51-Year-Old Tamil Nadu Man Cracks NEET After 34 Years, Set to Pursue MBBS Despite Two PhDs

 

A 51-year-old man from Tamil Nadu's Nagapattinam district has cleared the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and secured a medical seat, turning his decades-old dream of becoming a doctor into reality.

A Suresh Kumar, a native of Velankanni, was allotted a seat at Nagapattinam Medical College on Thursday, close to his home. His admission comes 34 years after he completed Class 12.

Despite already holding two PhDs and an MBA, Kumar said his academic and professional achievements could not replace his long-standing ambition of studying medicine.

He completed his Plus Two in 1992 and had wanted to pursue medicine. However, family responsibilities led him to choose pharmacy instead. He subsequently built a career in the pharmaceutical and diagnostic sectors while continuing to pursue higher education.

Kumar's decision to attempt NEET came after the Supreme Court removed the upper age limit for the examination, opening the door for older aspirants to pursue medical education.

While continuing to work and manage family responsibilities, Kumar began preparing seriously for the medical entrance examination. He said he would study late at night after returning from work, often from 10 pm to midnight, and wake up early to continue his preparation.

His wife played an important role in his journey, encouraging him to leave his job and devote himself fully to his studies. She also helped him maintain a disciplined daily routine.

Kumar said he even tutored his son in biology to remain connected with the subject while preparing for NEET.

His preparation included solving previous years' question papers and assessing his performance through multiple attempts. He monitored his progress between 2023 and 2025 before becoming confident about clearing the examination.

His first attempt was unsuccessful, partly because he wrote the examination in Tamil. For his second attempt, he opted for English, a language he had used extensively during his 34-year professional career.

Kumar qualified through a special quota after a previous road accident left him with a permanent injury affecting his physical mobility. However, he said the injury did not diminish his determination to pursue medicine.

Now preparing to begin his MBBS journey, Kumar said he is looking forward to studying alongside students much younger than him.

“At 51, I maintain a high level of physical fitness and believe that age is just a number,” Kumar said.

For Kumar, the achievement is about more than clearing an entrance examination. After decades of professional success and multiple academic qualifications, he did not want to leave his lifelong ambition unfulfilled.

His journey from completing Class 12 in 1992 to securing a medical seat at 51 is a testament to perseverance, discipline and the determination to pursue a dream regardless of age.