Ranchi, March 26: After creating a record of sorts by becoming the first visually-challenged doctor to pass out of the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences, CNP Anka Toppo is all set to practise medicine after registering with the Delhi Medical Council.

Toppo, who was registered with the council on March 15, said he was now weighing the various options open to him, given his disability.

At present, the doctor is gathering information about the streams, doctors suffering from visual impairment, have chosen.

As Anka prepares to embark on his career as a medical practitioner, words of praise pour from all quarters.

Health minister Dinesh Sarangi described him as a priceless gem.

“He has proved that nothing is impossible if one has the willpower and the courage to make it big. He is an example to many other youths, who have given up on life. The state health department will definitely think of honouring him. He should be honoured and respected.”

Anka’s teachers recall him as a boy who never buckled under pressure.

According to his family and teachers, he was one of those boys who always fought to get the lion’s share.

Teachers of DAV Shyamali, where Toppo studied harbour fond memories of him. J.B. Pathak, the physics teacher of the school said, “He was a brilliant student. Generally the Adivasi boys are not interested in studies. But Anka was different. I found something different in him. He had spark. He wanted to excel in whatever he did.”

Pathak said he also used to give him private tuition. “Several times, he used to come to my house at night. His house was close to mine. His dedication is hard to find these days. His favourite subjects were Physics and Biology. Another quality in him was that he had the ability to grasp things easily. He was also one of the first in the class to ask questions,” he added.

Anka, according to his teacher, was a multi-faceted personality., “Very few people knew that he was a good sportsman. He was a wonderful athlete. Anka won several awards in the school athletics meet.

Mother Leela Toppo said Anka had his vocation chalked out as a child. “He wanted to be a doctor. He used to say that becoming a doctor was his ultimate ambition. We always encouraged him.”

His father Rubin Toppo remembers him as a very obedient boy. “He was so obedient and sincere that whenever his mother gave him money to bring something, he used to return the remaining amount to her.”