Kendrapada: Despite being visually impaired, Subham Soumen Senapati (28), a resident of Sitalapatana village in Kendrapada district's Garadpur block, has cracked the Odisha Civil Services Examination. The results were declared recently, and he secured the 164th rank in his fourth attempt, earning him the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) position. In 2015, Sanyasi Behera was the first visually impaired person to achieve OAS.
Early Life and Challenges
Subham lost his eyesight at the age of five due to incorrect medical treatment. He passed his matriculation from Aurobindo School of New Thought, Cuttack, in 2013. His mother, a teacher at the school, died in a road accident in 2012. Despite these hardships, he pursued higher education, graduating with honors in economics from Ravenshaw College, Cuttack, in 2018. He completed his post-graduation in economics from Ravenshaw University in 2020. In 2019, he cleared the UGC-NET, qualifying for the post of assistant professor. However, he chose to prepare for the civil services instead.
Health Setbacks and Determination
In 2024, Subham was diagnosed with avascular necrosis (AVN), a condition affecting the bones in both hips, which left him unable to walk. He underwent surgery at the Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research (SVNIRTAR) in Olatpur in 2025, but he has not yet fully recovered. Speaking to the Times of India, Subham said on Tuesday that he appeared for the examination with the assistance of a scribe.
“My father, Abhaya, a small businessman, always dreamed of seeing me as a distinguished person. My parents taught me to work silently and let success make noise. Finally, their hard work has paid off. My next target is the IAS. My only regret is that I lost my mother in 2012 in a road accident,” he said.
Support and Future Goals
Subham acknowledged that life is a challenge he has accepted. “Hard work and strong determination are important for achieving anything in life. I want to serve my state with honesty,” he said, thanking his friends for their financial support for online coaching. His father, Abhaya, expressed immense pride: “My son used to study 10 to 12 hours daily. His hard work has borne fruits.” A villager, Gourang Das (65), remarked, “Despite being visually impaired, Subham has achieved what millions of his age can only dream of.”
