This 95-Year-Old Man Is Pursuing His Masters Degree Now And His Story Is Inspiring

Raj Kumar Vaishya is a student of master of arts in economics from the Nalanda Open University (NOU). This shouldn’t come across as extraordinary. Oh wait, did we fail to mention he’s 95.

Vaishya who was a general manager in a private firm in Koderma, Jharkhand, retired in 1980. It was his dream to get a post-graduate degree and now he’s close to achieving it.

 

Here’s his story:

“I am nearer to fulfilling my long cherished dream of a postgraduate degree in economics. My aim is not to get a degree; the thrust is to study and gain knowledge of economics so as to understand the problems faced by the people and the country and to contribute something, if possible”.

 

What inspired him:

His son Santosh Kumar, who is in his early 70s, and daughter-in-law Bharti S. Kumar, in her early 60s, are retired from National Institute of Technology, Patna, and Patna University respectively. Vaishya says that the academic environment in his house motivated him to study further.

 

How he plans to do it:

“I have decided to devote two hours daily in the morning and night hours to study. After post-graduation, I will not pursue a Ph.D.,” says Vaishya.

He also adds that his son will teach him mathematics and statistics while his daughter-in-law will pitch in with other help.

 

Surprising people around:

NOU Registrar S.P. Sinha was in for a surprise when he realized who the new student might be at Nalanda University.

“When we came to know that he can read and write fluently as well, it was decided to send a team of NOU officials to his apartment to enroll him in view of his old age. We enrolled him on September 8 for the 2015-16 session and provided the study material in Hindi. However, he demanded the study material and books in English; we will provide these to him soon.”

 

His secret mantra to live healthier:

Vaishya, who was born on April 1st, in UP’s Bareilly town, has done his graduation from Agra University in 1938, got a degree in law in 1940, but failed to do a post graduation due to increasing family responsibilities. He doesn’t need spectacles to read or write, writes fluent Hindi and English but needs a walker after he fractured his leg some years ago.

“Otherwise, I am healthy,” said Vaishya, stating that the secret to his long life was simple living and leaving everything else to god. “I accept everything as it happens. Today tension kills more than anything else. People, particularly the young, should learn to live without stress.”

He is also a vegetarian and has never consumed fried food and says, “Overeating kills more people than starvation.”

Well, Mr. Vaishya, hats off to your spirit. I wish I can be as passionate about work as you are at 95.

News Source: NDTV

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