Meet 21-Year-Old Sarfaraz, Daily-Wage Labourer Who Cracked NEET Against All Odds

Sarfaraz, a 21-year-old laborer from West Bengal, scored 677/720 in NEET while working tirelessly as a brick laborer.

21-Year-Old Sarfaraz with his family.

Source : Special Arrangement

Sarfaraz, a 21-year-old laborer from a village in West Bengal, has become an inspiring example of determination after cracking the NEET examination. He scored a score of 677 out of 720 this year. For the past two years, Sarfaraz has been lifting 400 bricks daily to support his family, working from 6 AM to 2 PM. Despite this hard labor, he continued studying for the NEET exam, driven by his dream of becoming a doctor.

Sheikh Sarfaraz's heartwarming story recently gained attention after Physics Wallah founder Alakh Pandey shared it on his Instagram page. In the video, Sarfaraz recalls the difficulties he faced, including being bullied by people around him. "Sir, the people around me used to say, despite studying so much, I am still working as a laborer," he shared emotionally. But he never let these comments stop him. His mother, too, played a significant role in his journey. Their house, built under the PM Awas Yojana, lacked a roof, and his mother would sit with him at night, ensuring he stayed warm while he studied.

Sarfaraz had dreamed of joining the National Defence Academy (NDA) since his 10th grade, but financial constraints made it impossible. He recalls borrowing a phone from his teacher to watch videos and prepare for the exam. In 2022, he cleared the first phase of the NDA exam, but an accident a month before the interview dashed his hopes of qualifying for the final stage.

Things changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the government's help, Sarfaraz purchased a phone and decided to prepare for the NEET exam. He watched YouTube videos to help him study and later enrolled in a course that gave him more structured guidance.

Despite clearing NEET 2023, Sarfaraz faced another setback. He joined a dental college but had to quit because the college lacked hostel facilities, and he could not afford daily expenses. Yet, Sarfaraz didn't give up on his dream. He persevered, and in 2024, he cleared the NEET exam again and is set to join Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College in Kolkata.

Throughout his journey, Sarfaraz studied using a broken phone. His resilience and determination to succeed against all odds have inspired many. Today, Sarfaraz is not just seen as a fighter, but as an inspiration to his fellow villagers, many of whom look to him for guidance and motivation. His story stands as a testament to the power of hard work, perseverance, and a never-give-up attitude.