At just 3 feet tall and weighing 18 kilos, Ganesh Baraiya represents the face of sheer determination in a country like India, where personal advancement can be halted by physical challenges. Yet, he climbed the mountain of obstacles with the power of persistence to achieve what many students dream of.
Ganesh first passed the medical entrance exam through hard work, overcoming numerous challenges. His family, with seven sisters and two brothers, was overjoyed, though soon faced the realities of bureaucratic hurdles. It seemed that Ganesh's dream was on the brink of being shattered.
Handling Emergency Cases
When Ganesh went to enrol in 2018 after passing the medical entrance exam, the Medical Council of India doubted his ability to practice medicine due to his height. When they denied him admission, Ganesh's world seemed to darken. Yet, he did not succumb to this setback.
Remembering the scene from six years ago, Ganesh says, "The admission committee doubted my ability to handle emergency cases because of my stature."
Supreme Court Gives Wings to His Dreams
Following this, the directors of Ganesh's school advised him to challenge the MCI's decision in the High Court. Though he headed there with hope, the disappointment lingered as he lost the case. Despite this, he continued to nurture his dream of becoming a doctor. After facing numerous difficulties, he approached the Supreme Court, challenging the High Court's decision. The apex court granted him admission, giving wings to his hopes.
Ganesh says, "On 23/10/2018, the Supreme Court provided relief by stating that despite short height, I could be granted admission in the medical field. Following the court's orders, I enrolled at the Bhavnagar-based medical college on 01/08/2019, and began my MBBS studies." At that time, Ganesh weighed only 16 kilos.
Today, after completing a 5-year study, Ganesh has been awarded the title of doctor. Had he given up after the MCI's rejection in 2018, he would not be Dr. Ganesh Baraiya today.
Now 23 years old, Dr. Ganesh has started his internship at the Government Medical College, Bhavnagar, just three days ago. In March 2025, after a year, his internship will conclude.
Planning a Career Ahead
In a conversation with Aaj Tak, Dr. Ganesh stated that after his internship, he will take the NEET PG 2025 exam. Then, he plans to further his studies in medicine, pediatrics, dermatology, or psychiatry.
Dr. Ganesh does not forget to thank his school's directors, the dean of the medical college, professors, and friends for their support throughout this journey. He mentions the challenges his height posed in daily tasks and the special amenities provided to him by the school's directors to alleviate them.
When challenges arose during practical exams of medical practice, he also received support from the college's dean. Professors have consistently offered special assistance during practicals. In times of need, his college friends have also been supportive, always ensuring that he would be seated at the front in exams.
The Skill to Find a Path in Any Situation
Dr. Hemant Mehta, the dean of Bhavnagar Medical College, shares his joy that Baraiya has completed his course and is interning. "He always found a way out of any situation. Sometimes he'd share his problems, and we would do our best to solve them," Dr. Mehta comments.
Mehta recounts, "His friends, classmates, and batchmates must have assisted him the most because they were with him all the time. Teachers also extended their help, as he required the most attention in the class."
Ganesh's father is a farmer. All seven of Ganesh's sisters are married, and his younger brother is studying for a B.Ed. Ganesh's classmates recall initially doubting his ability to study medicine because of his height. But over time, they have been heartened by his success.
