Son, daughter-in-law of sharecropper cracks OES exam

Kendrapara: The son and daughter-in-law of a sharecropper in a remote village of Kendrapara district have cracked the Odisha Education Service examination, ranking 31st and 19th respectively.

The couple Himanshu Bhusan Ohja (32) and M S Snata came out successful in the OES examination the results of which came out recently.

They will be joining the School and Mass Education department.

"My father Surendranath Ojha owned half an acre of cultivable land. The land was not enough to support the family. So he had taken to tenant farming. With great hardship, he had provided funds for my education. I along with my wife owe our success to parental support," said Himanshu (32), who ranked 31st among the successful candidates.

"My wife M S Snata has been ranked 19. We got married on 31 May last year. We faced the interview board this year on our marriage anniversary day. We work as contractual teachers in government-run high schools. Snata was also a source of inspiration for me," Himanshu, a native of Nischintasasan village under Garadpur block said.

"Parental support coupled with hard work has paved the way for my success. After coming out successfully in written, I was bit tense for the viva voce. However, the interview panel was supportive and inculcated confidence in me to reply to their queries," said Snata (27), who post-graduated in zoology.

"Himanshu was good at studies. I took up share cropping to generate additional income for his education. My son did his graduation and post-graduation from Ravenshaw University," narrated Surendranath.

Himanshu said his father is his inspiration, guide and philosopher who never made him feel the pangs of poverty.

"Whatever I achieved is because of my father," he said.

The Odisha Public Service Commission takes the Odisha Education Service examination for recruitment of teachers in schools and colleges.