On a bustling street corner in Jamshedpur, amidst the honking vehicles and the chatter of pedestrians, Rohit Kumar spends his days intricately arranging mobile phone covers for sale.

June 14 marked a milestone in Rohit’s journey — a day when he first wore the white overcoat of a medical student: a symbol of his commendable achievement in clearing the prestigious NEET [National Eligibility cum Entrance Test] Undergraduate exam. The results brought him one step closer to becoming a doctor.

“I can’t explain that feeling,” he reflects, recalling the overwhelming wave of emotion that followed. “It was all worth it,” he says with anticipation of the day he will earn the esteemed prefix of ‘Dr’ with the completion of his MBBS.

Since the announcement, Rohit has been occupied giving interviews and speeches, but today, as he receives praise and admiration from those around him, there have been days when he was belittled for his decision to study science.

“A relative once openly mocked my decision to study science. He said I only did it to show off. Sarcastically, he asked me if I planned to write the rates of mobile covers in my answer sheets. Although his words disheartened me, I chose not to respond. Today, this achievement speaks for itself,” he adds.

Having secured 549 marks out of 720 and an All India rank of 12,484, Rohit stands on the verge of becoming the first doctor in his family and village.

Dared to dream

It wasn’t until the COVID-19-induced lockdown, when Rohit started working at a chemist shop, that he developed an interest in the medical field. This exposure was complemented by hands-on experience at a clinic, where he assisted with tasks such as measuring patients’ blood pressure.

“Witnessing firsthand the respect and fulfilment experienced by doctors, I realised the nobility of the profession. Seeing the doctors in white coats near my........

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