“You must not let anyone define your limits because of where you come from.” A ragpicker’s son has just proved it right by getting admission for MMBS at the prestigious All India Institute for Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Jodhpur. Even though their house didn’t have electricity or toilet, but that didn’t stop him from clearing medical entrance exam in one go.
Asharam Choudhary hails from Dewas in Madhya Pradesh and has overcome all difficulties to secure a place in one of India’s top institute. While talking to ANI, he said, “I want to thank my parents and Navodaya Vidyalaya, and also Dakshina foundation for providing me financial help. A doctor in my village inspired me to choose this profession when I was in the fifth standard.”
The Eighteen-year-old secured the 141st rank in the OBC category and an overall rank of 707 in the AIIMS entrance test, which was held on May 27. He cleared the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), conducted on May 6, bagging the 803rd rank in the OBC category and 2,763 overall.
Overwhelmed by his son’s performance, father of Asharam said to ANI, “My son completed 12th standard and then got admission in AIIMS, Jodhpur. We do not have sufficient money and are expecting help from others. We have been helped by a few people in the past, including the Additional District Magistrate.”
Even though the family always struggled to make ends meet and Asharam’s father had to collect garbage for that; one of the neighbors hailed his enthusiasm and commitment and said, “Despite no light, he used to study, Asharam did a lot of hard work, and we are very proud of him. We are proud that he belongs to our village and despite his father’s poor financial condition, he worked very hard.”
“I am so happy that I cannot express myself. My next goal is to become a neurosurgeon. After MBBS, I want to do a Master of Surgery (MS) in Neurology,” added Choudhary.
According to the PTI report, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan lauded Choudhary for the feat.
In a letter addressed to Choudhary, Gandhi wrote, “I congratulate you on clearing All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) entrance test in your first attempt and getting selected at Jodhpur. You remind me of Mahatma Gandhi who used to say, ‘strength does not come from physical capacity, it comes from the indomitable will’.”
On July 21, Asharam was invited to Collector Pandey’s office and on behalf of Chouhan, he was handed over a cheque of Rs 25,000 as initial help. He further assured the teenager that he need not worry about the expenses of his medical education, as the state government would bear all the expenses.