55-year-old farmer from Madurai attempts NEET to fulfil his dream of becoming a doctor

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<strong>There is no age when it comes to studying and fulfilling one’s desire and ambition. Demonstrating that was K. Rajyakkodi, a 55-year-old farmer from Madurai, Tamil Nadu, who baffled one and all, as he stood in the queue for writing the National Entrance Eligibility Test.</strong></p>
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The test was held on Sunday at Velammal Vidyalaya Centre.</p>
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A 54-year-old <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NEET?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NEET</a> aspirant K Rajyakkodi is writing <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NEET?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NEET</a> at Velammal Vidyalaya in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Madurai?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Madurai</a>. He would like to fulfill his childhood dream of become a doctor. Age is just a number according to him.<a href="https://twitter.com/xpresstn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@xpresstn</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/mannar_mannan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mannar_mannan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NewIndianXpress?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NewIndianXpress</a> <a href="https://t.co/YVUjguOA3k">pic.twitter.com/YVUjguOA3k</a></p>
— jeyalakshmi (@jeyahirthi) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeyahirthi/status/1548591122401792001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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On reaching the exam centre, Rajyakkodi was stopped by the security staff manning the place, informing him that he is over-aged for the test. However, when he flashed the hall ticket, the staff along with other parents and candidates became his admirers, and praised his zeal for education.</p>
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Destiny had been cruel to Rajyakkodi who hails from Ambattaiyanpatti as in 1984 he had cleared the medical entrance exam and secured admission in a private medical college. He was unable to join the course since he could not afford the fees. Later, financial constraints forced him to drop out of B.Sc Physics at Usilampatti’s Pasumpon Thevar Arts and Science College.</p>
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Yet, when he came to know that a 64-year-old man from Odisha had secured a medical seat last year, it fired him to start preparing. Talking to the media he said: "It gave me the courage to dedicate a minimum of three hours daily to achieve my goal. Another inspiration is my younger son R. Vasudevan. He secured 521 marks in his NEET second attempt and secured an MBBS seat at the Government Medical College in Cuddalore. Using my son's study materials, I prepared for the test throughout the last year and took a series of mock tests," he said.</p>
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After writing the NEET, Rajyakkodi said that he had found the physics and chemistry questions easy and expected to score over 460 marks. He wishes to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor if he is able to secure a seat in any Government medical college.</p>