Rajendra Prasad Mohapatra

For the past four years, veteran trolley rickshaw puller Mairaz Khan at Kaji Mahal in Bhadrak had been waiting for this moment. It arrived when his son Mursid Khan finally cracked the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET Undergraduate) to pursue higher studies in medicine.

Mursid secured All India rank 15, 239 in the NEET, result of which were announced on Monday. It was his fourth attempt. With the success, he becomes the first student in his locality to clear the prestigious competitive examination.

Mursid’s success despite poverty and hardships is nevertheless a huge inspiration for other students residing in this humble neighbourhood. 

It is difficult for Mursid’s father Mairaz, a trolley rickshaw puller, even to fulfil the family’s needs. Despite severe hardship, he always encouraged his children to continue their studies. Inspired by his father, Mursid got first division in Matriculation and subsequently pursued Plus 2 in science stream. However, tragedy struck again when Mairaz met with an accident seven years back and lost his ability to pull the trolley rickshaw. It became difficult for the eight-member family to arrange even two square meals a day.

But, Mursid was not deterred by the tragedy that struck his family. He was determined to fulfil his ambitions to become a doctor. 
His elder brother came forward to earn the sustenance for the family by filling into his father’s shoes. He had to work doubly hard to help Mursid pay his medical coaching fees. After four years of hard work and focus Mursid finally managed to crack the competitive examination.

 “It’s because of the support and hard work by all my family members, I managed to crack the tough examination,” Murshid said.

“I will be the first doctor in our area. I am determined to serve the people of the locality as a medical professional,” he added.

After Mursid’s success, his father was elated and lost for words when OTV met the family. However, the tears of joy rolling down his cheeks spoke it all.

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