The will to succeed in something you love deeply often helps you arrive there. An 85-year-old retired soldier has proved this by acquiring his Master’s degree at this ripe old age and now wants to study further.
Lal Chand Godara, who fought in the wars of 1962, 1965 and 1971, has completed his MA from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). He scored 965 out of the total 1,200 marks and is happy to have reached this milestone with a good score.
A resident of Sirsa in Haryana, Godara now wants to study further. He is determined to acquire a PhD degree or study law and get an LlB degree.
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When news reporters and camera persons visited his home after learning of his academic successes at 85, Godara was more than happy to show them the certificates he had got from IGNOU. He posed for the media cameras with the latest marksheet he had been issued by IGNOU, the central government-run university for learning through correspondence that is recognised as the largest university in the world by active enrolment.
The gainful way Godara used his time to study at home and appear in examinations to get degree after degree decades after he had last touched textbooks has come as an inspiring lesson for everyone who knows him.
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“He did not sit idle and while away time after his retirement but wanted to study further and acquire degrees like students in their 20s. We were glad to help him achieve his aspiration. Now we are just as happy as he is,” said Godara’s son, Dr Sahib Ram Godara.
It was three years ago that Lal Chand Godara had earned his BA degree from IGNOU, at the age of 79. In fact, it was his grandchildren’s questions about various matters and his realisation that he did not know enough that he had started preparing for college-level examinations at the age of 76.
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“Since he had left his formal education unfinished by joining Indian Army and serving till retirement, he had a strong desire to resume his studies. He joined the Army before he turned 20,” said his son.
A desire for personal growth and achievements in life has guided Godara in his later life. After retiring from the Army, he worked as a yard master with Haryana government’s transport department. He retired from that job in 2002 but did not sit idle at home. He started participating in sports events and practiced masters athletics. He won several medals at Haryana Masters Athletics tournaments and other events.
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While most people across the world believe retirement from an active job is the beginning of a time for a quieter time with hardly any activity for self-growth and service to society, Lal Chand Godara’s achievements in academics in his 80s will keep inspiring many.
