NEET: Rachit tops dist, bags AIR 57

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 23

City boy Rachit Saggar has topped NEET in the district and secured all-India rank (AIR) 57 in the exam. Son of doctor parents, Dr Rajesh Saggar (orthopaedician) and mother Dr Anupma Saggar, Rachit credited his parents and teachers for his success.

A student of Guru Angad Dev Public School, he said he was not at all confident about cracking NEET in the beginning and initially hit some road blocks.

“However, the Kishor Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojna (KVPY) and the Biology Olympiad provided me a lot of encouragement. For the Biology Olympiad’s final Phase, I went for a camp at the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education in Mumbai, which boosted my morale.”

Speaking on his study schedule, he said: “I studied for six to seven hours daily and in between went for breaks for a day or two when I would catch a film with my parents.”

According advice to upcoming NEET aspirants, Rachit said: “Primarily, study what interests you. One has to switch between one likes and what one doesn’t. We can’t go on studying uninteresting parts all the time as that gets monotonous. That’s how I kept things interesting for me.” An avid tennis fan, he took study breaks catching on tennis matches.

“I didn’t miss a single tennis match even amid studies,” he quips.

He also spent time on novels, music and his fitness regime during his studies.

Ragini credits her mother with success

Ragini Sharma from Rising Star School in the district has grabbed the second position in Jalandhar, getting AIR 144 and general category rank 98. As her household steeped in festivities for her win, arranging a lavish party for her sterling performance in the exams, Ragini shared that her journey was not without its fair share of some emotional setbacks and crippling lows, all of which she tided over.

While her father Dr Ravi Sharma died five years ago, she credited her mother, a pathologist, Dr Gargi Sharma, for being her constant inspiration and support during her studies.

Ragini said though she studied five to six hours a day, the most challenging times were keeping up with the hard work even in the face of some poor test results.

“It was difficult to remain mentally stable for many of the days. Sometimes, when marks fluctuate in some of the exams, one tends to be stressed out. But it is important to keep oneself stable. I sought solace in being dedicated at all time.”

Sharing her mantra, Ragini said: “Karm kar, fal ki iccha mat kar. When things got rough, I just acted and worked, not caring about the rewards, and eventually things worked out.”

Ragini, who is an ardent dancer and also did stints in acting in Class X, is aiming for Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi, or Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, Delhi.

Taking things lightly is Bhavnoor’s mantra

Bhavnoor Singh Randhawa secured the third spot in the district and grabbed AIR 303. A son of doctor parents, Dr Tarlochan Singh Randhawa (child specialist) and mother Dr Rajwant Kaur Randhawa (radiologist), Bhavnoor’s elder brother Manjinder Singh Randhawa is also pursuing MD in peadiatrics. While Bhavnoor’s father said he had never been a bookworm and always took things lightly which helped him do better. While Bhavnoor, a former student of MGN Public School, was also chosen ‘Mr MGN’ and was an avid football watcher and social media buff, his father said: “We had to step up the vigil ahead of the preparations, to keep him off social media sites. However, he never quit watching football even during pivotal exams.” While he also grabbed the 107th rank in the GIPMER entrance test, Bhavnoor will be aiming for either Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi,  or GIPMER.

Revision is key for Ridhima

Securing AIR 656, Ridhima Mittal bagged the fourth position in the district in NEET. Well she never thought the results would work out so well, she, however, is very happy with her results. A student of MGN Public School, Urban Estate, both Ridhima’s parents, father Sudhir Mittal and mother Kavita Mittal, are dentists. While she studied for five to six hours a day, her mantra for studies has been concentration and constant revision during the course of her studies.

“If you concentrate wholeheartedly while studying, things are not that difficult and preparations suffice with five to six hours of study,” she said. Thanking her parents, teachers and God for her success, Ragini now aims to make it to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi or an institute in Chandigarh.

Other toppers

Ragini Sharma from Rising Star School has bagged the second position in the district and got AIR 144 in NEET, while Bhavnoor Singh Randhawa secured the third spot in Jalandhar and got AIR 303. Securing AIR 656, Ridhima Mittal bagged the fourth position in the district.