Beaten for studying, married at 11, yet cracked NEET: Poverty-stricken Rajasthan man's story proves dreams don’t work unless you do

Success often grows quietly in the middle of hardship. The toughest journeys often create the strongest stories. For many students preparing for competitive exams while facing personal struggles, stories like this can be deeply inspiring. In 2023, a young man from rural Rajasthan turned adversity into achievement by clearing one of India’s toughest entrance exams.

Ramlal Bhoi, from Ghosunda village in Chittorgarh district, successfully cracked the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) after multiple attempts, overcoming financial hardship, family pressure and the challenges of early marriage.

According to an NBT report, Ramlal scored 632 marks, securing a category rank of 5,137 and an All India Rank of 12,901 in NEET 2023. With this achievement, he is now set to become the first doctor in his family.

NEET Success Story: Married at 11 but Continued His Education

The NBT report revealed that Ramlal was married at the age of 11 while studying in Class 6. At the time, he had little understanding of the situation, describing it as a celebration where people were dancing and enjoying themselves.

Years later, his wife moved to live with his family and supported him in his studies. She had studied up to Class 10 but chose to prioritise family responsibilities so that Ramlal could continue preparing for medical entrance exams.

Despite the early marriage and the responsibilities that followed, Ramlal remained determined to pursue higher education.

Father Initially Opposed His Studies

Ramlal’s journey was far from easy. As per the NBT report, his father initially did not want him to study beyond Class 10 and even beat him for continuing his education.

However, Ramlal refused to abandon his dream of studying further. He even left home to pursue education in Udaipur, determined to change his future.

Eventually, after persuasion from a friend’s father, the family agreed to support his education. They even took a loan to help him continue studying, recognising his determination.

NEET 2023: Preparing in Kota and Cracking the Exam on Fifth Attempt

Ramlal completed Class 10 with 74 per cent marks from a government school in his village. Later, he moved to Udaipur, where he first learned about the NEET examination and the possibility of becoming a doctor.

He then chose biology in Classes 11 and 12, eventually passing Class 12 in 2019 with 81 per cent marks.

Ramlal stayed at the Ambedkar hostel run by the social welfare department, which allowed him to continue his education without major accommodation costs.

He later moved to Kota, widely known as India’s coaching hub for competitive exams, to prepare seriously for NEET. After several attempts, he finally cleared the exam on his fifth try.

Growing Up in Poverty but Dreaming Big

Born into a humble family living in a mud house with irregular electricity, Ramlal grew up in difficult circumstances. His father, Ganesh Bhoi, worked by ploughing other people’s fields, while his mother, Kamala Devi, collected fodder from farms and sold it in Chittorgarh to support the household.

Despite these hardships, Ramlal remained determined to pursue education. He believed that studying hard was the only way to change not just his own life, but also secure a better future for his family.

Family Proud of His Achievement

Ramlal’s father later acknowledged the importance of education after seeing his son’s dedication.

He admitted that education was not traditionally prioritised in their community, particularly for daughters. However, Ramlal’s journey helped change that perspective.

Inputs from agencies