Cattle rearer to scientist in Germany, inspiring story of Odisha's Seshadev Kisan

You must have heard this adage ‘If you set a dream, you will find your way to achieve that’. This saying perfectly suits Seshadev Kisan aka Sesha who overcame every odds to become a chemical scientist and made Odisha proud. From grazing cattle to obtaining a position in the prestigious Georg-August University in Göttingen, Germany, his journey from rags to riches is really inspiring.

But what is even more motivating from his story is that despite earning all comforts of life from chance of settling in Germany, living a luxury lifestyle to finding love in the European country, Sesha is now back in Odisha just because he wants to do something for his motherland. 

Once upon a time he struggled hard to get a handful of rice but now he owns a house worth lakhs of rupees at his birthplace Sambalpur. Sesha is also all set to tie nuptial knot very soon. In a candid conversation with OTV, Sesha talks about his future plans....

Hailing from Natideula village of Sambalpur, Sesha lost his mother when he was just a year old and his father passed away when he was 18.

Even after losing his parents, he did not stop dreaming big and giving up on his study. Apart from grazing cattle, he started working as wage earner during vacation so that he could look after his family and bear his educational expenses.

After he completed his schooling from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, he was selected at the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER).  Later, he did research under Prof Sven Schneider at Georg-August University School of Science (GAUSS). 

Seshadev who was felicitated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik before leaving for Germany in 2018 regrets that though he has every comfort of life now, he does not have his parents beside him to enjoy them.   

Following his return from Germany, he is currently teaching 170 odd village kids so that they will be self-reliant.

“I have adopted 170 children. Apart from me, some teachers have been roped in to teach them.  All I want to make them is self-sufficient. I have donated my old house to them. Kids are being taught there.”

He went on to add: “Before leaving for Germany four years back, I had told to media that I would be back and would love to do something worth important for my motherland Odisha. And I kept my words. I have long plans. I will reveal it on right time. It will be a surprise for everyone.”

Reported by Ramakant Mahanand, OTV