64-year-old Retired Bank Officer gets into MBBS course in Odisha

Previously, the upper limit for writing the NEET examination was 25. However, in 2018, the verdict of the Supreme Court enabled students above 25 years to sit for the examination. This certainly helped Mr. Pradhan for achieving his goal.

Mr. Pradhan hails from Attabira of Bargarh district. He was born on November 30, 1956. At the age of 10, an accident resulted in problems in his right leg. After his ISC in 1975, he appeared for the medical entrance examination but failed to crack it. Following this, he did his graduation in physics and started his career as a teacher in Attabita ME School. In 1983, he first joined Indian Bank and then the State Bank of India (SBI). In 2016, he retired as the deputy manager of SBI.

Pradhan, who is father to a son and two twin daughters got the courage for fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a doctor again when he started helping his daughter preparing for the medical entrance in 2016.

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Talking about the experience, Pradhan told HindustanTimes, "I was helping her out in her preparation and asked myself if I can teach her why can't I write the exam again. My wife Pratibha, who is a pharmacist also encouraged me."

He further added, "I had appeared in the medical entrance examination after my intermediate exam, but I failed to crack it. Later I pursued my bachelor's in science. However, I always wanted to give another shot at the medical entrance and started preparing for in 2016 after my retirement from the bank."

Pradhan also expressed his experience about how his family responsibilities didn't allow him to chase his dream earlier. Commenting about the same he informed the Times of India, "I had even planned to quit my job and take admission in MBBS. But we were five brothers and my family responsibilities didn't allow me to quit the job at that time."

The incident of someone enrolling for a medical course at such an age surely sets an example. Rajesh Agrawal, a social worker of Attabira, told TOI, "He is an inspiration for the young generation. Despite all odds, he resolved to pursue his studies."

Pradhan's admission at VIMSAR has surely made history. Speaking about the same, Lalit Meher, the director of the institute told HT, It is one of the rare events in the history of medical education. He has certainly set an example by getting admission as a medical student at such an age."