SIRAHA: Working with bricks by day and studying by night, Satyanarayan Safi from Siraha has proven that poverty can block the path, but it cannot stop the destination.
Born in Shripur village, just three kilometers from the Baryarpatti Chowk on the Postal Highway, Satyanarayan grew up in a small, dilapidated hut. Despite the crushing weight of poverty, the hope nurtured inside that hut kept him going. Amid these hardships, he dreamt of one goal: becoming a doctor.
His inspiration came from early experiences of watching his mother suffer from chronic headaches. With his father working abroad in Qatar, the responsibility of taking his mother to the hospital fell on Satyanarayan at a young age. He accompanied her to clinics, observed the long queues, and saw the agony on his mother’s face. The repeated cycles of temporary relief through medicines left a lasting impression.
“The medicines worked for a few days, then the pain returned. Standing in hospitals, seeing her suffering, I vowed I would become a doctor,” he recalls.
Determined, Satyanarayan completed his SEE in 2020 at his local school and then pursued science in grade 12 at Araniko Higher Secondary School in Biratnagar. But the real struggle began when he tried preparing for the MBBS entrance exam in Kathmandu. Financial constraints forced him to return home within three months, just as his father also returned from Qatar. The family faced a crisis of “hunger or education.”
Hands on labor, mind on books
Refusing to give up, Satyanarayan started working as a construction laborer in his village. By day, he carried cement, labored under the scorching sun, and worked alongside masons. By night, under dim light, he studied medical textbooks, preparing for the entrance exams.
“I left Kathmandu because of poverty, but I never abandoned my dream. I struggled, yet I never lost courage. My determination kept me moving toward my goal,” he said.
With earnings from daily labor, he bought books, sometimes even studying while hungry. “My room had piles of books as my bed and my blanket,” he shared. This perseverance eventually led him to the doors of a medical college.
Success on the first try
After two years of intense study and labor, Satyanarayan appeared for the Medical Education Commission entrance exam. Against all odds, he secured a full scholarship under the Madhesi Dalit quota, making his family immensely proud.
Even with the scholarship, concerns about housing and other educational expenses remained. His father, Madhuri Safi, said, “Our son opened the path to becoming a doctor through his hard work, but we still worry about how to support him through the entire course. We have almost no assets besides a small piece of land.”
Once his story went viral on social media, help began to pour in from across the country. Financial and moral support eased some burdens, and Satyanarayan remains grateful while also mindful of the responsibility to serve society in return.
“I am fortunate to receive nationwide support, but I am also aware of my duty. I want other students like me to have a chance, without abandoning their dreams due to poverty,” he said.
Reservation system as a pathway to equality
Satyanarayan’s achievement highlights the importance of Nepal’s inclusive reservation system, which allows marginalized communities to access opportunities historically denied to them. Experts, like Pradeep Vijay Prasad Mishra, note that stories like his validate the system’s relevance in empowering underrepresented youth.
Satyanarayan Safi has become a powerful source of inspiration for young Nepalis. From a small hut in Siripur to the threshold of medical college, his journey shows that determination and opportunity can turn dreams into reality. Yet, for such “seeds of dreams” to flourish across the country, continued support from the government and civil society remains crucial.
Comment