Dreams Have No Age: A Tribute To Kerala's Oldest Student Bhageerathi Amma

Bhageerathi Amma Dead: The oldest student of Kerala, Bhageerathi Amma who cleared her Class four equivalency examination at the age of 105 in 2019, passed away on Friday, July 23. She was 107 and passed away at her home due to age related issues.

This year she was preparing for her seventh standard exam and wanted to appear for the tenth standard exam too. Bhageerathi was a living example that age in not a barrier in fulfilling one's dreams. Not only did she dream of completing her schooling in her old age but also dreamt of meeting actor Suresh Gopi in person. Though her dreams remained unfulfilled, she taught us that no matter how tough life gets, we should never give up.

Bhageerathi Amma Dead: Fought against all odds to follow her dreams

Bhageerathi's inspiring story made it to the newspapers when she decided to return to complete her formal education at the age of 105. She had to quit her studies due to family responsibilities. Her mother died during the birth of her younger sibling. Thereafter, taking care of the family became her job. On getting married, she lost her husband in the mid-thirties, who left her with six children. However, old age didn't deter her from her determination to study further.

Beating all odds, she started her schooling afresh in the final years of her life. Her sharp memory paired with standard eyesight and hearing helped her cope up with her lessons. She passed her equivalency exam with 75 per cent marks and scored full marks in Mathematics.

Awards and achievements

Bhageerathi was announced as the winner of Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had singled out the Centenarian for her success in one of his Mann Ki Baat interactions. He said that to progress in life, we should develop ourselves, adding that the student within us must never die if we wish to achieve something in life. This statement holds true for all of us. Hard work, courage and determination are all we need to face challenges and move ahead in life.

Bhageerathi's inspiring story will stay with us for years to come. From raising her siblings and children single-handedly to becoming one of the world's oldest students, she delivered the message that no matter how many unexpected turns life takes, one must not succumb to the situation. Her demise is a loss that shall forever be mourned.

However, our country is not short of women who continue to raise the bar. None-six-year-old Karthyayani Amma topped Kerala Literacy Mission's class four exam in the same year as Bhageerathi Amma. She then went on to become the Ambassador of Commonwealth of Learning Goodwill. This year, Tamil Nadu's Dhanabakiyam Ammal re-started her education at the age of 65. There are many more women who aspire to study and manifest their right to education. But ignorance and lack of resources prevents them from moving ahead. As a developing nation, it must be our responsibility to guide them so that they can make a significant contribution towards the progress of the country.