Age no bar: 97-year-old writes PG exam in Patna

A 97-year-old created history of sorts when he appeared for the MA (economics) examination of Nalanda Open University in Patna on Friday.

A beaming Raj Kumar Vaishya told Rediff.com, “I am really happy as I appeared for the part one of the MA economics exam. Now I will appear for the other papers and get my master’s degree and fulfil my dream.”

Vaishya had enrolled in NOU last year in September to achieve his dream of acquiring a master’s degree. “He is an inspiration to all. It will send a positive message to others in society, particularly among the senior citizens,” said an official of the Patna-based NOU, adding that Vaishya surprised them all by appearing at the centre at his age and then sitting and writing for three hours.

Vaishya, who retired in 1980 as a general manager after he served for over three decades in a private firm in Koderma, Jharkhand, said that he wished to study economics to understand why China suddenly devalued its currency, how to provide relief to people from rising prices and why the country has failed to solve the problem of poverty and unemployment.

Always smiling, Vaishya lives with his retired son and retired daughter-in-law at an apartment in posh Rajendra Nagar colony in Patna for the last seven to eight years after his wife died in Barelli in Uttar Pradesh.

Vaishya says that even today he can read without his spectacles and can write fluent Hindi and English. “I only take help of the walker after I fractured my back a few years ago. I don’t have any health issues.”

Now, isn’t he truly inspiring?

Image: Raj Kumar Vaishya wished to study economics to understand why China devalued its currency and understand why India has failed to solve the issue pf poverty and unemployment.