Mangala Muduli is the first youth from the Bonda Tribal Community in Odisha, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group, to crack the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to the MBBS course. His journey of achieving his aim of serving his community as a doctor has just begun, but on a rather brilliant note. His success could inspire other youngsters in his community to march towards new horizons. Paresh Rath has the story
“My dreams have come true! I can serve my community at my village as a doctor,” says a thrilled 19-year-old Mangala Muduli. Mangala is the first youth from the Bonda Tribal Community, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG is a sub-classification of Scheduled Tribe in India that is considered more vulnerable than a regular Scheduled Tribe), to crack the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to the MBBS course.
The young man, who cleared the 2024 edition of the competitive examination, has been given a seat in the Maharaja Krishna Chandra Gajapati (MKCG) Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur, Odisha. He was felicitated by Odisha Governor Ragubar Das and Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, in Bhubaneswar and, on his return, he received a rousing reception from his community at his native village, Badbel, in the famous Bonda Hills, under Mudulipada Gram Panchayat in Malkangiri district of Odisha.
Mangala’s father, Aadi Muduli, a poor marginal farmer, supplements his meagre income with collecting forest produce to bring up his four children. His mother, Manguli, who has not attended school ever, is yet to fully comprehend that her son will soon be a doctor and cater to the health needs of the village, which is struggling to access healthcare facilities. In the national-level examination, Mangala secured 348 marks out of 720 and bagged a state rank of 4607 besides the 261st rank among tribal candidates.
The Bonda Tribal Community, living in harmony with nature, was cut off from mainstream education and health care services for long. However, some progress has been recorded in the recent past. Poverty was the biggest road block in Mangala’s NEET journey.
Mangala’s parents enrolled him in the government-run SC/ST Development High School at Mudulipasa. His school teachers, including Utkal Keshari Das, noted his determination to study. Das particularly noticed the boy’s interest in science and provided guidance and books and other materials. Mangala thanks Das for the support and guidance which helped him crack the tough exam.
Another Good Samaritan he thanks is social activist Jayanti Burda, a public coordinator of the Indian School of Business posted at Malkangiri. During the COVID pandemic, when schools were closed, there was no Wi-Fi connectivity in Mangala’s native Bonda Hills, and Jayanti allowed him to stay at her house in Baldiaguda and also provided him with a mobile phone to be able to attend online classes.
After Mangala cleared the higher secondary examination with good marks, Das enrolled Mangala for NEET coaching at a private institute in Balasore last year. Mangala downloaded study materials on the mobile phone and cleared the examination in his first attempt.
“My aim always was to be a doctor, as I want to serve my own people. After passing the MBBS course I want to take up a rural posting in Mudulipada so that I can serve my community,” says Mangala.
Mangala Muduli’s success could inspire other youngsters in his community to march towards new horizons.
Note: Odisha is well known for a large number of tribes living with varied cultures and traditions. Thirteen of the 62 tribal communities living in Odisha are identified as PVTGs. The Bonda Tribal Community lives in the Bonda Hills that come under the administration of the Mudulipada Gram Panchayat in Khairiput Block of Malkangiri District.
(The writer, based in Koraput, has a doctorate in ‘role of journalism for tribal development’ and continues to research on tribal life and culture.)
from Webdoux