Aparajita Priyadarshini Behera (24) of Mahanangala village who has come out successful in UPSC's IES examination ranking 13 in all India list.

A daily wage labourer's daughter from a remote village near Kendrapara, Odisha, Aparajita has cracked the coveted Indian Economic Service (IES) this year.

Aparajita lays claim to fame for the fact that she hailed from an extremely humble background. Her father Amulya Kumar Behera (50) is still toiling in a fertiliser plant in Paradip as a labourer.

He is on a daily pay roll and his assignment is purely contractual with monthly remuneration pegged at less than Rs 10,000.

Aparajita studied in a village primary and high school.

Later she passed out plus two and degree courses from Marshaghai college near Kendrapara.

With good academic record in school and college, she post-graduated in economics from the Utkal University. Since then, she never looked back.

Congenial and competitive academic environs in the university spurred her to march ahead.

"My father is my inspiration, guide and philosopher. He sweated it out to financially support me in my studies. He never made me feel the pangs of poverty. Whatever I achieved today is only because of my father. I dedicate my all India job to him," she said.

"Parental support coupled with hard work paved way for my success. I did not believe in shortcut route to success. I read extensively subject wise. After coming out successful in written, I was tense for the viva. However, the interview panel was supportive and inculcated confidence in me to reply to their queries," she recalled.