No age is old enough to get educated. And a 98-year-old student has proven this fact by being awarded a postgraduate degree at the 12th annual convocation of Nalanda Open University (NOU).
Raj Kumar Vaish received a master’s degree in economics by Meghalaya governor Ganga Prasad at the convocation function.
And that is the reason why Nalanda Open University (NOU), Vaish’s alma mater, now proposes to set up a gallery in its library displaying his answer books and other examination-related papers.
“We are about to place a proposal for approval by the university’s statutory committees for exhibiting answer books of Vaish, who got admitted to NOU two years back, passed the MA economics examination, and received his degree,” said vice chancellor (VC) RK Sinha.
OLDEST STUDENT OF INDIA
“On the basis of information gathered by us, Vaish is the first student of the country who successfully completed his university course at the age of 98”, he said.
“He is a source of inspiration for all generations to come. For this university, in particular, Vaish would be seen as a trendsetter,” said the VC.
NOU registrar SP Sinha said photocopies of his answer books proposed for display would not only reflect his merit, handwriting and way of expression, but also his physical and mental alertness while writing 16 papers in the examination hall.
It was in September this year that a team of university officers, headed by Sinha, went to Vaish’s residence and handed over to him his MA examination mark sheet.
…BUT VAISH IS DISAPPOINTED!!
Vaish had graduated from Agra University in 1938 and followed it up with an LLB in 1940. He served as law officer in Christian Mica Industry, Koderma (now in Jharkhand) and retired from service in 1981.
His son Santosh Kumar said his father was a bit disappointed as he had secured a second division.!
