Vegetable seller’s children chase medical dreams

Vadodara: Every day before dawn, little Prem would travel with his father, Rakesh Tiwari, in their tempo to the wholesale vegetable market in Sayajipura, 40km from their Chhani home.But the early morning rides were not merely commutes; they were the beginning of a long journey powered by grit and perseverance toward his dream of becoming a doctor.Between the hum of trade and the weight of responsibility, he firmly held on to his books, studying whenever he could, quietly shaping a future far removed from the life he was born into.The vegetables Rakesh sold not only spiced up kitchen meals but were slowly seasoning a brighter future for Prem, who has become the first doctor in his family as he graduated from the Baroda Medical College (BMC) of Maharaja Sayajirao University.And 2027 promises to only sweeten decades of toil as Rakesh's daughter Arpita (23) is set to complete MBBS from a college in Anand."It's a dream come true," Prem, 25, said, crediting his father for silently battling financial hardships and physical labour to make both siblings doctors."When I turned 16, my father told me not to accompany him to the wholesale market. He didn't even let me spend much time at his workplace because he wanted to solely focus on studies," said Prem who got an MBBS degree a fortnight ago.Rakesh recalls when his son expressed his desire to study medicine after Class 12. "He was always brilliant in academics. When he said he wanted to become a doctor, I decided to support him fully," he said.Interestingly, Prem had not always planned to take the science stream. A student of MK High School in Alkapuri, he had initially considered commerce. It was his school principal who encouraged him to switch to science, a decision that ultimately changed the course of his life. He later joined Baroda High School and pursued his studies with focus and discipline.Prem, who aspires to be a surgeon, said, "After I started receiving a stipend, I urged him to take a break and relax. But he insists that I study further."Inspired by his journey, Arpita chose to follow the same path. Now in the final year of MBBS at Pramukhswami Medical College in Karamsad, she credits her brother for shaping her aspirations."I saw him study for hours with dedication and learnt a lot from him," she said. "When I told my family that I also wanted to pursue medicine, both my brother and father encouraged me."Mahavir Foundation, a voluntary organisation, extended financial help and Rakesh also took loans to fund the siblings' education.