Khan Basit Bilal — J&K’s NEET Topper from Pulwama

In a candid conversation with Digpu, Basit Bilal talks about his study routine and his inspiration. He also has a message for the youth.

Srinagar, J&K —

Hailing from south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, Khan Basit Bilal has achieved a remarkable feat of emerging as Jammu and Kashmir’s topper in the recently declared Undergraduate National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2020 results.

The 18-year-old Basit, while proving once again that Kashmiri youth are second to none in academic excellence, secured 695 marks out of 720 in the NEET exam result which was declared on Friday.

The teenage student from Narwa (Nodoo) village of Pulwama has secured over 96 per cent marks which is no mean achievement.

“I am thankful to both my parents and teachers for their immense support and help,” Basit Bilal said while talking exclusively to Digpu.

He said, “I opted for PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) after clearing my Class 10^th. Consequently, I had to appear in NEET exam and now, I want to become a doctor. I had not thought of any specific profession prior to this.”

Basit Bilal opines that self-study plays a key role in such competitive exams but adds that coaching is also necessary for staying focused and getting easy answers for some complex problems while preparing for exams.

“Former Cricketer and Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Imran Khan has been a motivation for me. Both his struggle and success have had a profound impact on me as a person,” Khan Basit Bilal reveals.

He downplayed the high-speed internet ban when asked about its impact on his preparation but said, “Many students did face serious problems due to the high-speed internet ban. I would request the authorities to restore 4G internet as soon as possible.”

Speaking about the problems of the youth in his home district and elsewhere in Kashmir, he said, “Children get involved in odd and evil things because their parents are not giving enough time to them and the remaining gap forces them to take harsh steps.”

In his message for students, he says they should start preparing early, from Class 10^th, 11^th or 12^{th. “}They should stay focused, dedicated and follow their guide blindly as he carries a vast experience with him,” he says.