Age is not a barrier if you have the urge to read and learn. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has awarded degrees to a number of senior citizens who wanted to pursue studies beyond 60 years of age. 83-year-old Ramphal Rana is one of them. He says that Indian religion, philosophy, spirituality and the zeal to know myself inspired me to study. So I decided to do MA in Philosophy from IGNOU. Ramphal Rana, a resident of Bahadurgarh, is now a monk. He retired in the year 2000 and took sannyas nine years after that. Now lives in an ashram in Bahadurgarh.
He was the oldest degree holder at the convocation of IGNOU on Tuesday. However, he could not come here due to the eye operation and the greater distance of the center from the convocation. Sant Ramphal, who speaks fluent English, says that I stood fourth at All India level in UPSC Stenographer Examination. Also passed LLB in first division and also passed Company Secretary of India exam. I wanted to know about all the philosophers including Buddha, Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, so did MA in Philosophy.
Keep learning in life:
Ranjit Dixit, who came to IGNOU to take his degree, is 70 years old. He has an MA degree in Sociology. Ranjit Dixit says that life is for learning, so keep learning. After retirement I had the time I wanted to know the society and I thought I could, so I studied it. This is my MA from third subject.
Completed studies in the struggle to save life
Usha Srivastava is originally from Gwalior. With a medal in one hand and a degree in the other, she smiles and says that now I am free from family responsibilities, so I was able to complete my studies. 62-year-old Usha along with her husband had come to the convocation ceremony organized by the regional centers in the auditorium at Sirifort. She tells that I only take care of the house, in 2014 I had cancer and had come to Delhi for its treatment, so thought I should start studies too. She was married when she had studied in the eighth grade. When the children grew up and could stand on their own feet, I started studying. Studied after VIII from IGNOU itself and now has taken BA degree from English. Cancer treatment has also been successful.