Her father pulls rickshaw, she pulls off a feat

She had everything against her 8212; Vaishali Wankhede8217;s background points to the lack of opportunities plaguing lakhs of underprivile...

She had everything against her 8212; Vaishali Wankhede8217;s background points to the lack of opportunities plaguing lakhs of underprivileged children.

Her father is a rickshaw-puller, her mother a domestic help. The Dalit family8217;s monthly income, until her two brothers dropped out of school and went to work, was not more than Rs 1,200. Vaishali could neither afford the money nor time for tuitions. Yet this week, she cleared a Pre-Medical Test with flying colours 8212; scoring 169 marks. She stood 46th on the list, and will now seek entry into a medical college.

Vaishali, who hails from the Maang community, lives in a run-down section of Nagpur called Kachipura. The house is a two-room brick structure, with a tin roof and has a cot as its only furniture.

It was in this house, which she shares with six others, that Vaishali braved a hand-to-mouth existence to put in long hours of study in between domestic chores.

8216;8216;I am feeling great. I had a dream and I am close to achieving it,8217;8217; Vaishali told The Indian Express. Her parents and brothers glow with pride as they recall her hard work. Mother Mayabai can8217;t stop talking about her desire to ensure her daughter would never do menial jobs. 8216;8216;I am very proud of her,8217;8217; she said. Brothers Mukesh, who runs a tyre repair shop, and Dinesh, a driver, said they dropped out of school because of cash problems. 8216;8216;But we wanted her to study,8217;8217; said Dinesh.

Apart from the support provided by a doting family, Vaishali also received support from others including a maternal uncle who provided guidance and the money for books and clothes. 8216;8216;He was the one who recognised her talent,8221; said father Ramesh.

Vaishali had set her goals early. She scored 76 pc in Class X and 81 pc in Class XII. 8216;8216;I joined B.Sc, but kept preparing for PMT. Prof Kaliwale of Guru Guidance provided me support.8217;8217; She has been promised aid by a body that supports Dalits. 8216;8216;Right now, my first priority is to get admission,8217;8217; said Vaishali.