Jharkhand Boy Who Sold Mobile Covers Cracks NEET, Set To Become Doctor

On a bustling street corner in Jamshedpur, amidst the honking vehicles and the chatter of pedestrians, Rohit Kumar spends his days intricately arranging mobile phone covers for sale. 

June 14 marked a milestone in Rohit’s journey — a day when he first wore the white overcoat of a medical student: a symbol of his commendable achievement in clearing the prestigious NEET [National Eligibility cum Entrance Test] Undergraduate exam. The results brought him one step closer to becoming a doctor.

“I can’t explain that feeling,” he reflects, recalling the overwhelming wave of emotion that followed. “It was all worth it,” he says with anticipation of the day he will earn the esteemed prefix of ‘Dr’ with the completion of his MBBS.

Since the announcement, Rohit has been occupied giving interviews and speeches, but today, as he receives praise and admiration from those around him, there have been days when he was belittled for his decision to study science.

“A relative once openly mocked my decision to study science. He said I only did it to show off. Sarcastically, he asked me if I planned to write the rates of mobile covers in my answer sheets. Although his words disheartened me, I chose not to respond. Today, this achievement speaks for itself,” he adds.

Having secured 549 marks out of 720 and an All India rank of 12,484, Rohit stands on the verge of becoming the first doctor in his family and village.

Dared to dream

It wasn’t until the COVID-19-induced lockdown, when Rohit started working at a chemist shop, that he developed an interest in the medical field. This exposure was complemented by hands-on experience at a clinic, where he assisted with tasks such as measuring patients’ blood pressure. 

“Witnessing firsthand the respect and fulfilment experienced by doctors, I realised the nobility of the profession. Seeing the doctors in white coats near my mobile cover shop further fuelled my aspiration to join this prestigious field. I wished to be like them,” he says.

However, turning these dreams into reality was not a cakewalk for Rohit.

Raised in a modest household where his father tirelessly ferries vegetables from the mandi to retail shops on a rickshaw, their family’s monthly income barely exceeds Rs 15,000. This meager budget supports a family of five, leaving little room for educational expenses.

Yet, Rohit refused to let financial hardships tether his dreams. By selling mobile phone covers, he managed to finance his studies on his own.

Rohit chose Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) as his Class 12 subjects while managing full-time work at the mobile cover shop. “Many warned me against opting for these challenging subjects. They doubted whether I would be able to even pass the class alongside a full-time job. But after working all day, I’d study through the late hours from 11 PM to 3 or 4 AM. This dedication paid off when I not only passed my exams but also topped my college. This boosted my confidence,” he adds.

Thereafter, Rohit considered enrolling in a pharmacy college, but the prohibitive fee in lakhs made it unattainable. “Instead, I turned my focus to the NEET UG exam. I learnt that clearing it could secure admission to an MBBS program at a low-cost government institute,” he shares.

Preparing to qualify for the examination, Rohit juggled the overwhelming demands of his studies with responsibilities at the shop, making sure he balanced both with precision. Often, he’d stagger his study hours, diving into solving practice question papers during quiet afternoons at the shop or poring over notes late at night.

“My routine involved early morning library visits from 7 AM to noon, working at the shop until 5 PM, and resuming study sessions until 10 PM. Despite these rigorous demands, I continued this routine for about a year,” he adds.

Throughout his NEET preparation, Rohit committed to a grueling 12-hour daily study schedule to cover the vast syllabus. This dedication came at the expense of sleep and leisure. “I took no Sundays, holidays, or festival breaks like Diwali. I avoided distractions, even abstaining from social media. My only focus was clearing NEET,” he says.

This dedication, despite the whispers of doubt from some who questioned his choices, was unwavering.

After an unsuccessful attempt in 2023, he secured 620 marks (out of 720), but a paper leak in 2024 led to an unusually high cutoff. This, Rohit says, thwarted his admission.  Disappointed yet determined, he resolved to try again.

Trying until he succeeded

For Rohit, the path to realising his medical aspirations was fraught with obstacles. Last December, as he was preparing for his third attempt, his mother required immediate surgery due to abdominal clotting, which forced Rohit to pause his studies for a month.

As the exam schedule in May approached, a bout of smallpox in April severely impacted his preparation efforts. “This illness confined me to bed for 20 days. I was anxious that another year might slip by without success,” he shares.

In the scant 10-day recovery window before the exam, Rohit pushed himself to revise as thoroughly as possible. On the exam day itself, he encountered yet another hurdle.

“On my way to the exam centre, bees stung my right hand at several places. I suffered from a swollen arm. The doctor suggested I take pills that would put me to sleep. I decided to endure the discomfort. I was not able to even hold the pen properly. But somehow I managed to complete the three-hour test,” he says.

Despite the trials, Rohit’s perseverance paid off.

The results of his perseverance are evident: he achieved a commendable rank of AIR 12,484 in one of the toughest NEET exams. This is expected to earn him a spot in the top medical colleges in the state.

The results brought immense pride for his family, especially his elder brother Rahul, who acted as a shield for him. Rahul says he chose to forgo his education to ensure Rohit’s potential would not be constrained.

“I noticed his remarkable potential early on. Between us, only one could excel. So, I decided to step back. I quit my education and, without telling my family, I started working at a garment shop. I wanted to save money for Rohit’s schooling essentials, from tuition fees to stationery,” Rahul shares.

Rahul today beams with pride as he reflects on Rohit’s accomplishments. “We’re incredibly proud of him. In our journey from Hazaribagh to Jamshedpur, I never knew anyone who became a doctor after passing the NEET exam. We dream that one day we will help families like ours when we are more capable,” he says, expressing hope and pride for their collective future.

As Rohit stands on the cusp of a medical career, he envisions a future specialising in neurology or cardiology, driven by a desire not just to improve his circumstances but to give back to communities like his. “For families like ours, education is the only pathway out of poverty,” he says.

For now, while awaiting counselling for medical college, he is back at his humble shop to sell mobile covers in the hope of proudly wearing that white overcoat again soon.

Edited by Vidya Gowri; All images courtesy Rohit Kumar

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