Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi unveiled the book “The Collector’s Mother,” authored by Bishnupada Sethi, IAS, at Lokseva Bhawan. The book recounts the remarkable true story of an underprivileged woman whose resilience and determination inspired her son to join the prestigious Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
The narrative follows the woman, born as an unwanted girl child in the pre-independence era, through numerous life-threatening challenges. Set in a remote village in Odisha, the story unfolds against a backdrop of caste-based discrimination, a lack of rule of law, a traditional power structure, underdeveloped education, food insecurity, drought, famine, inadequate healthcare, communication issues, labor migration, and community domination.
Despite facing murderous attacks and public humiliation, she never wavered in her resolve to protect her family. Her perseverance was particularly evident when she and her husband were dragged along the village road in full view of the public. The family endured these hardships for three decades until a conscientious Collector, Shri Ashwini Vaishnav, restored their land through a prolonged legal process.
During one of her many arduous journeys to the District Court, she expressed her wish to her seven-year-old son: if he could achieve anything in life, becoming a Collector who could dispense justice would be the most honorable pursuit. This dream, though seemingly unattainable for the young boy, ignited a restlessness in him to fulfill his mother’s wishes. His arduous journey from their obscure village ultimately led him to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in 1995.
The woman lived a life full of dignity until her passing, harboring a sense of forgiveness toward her tormentors and maintaining a firm belief in God, which alleviated her suffering.
“The Collector’s Mother” has the potential to inspire many students to pursue higher goals despite significant obstacles. Bishnupada Sethi’s poignant recounting of his mother’s life serves as a testament to the power of perseverance and the enduring strength of maternal love.