Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad   

Farmer's son set to be a doctor

A DETERMINED EFFORT:Harish S.N., flanked by his father, Shanthappa (right), and his teacher Nagaraj Dhareshwar during the CET medical counselling, which began in Hubli on Monday.

HUBLI: Bennigeri in Sorab taluk is a tiny village nestled on the border of Shimoga district, which does not have proper roads and even a primary healthcare centre.

Like most of the villages rain-fed agriculture is the source of livelihood for the people. But if everything works well, the son of an average farmer will be the first person from the village to become a doctor.

Harish S.N., who studied in a government school till class 10, attended the first day of counselling for admission to medical courses at B.V.B. College of Engineering and Technology in Hubli on Monday hoping to get a seat in a government medical college.

With a medical ranking of 1,093 in the CET, Harish has sought reservation under the categories of Kannada medium, Rural Student, and backward class 3-B.

Nagaraj Dhareshwar, who works as History lecturer in the Government Composite PU College at Kachavi, was at the counselling centre to guide his student in the seat selection.

“I studied in Kachavi till my SSLC. And on the direction of sir (Nagaraj), my father got me admitted to JMJ College in Sirsi. I scored 92 per cent in PUC and my aggregate score in PCMB subjects is 96 per cent,” said Harish. His father Shanthappa, who grows paddy, maize, and cotton on a 10-acre farm, still seemed to be in a state of disbelief that his son would get a chance to study medicine. “Apart from him, I have two daughters. He is the eldest and was good at studies from childhood. I thought one day he would become a teacher. I still can't believe that he is going to become a doctor,” Mr. Shanthappa said.

Last year, another student from the village did well in the examinations and now is pursuing a course in veterinary sciences. “He will be the first person from our village to become a doctor,” he said.

At a time when everyone is attracted towards engineering because of the lucrative pay packages, how come Harish chose medicine? “Sir convinced us that if he (Harish) became a doctor, he can serve the people of this region,” Mr. Shanthappa said.

Mr. Shanthappa knows that it involves a huge expenditure. But he is ready to face the challenge.

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Farmer's son set to be a doctor

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