Seniors in Strength to Earn Degrees at Vidyapith
Jaswant Parikh, 62, will be a proud student on Tuesday when
he will receive his post graduation degree in Gandhian Thought and Social Sciences
which he passed with a first class. Parikh, who works as a government approved mineral
water analyst, has finally fulfilled his dream.
"Age has got nothing to do with the desire to learn how to read. I was inspired
by Gandhian values and wanted to study his thought in detail," said Parikh, who
is father of a 32-year-old son and 24-year-old daughter, both of whom supported
him in his pursuit of education in the later stage of his life. Amidst the brigade
of young students who will receive their degrees at the Gujarat Vidyapith convocation,
there will also be some students who have may have crossed the age to study but
the zeal to learn further has not deserted them.
Babu Maru, a lecturer in Botad, completed his MA in Hindi from Gujarat Vidyapith
in 1988. Thirteen years later, he will come to the university to get his degree.
"I never felt the need for a degree certificate. In between I tried and filled the
form but could not come due to an illness", says Maru. Dinesh Patel, assistant registrar
of Nirma University, will also receive his postgraduate degree in Gandhian Philosophy.
Patel, 44, has an MA and B.Ed and used to work as a clerk in Gujarat Vidyapith from
1990-1995. Years later, he returned to Gandhian University to study further.
"I was inspired by the life of Gandhi and wanted to enhance my knowledge
about his values and his philosophy. Studying for this degree not only helped me
but my family too as they were also encouraged when I began cleaning the house and
washing my own clothes", said Patel.
Courtesy: Times of India
