Jhunjhunu: After four failed attempts, years of financial hardship and a personal tragedy, 27-year-old Sunil, from a nomadic Gadiya Lohar family in Sikar’s Reengas, has cleared NEET-UG 2026 with 593 marks, emerging as an inspiring example of perseverance.Sunil, son of Bhagwan Sahay, secured an OBC rank of 5,680. Members of the community claim he is likely the first student from Rajasthan’s Gadiya Lohar community to qualify for NEET.His journey to medical college was far from easy. After completing Class 12 in 2020, Sunil put his studies on hold for nearly two years to support his family by taking up the community’s traditional iron-forging occupation. Married since 2017, he balanced family responsibilities with his dream of becoming a doctor, preparing for NEET while helping his father with work.Fifteen months ago, the family suffered another setback when Sunil’s infant son died of jaundice at the age of five months. Despite the devastating loss, he resumed his preparation with renewed determination and finally succeeded in his fifth attempt.The eldest of four brothers, Sunil, belongs to a family that continues to lead a traditional nomadic life. His father, an eighth-pass, earns a living by driving a tempo besides practising the ancestral trade of iron forging. Sunil credited his father for constantly encouraging him to pursue higher education despite limited means.
