Father refused to sell son to circus - now he's a doctor

 

Amid a world scarred by wars and uncertainty, a story of courage, resilience, and unwavering hope has emerged from Gujarat, India. A man, standing just 91cm tall and weighing only 20kg, has defied every obstacle to become a medical doctor.

Ganesh Bairava, 25, recounted the moment a circus offered his father 500,000 rupees (RM28,000) for him.

“He refused. My father chose to give me an education instead. That became the greatest inspiration in my life,” he said in an interview with BCC India.

The video, uploaded to YouTube three days ago, has already touched nearly two million hearts.

Ganesh’s journey was far from easy.

After the Medical Council of India initially rejected his application, citing concerns that his dwarfism might affect his ability to handle emergencies, he felt crushed.

“At that time, I was very disappointed. I didn’t know what would happen to my future… I felt like my dream of becoming a doctor would never come true,” he shared.

But his determination never wavered. When the case reached the Supreme Court of India - the nation’s highest judicial body - the verdict became a beacon of hope.

On Oct 22, 2018, the court ruled that physical disabilities should not bar anyone from pursuing medical studies.

Walking 5km to school, bullying by peers

Ganesh’s childhood was marked by daily struggles.

He often had to walk 5km to school. His father, Vitthal Baraiya, described the tireless support he gave during those early years.

“He would tire easily and couldn’t move far in school. So I carried him on my shoulders so he could continue studying until he completed Year Five,” Vitthal said.

Ganesh also faced relentless bullying from peers, yet he refused to let it break him.

Today, he serves as a medical officer at Bhavnagar Civil Hospital - the very place where he trained. At first, patients were startled by his appearance, but over time, their respect and trust grew.

Interestingly, Ganesh’s stature has become a unique advantage when treating children.

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“Children are more comfortable with me and tend to share problems that they might not tell other doctors,” he said.

Reflecting on his journey, Ganesh emphasised that setbacks are part of life’s journey.

“A life without challenges is not a real life. There were times I felt I had failed repeatedly, but we must keep moving forward to achieve our dreams,” he said.

In July 2025, India’s medical regulatory body introduced interim MBBS admission guidelines for the 2025-2026 session, focusing on competence rather than physical disability. - Mkini