64-year-old man cracked NEET after 40 years of service in SBI marking his second innings to learn and grow.
National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) is one of the entrance examinations in India that often grabs headlines, but usually not for favourable reasons. However this time one of the aspirants who cracked NEET has become an aspiration for millions of people of the country as he is no ordinary 17-18-year-old boy qualifying for the exam with the highest marks but a retired employee of the State Bank of India SBI whi cracked the exam at age of 64.
Jay Kishore Pradhan from Odisha breaks free from the stereotype suggesting that learning at an older age is difficult. Pradhan, who retired from SBI as a deputy manager, made people believe retirement is the beginning of the second innings. After working for 40 years at SBI Pradhan chose to embark on a new journey to fulfil his long-held dream of becoming a doctor rather than enjoying life post-retirement.
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According to a Hindustan Times report, Pradhan, like most students, enrolled in an online coaching programme for NEET to get systematic guidance to understand the complex curriculum for the entrance examination. However, it was not an easy task as he had not only to revive his study skills but also balance his family life, both of which demanded a heavy investment of time.
According to the Times of India, Pradhan appeared for the medical entrance examination once after passing his intermediate exams; however, he could not qualify at that time. When he saw his twin daughters studying for the NEET, it reignited his aspiration of becoming a doctor. The Supreme Court’s 2019 ruling, which removed the cap on the upper age limit, favoured Pradhan in achieving his goal.
However, the circumstances could not deviate Pradhan from his goal and with unwavering focus and determination to achieve his long-held goal, he qualified NEET examination in 2020 and got admission into Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR). Pradhan’s journey truly exemplifies the saying that age is just a number.
