It was a sheer journey of success scripted from a relief camp in Bishnupur District through burning the midnight oil, like what Confucius said, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
Tongbram Shitaljit, who dreamt of studying MBBS, ran away even without his books from D. Phailien Leimaram Leikai in Churachandpur, along with his parents, when the ethnic-conflict strike hit Manipur on May 3, 2023. The conflict transported him from his study room to a tiny corner of the relief camp as an IDP at the SC Thanga Wangma High School Relief Camp located in Thanga. But he turned the tide by making it into NEET and secured 138th State Rank this year.
Earlier, before the conflict, both his parents, Tongbram Ibochouba and Tongbram Ongbi Bina Devi, were teachers at Don Bosco Hr. Secondary School in Churachandpur. But the conflict turned his father into an e-rickshaw driver to support the family’s needs and his studies. The conflict did not stop him there, as he moved on facing odds. From the relief camp, he first stayed at the house of his maternal aunt in Imphal, then moved to a rented house to continue his preparation for NEET.
Acknowledging his hard work, the MLA of Thanga AC, Tongbram Robindro, felicitated him on Saturday, saying his journey from the relief camp to this achievement is not only a personal triumph but also an inspiration to all young students of Manipur.
A total of 2,209,318 candidates across the country appeared in the NEET-UG 2025, according to the National Testing Agency (NTA), and a total of 10,967 candidates from Manipur registered for the exam, according to data.
