He stands three feet tall and weighs just 20 kg. But in a rare accomplishment, he has towered over many. He didn’t allow society’s perceived limitations to impede his aspiration. He has achieved what many had insisted was out of reach.
This young doctor, Ganesh Baraiya, who took his fight for the right to practise medicine all the way to the Supreme Court, begins his first posting as a medical officer today.
It caps journey defined by endurance and unwavering resolve.
Reportedly born with dwarfism that resulted in a 72% locomotor disability, he now steps into a profession that once seemed impossibly distant.
His first priority is both simple and deeply personal: to build a proper house for his family in Gorkhi village of Bhavnagar district.
His parents are farmers, and he is one of eight siblings. He has seven sisters and a younger brother. He said his family continues to live in a kaccha house and that his biggest dream is to build a brick home with complete facilities for them. He explained that construction had stalled many times because they frequently ran out of money, adding that with his salary now, he can finally see the work through.
Medical school came with challenges few others encountered, but it also revealed the generosity and solidarity of those around him. In anatomy dissection classes, friends and professors ensured that he always had a place in the front. During surgery rotations, classmates lifted him onto their shoulders so he could look over operating tables.
He told a national newspaper that his friends and professors supported him at every stage and made sure his height never kept him from learning.
Though his voice is gentle and youthful, Baraiya expresses himself with steady assurance. He is familiar with the moment of surprise that crosses patients’ faces when they meet him for the first time. He shared that they are initially taken aback by his appearance, but that once they hear what he has overcome to become a doctor, they trust him completely.
As he looks ahead, Baraiya hopes to specialise in paediatrics, dermatology, or radiology, aspirations that now feel within clear reach.
Also Read: At 89, She Walks Again: A young Doctor’s Skill Turns Science Into Miracle https://www.vibesofindia.com/at-89-she-walks-again-a-young-doctors-skill-turns-science-into-miracle/
