Breaking Barriers: Odisha's Mangala Muduli First Bonda Tribe Member to Pass NEET

Odisha's Mangala Muduli Makes History as First Bonda to Pass NEET Exam

A few months back Abhishek Sujit Sharma an extraordinary boy from the Mumbai Slum area secured a place at  IIT Delhi, showing his unwavering determination, and challenging the adverse conditions he had around him. Now Mangala Muduli, a 19-year-old from Odisha’s Bonda clan where the literacy rate is only 36.61% according to the 2011 census, has accomplished a noteworthy feat of clearing the NEET exam.

The Bonda, or Bhonda, are an indigenous tribe whose name means "naked people." They belong to the Austro-Asiatic racial stock and speak Remo, a dialect of the Austro-Asiatic language family. The Bondas are exclusively found in the Malkangiri district of Odisha, with the majority residing in the Khairaput block of the district. Taking into account the lack of resources, his accomplishments are noteworthy for him personally as well as for his community.

He has managed to get accepted into the MKCG Medical College and Hospital MBBS program in Berhampur, which is more than 400 miles away from his village and was placed 261st out of all the tribal candidates who were successful in their first try. Growing up in a farming family he attended Mudulipada SSD High School before continuing his studies at the SC and ST development department-run SSD Senior Secondary School in Govindapalli.

He accomplished a fantastic performance despite his elder brother's school dropout and his family's low expectations of him. His secondary science teacher, Utkal Keshari Das, has unwavering faith in his abilities and pushed him to sit for the medical entrance exam, alongside enrolling him at a coaching center in Balasore. To combat the healthcare facilities in his village, where people had to travel miles for medical help and often turned to sorcerers, he dreamt of becoming a doctor. Initially unaware of the NEET exam as a requirement for medical education, he was guided by his teacher who provided the coaching center's ₹1.2 lakh fees since he knew with the right support Muduli could excel in the exam.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan congratulated Muduli, highlighting his success as a testament to strong willpower and determination, serving as an inspiration for the tribal community. Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also applauded his achievement, noting that his hard work and determination were key to his success and a source of inspiration for all.

Editor’s Note:

The inspiring story of Mangala Muduli, who has made history as the first member of the Bonda tribe from Odisha to clear the NEET exam. This remarkable achievement highlights his determination and the transformative power of education. Despite all the challenges his strong willpower made him succeed and presented an example for others who take adversity as an obstacle. The role of teacher Utkal Keshari Das is also commendable since he recognized his abilities and provided all possible help so he could reach his destination. 

Skoobuzz congratulates Mangala on his great accomplishment and wishes him good luck in fulfilling his vision of becoming a doctor.