BHUBANESWAR: In the rugged, hilly, and forested terrain of Daringbadi in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, an extraordinary tale of resilience and grit is unfolding. Defying deep-rooted poverty, an impoverished tribal family has achieved the unthinkable—putting all five of their children on the path to becoming doctors.
Coming from a mud-walled, asbestos-roofed house in Sikabadi village, the siblings have cleared the prestigious National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) one after another, securing admissions into government-run medical colleges across Odisha.
A Father's Endless Toil
The family's patriarch, 76-year-old Brushi Naiak, studied only up to Class 2. Yet, he understood the transformative power of education. To sustain his nine-member family and fund their schooling, Brushi cultivates a tiny patch of land—growing paddy, ginger, and turmeric—and frequently migrates to other states as a daily-wage laborer.
His wife, Anusaya, 62, who also had no formal education, managed the household, cooked meals, and instilled discipline. "My job is to cook for the family and discipline the children," Anusaya says with a modest smile, recognizing that education was their only way out of hardship.
Paving the Way: From One to Five
The journey began with the eldest son, 25-year-old Bibhisan Naiak. Overcoming immense odds, Bibhisan cracked NEET and secured admission to the Saheed Laxman Naik Medical College in Koraput, where he is currently completing his internship.
Bibhisan’s success became a beacon of hope for his younger siblings. He personally guided his sister, Monalisa Pradhan (23), who subsequently cleared the exam and joined him at the same medical college as a second-year student. Inspired by this momentum, three more youngsters—Sunemi (20), Ashriya (18), and their cousin Meenakshi (19)—also cracked the medical entrance test. Meenakshi, though the daughter of Brushi's younger brother Jishiya Pradhan, has been raised as one of their own since childhood. Today, the siblings are pursuing their MBBS degrees across government medical institutions in Puri, Bolangir, and Bhawanipatna.
Sacrifice, Loans, and Self-Belief
Financing medical education is no small feat, and for this family, it meant surviving on bare minimums. Bibhisan revealed that to keep their education afloat, he tutored children in the locality, while the family took out loans totaling Rs 6 lakh.
"We have seen our parents' struggle. They are our inspiration," shared Meenakshi. "We have gone hungry at times, but always strived for excellence in our studies."
Sunemi echoed similar sentiments, noting that the children understood their financial reality early in life and learned to keep their needs modest. Despite qualifying against all odds, the family now faces the daunting reality of sustaining the ongoing costs of textbooks and medical training. Relatives and villagers have appealed to the Odisha state government to step in with financial assistance to support these bright minds.
As these five aspiring doctors prepare to heal communities across the state, they remain deeply grounded in their roots—often returning home to help their aging father tend to the farmland and cattle, proving that determination can truly conquer poverty.
