Munish Sood
MANDI: Sonam Chodon (18) of Dhankhar village in tribal Spiti belt has made history by securing an All-India rank 12 in the NEET-2025 examination under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, bringing pride to Himachal Pradesh.
Born into a humble farming family, Sonam scored 591 out of 720 marks in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), emerging as a symbol of determination and academic excellence against all odds.
From remote classroom to national recognition
Sonam’s educational journey began at the Government Primary School in Dhankhar, a tiny village nestled in the high-altitude terrains of Lahaul-Spiti district. She went on to complete her Class 10 from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Lari, and Class 12 from Musling School in Rangrik, topping her district in both secondary and senior secondary board examinations.
Despite limited resources and challenging weather conditions in the region, Sonam’s academic focus and resilience remained unshaken.
“I always believed that education is the key to changing not just my life but also the future of many girls like me in the valley,” said Sonam in a brief statement.
Aiming for excellence in medicine
With her exceptional NEET performance, Sonam now looks forward to pursuing MBBS from one of India’s premier medical colleges. Her ultimate goal is to specialise as a neurosurgeon and return to serve her community, which still struggles with limited access to advanced medical care.
“I want to become a neurosurgeon and work in tribal and rural areas where healthcare is often inaccessible,” she said.
The news of her achievement was met with widespread celebration across the valley. Educationists, community leaders and local residents hailed her success as a historic moment for tribal education in the state.
Lahaul-Spiti MLA Anuradha Rana, in a heartfelt social media post, congratulated Sonam, stating: “Sonam Chodon has made the entire district proud. Her story is a shining example of what determination and hard work can achieve, even in the most remote corners of our nation. We wish her a bright future ahead.”
