Meet Dr. Ganesh Baraiya, the 3-feet tall doctor from Gujarat who overcame all odds to fulfill his dream

A 25-year-old medical officer from Gujarat is breaking barriers and inspiring many with his remarkable story. Born with 72% locomotor disability due to dwarfism, Ganesh Baraiya was only three feet tall and weighed 20 kg, but he did not let his physical limitations deter him.

Ganesh, a resident of Gorakhi village in Bhavnagar district, started his first posting as a medical officer at the age of 25. Baraiya’s journey to become a doctor was not easy. In 2018, the Medical Council of India (MCI) denied him admission to the MBBS programme, citing his height and physical disability as obstacles.

He fought his case, taking it to the Gujarat High Court and ultimately to the Supreme Court. With the support of his school principal, Dr. Dalpatbhai Kataria, who helped cover the legal costs, Baraiya’s determination succeeded.

The Supreme Court ruled in his favor, paving the way for him to pursue medical studies. Baraiya joined Bhavnagar Medical College in 2019 and completed his degree and internship.

In a recent conversation with ANI, he shared about his struggles and his first posting as a medical officer, a dream he had worked tirelessly to achieve.

He told ANI, “I had my primary education from my village… I gave the NEET UG exam in 2018, but at that time, the Medical Council of India rejected me because of my disability. At that time, I was very disappointed… We lost the case in the Gujarat High Court, but we filed the case in the Supreme Court… The Supreme Court ruled that no one can stop you because of your disability, and a seat will be reserved for you in 2019.”

Dr. Ganesh Baraiya has a refreshing approach towards his patients. Despite facing different personalities, he is undeterred and focused on his work. He said, “Many types of patients come to me, sometimes positive, sometimes negative… but I am never disappointed.”

He recalled instances where patients initially refused treatment, only to be treated by another doctor. However, he chooses not to focus on such matters, instead focusing on the positive interactions he has with most patients. “Most patients respond positively and cooperate well,” he said.

His first goal as a medical officer is to build a proper house for his family, who still live in a kutcha house in Gorakhi village in Bhavnagar district. News 18 quoted him as saying, “My family still lives in a kutcha house. My biggest dream is to build a brick house with all the facilities for them. The construction has stopped several times because we often ran out of money. Now with my salary, I can finally complete it.”