CHENNAI: We live in an era when depressing, gloomy and gory news is all over social and traditional media. Feel-good developments are an exception, not the rule.
So when such a story comes to light, it has got to be highlighted and celebrated.
In a rare and remarkable news, a 49-year-old woman from Tamil Nadu’s Tenkasi cracked the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) exams along with her teenaged daughter.
Amuthavalli Manivannan, a physiotherapist by profession, aspired to become a doctor but couldn’t pursue her ambition because of personal and financial constraints.
On July 30, Amuthavalli attended the counselling process for Tamil Nadu medical admissions under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD) category, accompanied by her daughter.
Amuthavalli, who scored 147 marks in NEET, secured admission in the Government Medical College in Virudhunagar, near her hometown.
Her daughter Samyuktha Krupalini, who secured an impressive 460 marks in the entrance test, has taken part in the general counselling process and is expected to get admission in one of the state’s leading medical colleges.
The mother-daughter duo has decided not to attend the same college even if they both get admission offers.
“We want to study in different medical colleges so that we can focus independently on our studies,” Amuthavalli explained.
Speaking about her journey, Amuthavalli said her dream took root about three decades ago.
“I’ve been working as a physiotherapist for years, but I always wanted to study medicine. Unfortunately I never had the opportunity. When I began preparing alongside my daughter, I realised it was now or never. She gave me the courage to try again,” Amuthavalli revealed, adding that her husband was very supportive of her NEET dream.
Her daughter Samyuktha, a CBSE student, said she wanted someone with whom she could revise her syllabus, and since her father is a lawyer by profession and was not interested, her mother stepped up.
“Since she hailed from a medical background, my mother was receptive,” Samyuktha said.
Samyuktha, who was taking coaching classes, provided books to her mother and helped her clear the exam.
Amuthavalli’s heartwarming story of perseverance and determination has inspired many in Tenkasi who will now believe that age is not a barrier, and that dreams can be fulfilled even if someone is busy with her work and family responsibilities.