Until Class 10, Manohar Basappa Harage had never heard of the NEET examination. Becoming a doctor was not a dream he had grown up talking about, nor was it a career anyone around him expected him to pursue. In his small village in Karnataka’s Bijapur district, simply completing school was a significant milestone for many children. Yet today, Manohar is pursuing his MBBS at Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute – one of Karnataka’s most respected medical institutions.
Manohar’s story has been shaped by education at every stage. He spent his early years studying in the government school in his village. As a child, he appeared for a competitive entrance examination, which earned him a scholarship to continue his education at Alva’s Kannada Medium High School in Moodbidri from Class 6 onwards. That scholarship changed the course of his life, giving him access to quality education that his family could not have afforded on their own.
His academic performance reflected the value he placed on that opportunity. He scored an outstanding 99.68% in his Class 10 examinations, earning yet another scholarship that supported his education through Classes 11 and 12. Throughout school, mathematics was his favourite subject, and he developed a reputation as a sincere student who enjoyed understanding concepts deeply rather than simply memorising them.
What makes Manohar’s achievement even more remarkable is the simplicity of the resources he relied upon. Until Class 12, he did not own or have regular access to a mobile phone. When he began preparing for NEET, he depended almost entirely on his school textbooks and the guidance of his teachers. There were no expensive coaching programmes or online learning platforms, only disciplined self-study, dedicated teachers, and an unwavering commitment to learning.
The idea of pursuing medicine entered his life almost by chance. It was his uncle who first suggested that he should consider writing the NEET examination. As Manohar learnt more about the profession, another deeply personal reason strengthened his resolve. He had lost his grandmother to a cardiac arrest, a loss that left a lasting impression on him. Today, he hopes to specialise in cardiology, with the aspiration of helping patients facing heart disease and preventing families from experiencing similar loss.
His success in the NEET 2025 examination, securing a 99.28 percentile and an All India Rank of 15,805, earned him admission to Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute. For his village, it was an uncommon achievement. Manohar is among the few students from his community to qualify for MBBS through NEET, inspiring younger students to believe that such aspirations are within reach.
Behind this accomplishment stands a family that has quietly supported his education despite significant financial limitations. His father is a farmer whose income depends largely on the uncertainties of agriculture and is occasionally supplemented through the sale of goats. His mother is a homemaker who manages the household. His elder brother completed Class 12 before joining their father in farming, while his younger sister continues her education. Supporting an MBBS degree, including its tuition fees, books, hostel expenses, and other academic costs, is a considerable challenge for the family.
Despite these circumstances, Manohar has remained grounded. He enjoys helping classmates understand difficult subjects and believes that sharing knowledge benefits everyone. He has also participated in educational and basic health awareness activities in his local community, recognising that meaningful service often begins with small acts of support.
Receiving the Lakshya Scholarship from Shiksha Sankalp Society marks another important chapter in Manohar’s educational journey. Having already experienced how scholarships can transform opportunities, he understands the value of timely support better than most. Each one has opened the door to the next stage of his education. Today, as he takes his first steps in medical school, he carries with him not only his family’s hopes but also the belief that determination, guided by good teachers and strengthened by timely support, can take a student much farther than circumstances alone might suggest.
