Rai came to Kota a year back from Madhubani in Bihar to realise his dream of becoming a doctor. He alsways wanted to cure physically challenged people to ensure a healthy and better life for them.
"My father Lal Bahadur Rai operates a photocopy shop while my mother is a housewife. Our entire savings were spent in my treatment due to which I am now able to walk with the help of crutches. However, our family was left in a deplorable financial condition.
"After Class X, my parents had to enrol me in a government school as we had no money left to pursue studies in a private school," Rai said.
"I scored 83 per cent in Class X and 63 per cent in Class XII. Thereafter, my father mortgaged a little piece of land we owned to ensure that I get enrolled in a medical coaching institute in Kota to realise my dream of becoming a doctor.
"In fact, many people told my father not to send me to Kota given my physical condition, but my father believed in me," he said.
Now Rai has dreams twinkling in his eyes and he wants to help physically challenged people after becoming a doctor.
Rai believes that being physically handicapped is not a curse, but a challenge which should be faced with determination and confidence.
He said that initially he got nervous and demotivated while studying but the faculty members motivated him to realise his goal. Seeing him walk on his crutches, Rai was provided a vehicle facility from the private institute in Kota to ensure he reached his classroom on time.
The institute also waived off his fee when it came to know about his financial condition.
"I used to study for four to five hours daily to realise my dream. After completing my MBBS, I want to specialise in neurology. I want to give a message to all my fellow friends, 'have strong determination and you shall definitely succeed in life'.
"I faced many problems due to my physical weakness but my strong determination helped me achiev success in life," Rai said.
( With inputs from IANS )