NEET At 71: Elderly Takes Medical Entrance To Fulfil Mother’s Dream

In a story that has inspired thousands of NEET aspirants across the country, a 71-year-old man from Lucknow has once again appeared for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), determined to fulfil his late mother’s dream of seeing him become a doctor.

Ashok Bahar, who has attempted the highly competitive medical entrance examination multiple times over the years, returned to the examination hall after a long gap with the same passion and determination that first drove him decades ago.

Speaking about his motivation, Bahar said his mother had always wished to see him follow in the footsteps of his father, a respected physician in Lucknow. “My mother always wanted me to become a doctor, just like my father,” he said.

His journey has remained deeply connected to the medical profession. His wife, Dr. Manju Bahar, is a senior gynecologist and former Chief Consultant under the National Health Mission (NHM). Bahar credits her encouragement for reigniting his dream years later.

“I learned a great deal from her. She motivated me to take another shot at medical entrance exams,” he said.

Coming from a family with nearly 20 doctors, including several practicing abroad, Bahar said medicine was always a part of his life. However, despite repeated attempts during his younger years, he could never clear the entrance examination.

Yet, he never gave up on the dream.

Now at 71, Bahar hopes to specialise in hepatology, focusing on liver-related diseases. He expressed concern over the rising number of liver ailments, especially fatty liver disease, which he described as “spreading like an epidemic.”

Before returning to academics, Bahar had a distinguished professional career. He served as the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand Marketing Head at Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited (IDPL) under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. Following voluntary retirement, he also worked as a consultant with the Ministry of External Affairs.

His remarkable perseverance has struck a chord with students and educators alike, proving that age is no barrier when it comes to chasing one’s aspirations.