Octogenarian gets MA degree; next goal is research on Netaji

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Express news service

Posted online: Sunday , February 17, 2008 at 01:02:05
Updated: Sunday , February 17, 2008 at 01:20:49

Kolkata, February 16 The quest for knowledge never ends. After receiving his Masters in Arts degree at the grand-old age of 85, Sunil Kumar Mandal is filled with enthusiasm in anticipation of his next goal — conducting a research on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Mandal, the father of four sons and two daughters, came to receive his coveted degree at the convocation of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) today. Unable to walk a few meters on his own, he was accompanied by his granddaughter Joyeeta.

A war veteran who fought in the Second World War along with the Allied Forces, Mandal completed his graduation in 2002-03. Asked how he plans to complete the mammoth task of research on Netaji, the oldest

student at IGNOU’s Kolkata centre points to the director, Sujit Ghosh. “Sujit will help me,” he said bubbling with confidence.

Ghosh reminisces the day when Mandal first approached him in his office a decade ago asking if anyone could do a graduation course through distance education.

There are others in the convocation who have gone against the flow as well. Rupa Roychowdhuri (46) with 90 per cent physical disability is waiting on a wheelchair to receive her degree. Roychowdhuri completed her graduation in mathematics in IGNOU. Earlier, she had completed a certificate programme in computers from the open university.

Roychowdhuri is a bright student, said her uncle Premananda Roychowdhury. She was about to take admission in Loreto College when an accident cut short her academic pursuits. Now she is a teacher.

The director adds another name to the list of special degree recipients. “Sameer Kumar Rout, with paralysis, received the Professor Grover award for securing maximum marks in the MCom examination,” he said.

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