Once begging on the streets of McLeodganj and searching for food in garbage dumps, Pinki Haryan has overcome incredible hardships to become a qualified doctor. Her story, spanning over two decades, is a clear example of her determination and the support of kind-hearted individuals who helped change the course of her life.
Born into extreme poverty, Haryan spent her early childhood begging alongside her parents in the streets of McLeodganj. She searched for food in garbage bins and had no hope of a better future. However, in 2004, her life took a drastic turn when Lobsang Jamyang, a Tibetan refugee monk and the director of the Dharamshala-based Tong-Len Charitable Trust, spotted her while she was begging. He decided to help her out of the slum life and into school.
A monk’s vision changes her life
Jamyang’s first challenge was convincing Haryan’s parents to allow her to pursue an education. Haryan’s father, Kashmiri Lal, was initially unwilling, but after hours of persuasion, he agreed. Jamyang then arranged for her admission to Dayanand Public School in Dharamshala, and she became one of the first children to live in a hostel for destitute children set up by the charitable trust.
Though Haryan initially missed her home and parents, she realized that education was her only way out of poverty. Under the guidance of Jamyang and Ajay Srivastava, president of NGO Umang Foundation, Haryan dedicated herself to her studies. Her hard work paid off as she passed her senior secondary exams with flying colors and successfully cleared the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), the all-India entrance exam for medical courses.
Despite her academic success, Haryan’s dream of becoming a doctor was threatened by the high fees of private medical colleges in India. But her determination and the support of the Tong-Len Charitable Trust in the United Kingdom helped her secure admission to a prestigious medical college in China in 2018.
From slum-dweller to doctor
In 2023, after years of hard work, Haryan completed her MBBS degree and returned to Dharamshala. Now, she is studying for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), which will allow her to practice medicine in India. Her goal is to serve the poor and destitute, offering them the healthcare and support they deserve.
“Poverty was the biggest struggle since my childhood. It was painful to see my family in such distress,” Haryan said in an interview. “As I got into school, I had an ambition to become successful in life. My background motivated me to work harder because I wanted a good and financially stable life.”
Haryan recalled that during her school admission interview as a four-year-old, she expressed her desire to become a doctor, even though she didn’t fully understand what the profession entailed. “I always wanted to help my community,” she added.
Her success has inspired her younger siblings, who are now enrolled in school, following in her footsteps. She credits Jamyang and his vision for her “slum-dweller to doctor” transformation. “He believed in me when no one else did. He was the biggest support system I had while I was in school.”
A light of hope for slum children
Jamyang, who founded the Tong-Len Charitable Trust with the goal of providing basic education to poor children, expressed his pride in Haryan’s achievements. “I did not realize that these children were so full of talent,” Jamyang said. “They have become role models and are now inspiring others.”
Over the years, many children from slums, supported by Jamyang, have become engineers, doctors, and journalists. Ajay Srivastava highlighted Jamyang’s belief that children should not be treated as “machines to earn money” but rather encouraged to grow into good human beings. Today, Haryan stands as a shining example of how education and perseverance can change lives.