Introducing Ganesh Baraiya, the world’s shortest doctor from Gujarat whose unwavering determination knows no bounds

Gujarati-born Ganesh Baraiya is the world’s smallest doctor, making history in the process. Ganesh, who is just 3 feet 4 inches tall, has defied all expectations and prejudices because of his tenacity and love of medicine. His path is a motivational story of tenacity and unshakable commitment. His struggles are caused by his dwarfism, which has left him with a 72% body-wide motor impairment. Still, he wears a grin on his face. Ganesh’s height has presented him with many difficulties despite his remarkable medical knowledge and abilities. He has experienced everything, from prejudice to self-doubt about his ability. Nevertheless, Ganesh has used these challenges as fuel to advance himself rather than allowing them to stop him.

Despite his small weight of 18 kg, there were obstacles in his path. Despite receiving a 233 NEET score and an 87 percent board score, the Gujarat government refused him permission to study MBBS in 2018. With the assistance of his school principal, he went to the state education minister, the district collector, and finally the Gujarat High Court.

Dr. Baraiya remained optimistic despite the Gujarat High Court’s decision to dismiss his case. After bringing his case before the Supreme Court, he was accepted into the MBBS program in 2019 and is now employed as an intern at the Sir-T hospital in Bhavnagar. He won his case in 2018.

“The Medical Council of India committee denied me due to my height after I completed the form, passed Class 12, and passed the NEET test to enroll in the MBBS program. They suggested that since I’m short, I wouldn’t be able to manage emergency situations. Then, I discussed this with Revasish Servaiya and my principal at Nilkanth Vidyapeeth, Dr. Dalpath Bhai Katariya, and asked them what we could do about it,” Dr. Baraiya stated in an interview with ANI on his early difficulties.

They instructed me to meet with the Minister of Education for Gujarat and the Collector of Bhavnagar. We chose to take the issue to the Gujarat High Court, as instructed by the Collector of Bhavnagar. There were two other individuals there who had various abilities. We chose to appeal the ruling in the Supreme Court after we were unsuccessful in our argument before the High Court, he said. Speaking about the beginning of his MBBS journey, Dr. Baraiya said, “The Supreme Court decided in 2018 that I am eligible to be admitted to the MBBS program. The Supreme Court declared that I would be admitted to the 2019 MBBS course since my 2018 admission had already ended at that point. My MBBS career began when I was accepted into the Government Medical College in Bhavnagar.

Patients often look twice when they see Ganesh Baraiya on his rounds because they are taken aback by his youthful appearance. But his comforting manner puts them at rest right away, demonstrating a maturity much beyond his years. Ganesh’s laughter at the patients’ initial alarm quickly dissipates, fostering a feeling of trust and comfort.

Regarding his daily struggles because of his height, Dr. Baraiya said that while patients first criticize him because of his height, they eventually come to terms with it and embrace him as their physician. Patients are usually a little surprised when they first encounter me, but eventually, they come to accept me and my acceptance of their initial behavior. They treat me with kindness and positivity. They also start to feel cheerful,” he said.