Kotpad, 4th Oct 2025: As the saying goes, “Even if a forest flower blooms in the wild, its fragrance spreads far and wide.” A similar story is seen in the recent Odisha Civil Services examination, where Pradeep Kumar Bhatara has brought immense pride and honor to Kotpad region by securing the 363rd rank.
Pradeep hails from a poor family in Bania village of Kotpad block, under the Guali panchayat. Despite his humble beginnings, he achieved success through hard work and dedication.
His father Giridhar Bhatara passed away when Pradeep was very young. Following his father’s death, his mother Banabasini Nayak, despite financial hardships, did not give up. She took care of her in-laws and raised her three children with great determination. After years of struggle, she eventually joined as a peon at the Kotpad Court.
While working there, she used to observe government officers and dreamt of seeing her children in such respectable roles. With that dream in her heart, she toiled hard to make it a reality.
Today, her eldest daughter is working in the Kotpad Block Office, and now her son Pradeep has successfully cleared the Odisha Civil Services Examination. Understandably, Banabasini Nayak is overjoyed with this achievement.
Pradeep, who puts in 10 to 12 hours of hard work daily, has credited his success to God, his mother, elder sister, brother-in-law, and other family members. He added that he was greatly inspired by his brother-in-law’s work ethic and dedication to public service. Notably, his brother-in-law is also an OAS officer, currently serving as the Additional Tahsildar at Kotpad Tehsil.
Pradeep stated that wherever he is posted by the state government, he will serve the people of the region with integrity and dedication.
Following this achievement, there is a wave of joy not only in his native village but throughout the Kotpad area.