Age No Bar: At 65, Tamil Nadu's Dhanabakiyam Ammal Started Her Education Afresh

Dhanabakiyam Ammal from Tamil Nadu is winning the internet with pictures and videos of her studying going viral.

Though the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the educational institutions and the National Literacy Mission's adult literacy programme, Ammal refused to give up. She took the leap and started her education afresh at the age of 65.

Dhanabakiyam Ammal, a 65-year-old woman from Tamil Nadu's Tiruchy has become the centre of everyone's attention. Due to the COVID-19 induced lockdown, the centres imparting adult education under National Literacy Mission were closed. But Ammal visited the headmistress of Kothamangalam Government Elementary School, Chitra Rani to take her lessons. Talking to The New Indian Express, Rani said, "Unlike many others, Dhanabakiyam was very keen. She has retired from her employment as an Anganwadi worker."

The headmistress further added that the old woman earlier used her thumb impression to get her pension and always wanted to sign her name one day. Therefore, with great interest, she joined the education programme. R Arivazhagan, the Chief Education Officer (CEO) of Tiruchy, and the District Education Officers (DEO) of Tiruchy and Manapparai, Vivekanandan and Vivekanandan respectively noted her interest and paid her a visit to appreciate and encourage her. They were accompanied by Manikandam Block Education Officer (BEO).

The BEO said that the woman was a quick learner. Whenever she got time, she visited the school to learn. At the moment, she is as good as any bright class 3 student. She can read headlines on newspapers, write three-letter-words and can read class 3 textbooks proficiently. Ammal expressed that she always wanted to learn but could not manage time. She even thought that it was too late for her to start in her old age but grabbed the opportunity when the headmistress approached her.

In 2018, 96-year-old woman from Kerala, Karthyayani Amma topped the qualifying Class IV exam conducted by the Kerala Literacy Mission Authority with 98 per cent marks. She was the oldest student to attend the Aksharalaksham literacy examination held in August that year. Later, she became the Ambassador of Commonwealth of Learning Goodwill. Click here for more.

Image source: The New Indian Express