Mangala Muduli, a young man from the Bonda tribe in Odisha’s Malkangiri district, has made history by becoming the first member of his community to clear the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and secure admission to a prestigious MBBS program. Hailing from Badbel village in Malkangiri district, Mangala Muduli has achieved the unthinkable, surpassing the aspirations of his peers and becoming a beacon of hope for his community.
He has become the first member of the primitive, vulnerable Bonda tribe to clear the NEET exam and secure admission to the prestigious MBBS program at MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur, Ganjam district – a remarkable feat accomplished in his first attempt. Notably, he ranked 261st among successful tribal candidates in this year’s NEET exam, paving the way for a brighter future in medicine.
Despite facing numerous challenges at home, Mangala Muduli remained steadfast in his determination to become a doctor, a dream he had harboured since childhood. Through sheer hard work and resilience, he was able to overcome the obstacles in his path and achieve this impressive milestone.
Despite being from a farming family with limited educational aspirations – his elder brother had dropped out of school – Mangala Muduli broke the mould. He pursued his schooling at Mudulipada SSD High School and later attended SSD Senior Secondary School in Govindapalli, a school dedicated to supporting underprivileged students. His journey is a testament to his unwavering commitment to education.
“I wanted to become a doctor since my childhood as there was no minimum healthcare facility and road connectivity in my village in Malkangiri. I have seen the suffering of people in my village to get healthcare services. If a person falls sick, he/she has to walk miles to a primary health centre. In such a situation, people take sorcer’s help to get their patients to recover from health complications. This motivated me to make my dream true to serve people in my village,” Mangala said.
Mangala had no idea about NEET entrance to pursue medical education. Mangala completed his +2 education and looked for opportunities to come his way.
“I had no idea about any entrance to appear in to get enrolled into medical education. I was living with a notion that I can opt for medical science if I pursued science in +2. To clear the annual examination, I worked hard. As our economic condition was not sound, one of my schoolteachers helped me and bought me a mobile phone for my studies. I used to climb upon trees to download study materials on my phone as there was no mobile tower in my village,” he said.
Mangala’s hard work and determination, along with his teacher Utkal Keshari Das’s help and support, helped him achieve his dream despite many challenges. Mangala’s science teacher, Das, saw his potential and encouraged him to become a doctor. Das helped Mangala find his path and pursue his dreams.
Mangala gives credit to his teacher Utkal Keshari Das, for helping him succeed in the NEET exam. Das encouraged Mangala to chase his dreams after finishing high school.
“After completion of +2, he inquired me about my interests for further studies. When I expressed about my interest for medical education, he assured me of providing complete assistance to qualify the NEET. He offered me to stay at his home and coach for the NEET at Erada in Bhadrak district. The initial days at Erada went adverse as I was not comfortable with studies in an air-conditioned room. I fell sick. At one point, I decided to quit the coaching classes and opt for +3 education. However, Sir encouraged me to continue the coaching to fulfill my ambition,” he said.
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi felicitates Mangala
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi honoured Mangala Muduli for being selected for the MBBS program at MKCG Medical College in Berhampur. The Chief Minister presented Mangala with a laptop and a traditional scarf (Uttariya) from Lokseva Bhawan.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi congratulated Mangala Muduli and wished him a bright future, saying, ‘As the first doctor from the Bonda community, I bless you to excel in your studies, become a skilled doctor, and serve your people with compassion and dedication’.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi stated that financial difficulties can be overcome by determination and willpower, citing Mangala Muduli as a shining example. He assured that the State Government would provide full support for Mangala’s medical education and also announced that similar assistance would be extended to other underprivileged students from Scheduled Tribes and Castes to pursue their studies.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan congratulates Muduli
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan congratulated Muduli for his success. “He has proved that success can be achieved even in adverse situation with strong willpower and determination. He is an inspiration for the tribal community,” he wrote in X.
