Two generations, one goal: Mother-daughter duo cracks NEET, starts on medical journey
In the quiet town of Tenkasi in Tamil Nadu, a dream that had been shelved for over three decades was brought back to life — not through chance, but through shared ambition, late nights of study, and the unwavering support of a family. At 49, Amuthavalli Manivannan, a physiotherapist by profession, did what very few would dare — she sat for NEET, the fiercely competitive national medical entrance exam, and passed. What makes this feat all the more remarkable is that she did it alongside her daughter.Her daughter, 18-year-old M. Samyuktha Krupalini, a CBSE student, had been preparing intensely for NEET, hoping to join a reputed medical college. Inspired by her daughter’s dedication, Amuthavalli found herself drawn back to a dream she had once given up on. The dream of becoming a doctor.“I’ve been working as a physiotherapist for years, but I always wanted to study medicine. This dream started 15 years ago, but I never had the opportunity,” Amuthavalli said, as quoted by IANS. “When I began preparing alongside my daughter, I realised it was now or never. She gave me the courage to try again.”Late nights, shared books, and mutual encouragementAmuthavalli began borrowing her daughter’s textbooks, revising concepts that had long changed, and navigating a syllabus that bore little resemblance to the one she had studied in her school days. The challenge was immense. “The syllabus was totally different from what I learnt in school. But I watched her prepare, and I thought, why not try? She was my greatest inspiration,” she said, as reported by PTI.Their home turned into a hub of learning. Samyuktha, who had enrolled in a coaching centre, would often explain topics aloud as a way of revising—an approach that incidentally helped her mother understand complex medical subjects too. “I found it easy to memorise when I recount what I have studied to someone,” Samyuktha told PTI.On July 30, the two attended NEET counselling sessions in Chennai. Amuthavalli, who scored 147 marks, qualified under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD) category and chose to join the Government Medical College in Virudhunagar, near her native district of Tenkasi. Samyuktha, who scored 450 marks, is awaiting a seat through the general category and is also eligible under the SC quota.Different colleges, same pathWhile their paths crossed during preparation, they have decided to take separate routes academically. “I don’t want to study in the same college with my mother. I wish to compete in the general quota and study elsewhere, maybe outside the state,” said Samyuktha, as quoted by PTI.Amuthavalli’s journey into medicine had been interrupted years ago, not by a lack of ambition, but by circumstance. After finishing school, she had wanted to study medicine but couldn’t due to financial and personal constraints. She pursued physiotherapy instead and went on to build a career in the field. But the desire to don a doctor’s coat never truly left her.Now, after nearly 30 years, with a family of her own and a daughter following a similar path, she’s returning to the lecture halls—this time, as a medical student. Her husband, a practising lawyer, has been a pillar of support throughout the process. “My husband was very supportive. He encouraged us to study for NEET,” she added, as reported by PTI.Special counselling and a shared milestoneThe Selection Committee under the Directorate of Medical Education and Research conducted the offline counselling session on July 30 for candidates under special categories, including the 7.5% reservation for government school students, PwD, children of ex-servicemen, and eminent sports persons.As both mother and daughter prepare to don their white coats, they’re not just stepping into medical colleges—they’re stepping into a shared dream realised through perseverance, discipline, and the unique bond that only a mother and daughter can share.(With inputs from agencies)TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here.
