Studying economics to understand poverty in India.
By Sreekanth A. Nair
Students who appeared for Nalanda Open University (NOU) post-graduate examination were surprised to see an old man inside the examination hall. Raj Kumar Vaishya, 97, from Patna, Bihar appeared in the exam to fulfill his dream of holding a masters degree.
Born in 1920 in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, Vaishya is taking the Economics Part-1 exam at NOU.
“Despite heat wave that forced people indoors, Vaishya surprised all of us including young examinees, when he appeared at examination centre,” an official told Indo-Asian News Service (IANS).
Vaishya graduated from the University of Agra in 1938 and has a BA in Law. Vaishya wanted to pursue a post graduation course, but couldn’t do it for long decades as he had to find out a job to take care of his family. Now he wants to know the reason why most of the Indians are living in poverty even after attaining independence in 1947. That is the reason why he chose to do a master degree in Economics.
“I am very disappointed with the acute poverty in India despite so many years of Independence. Where are the acche din? I want to understand economics myself and then perhaps debate this issue,” Vaishya told India Today.
When he decided to enroll in the course, he approached the university and they sent some officials to his home to help Vaishya. The university had also offered him some privileges, but he rejected it.
Vaishya is living with one of his three sons in Patna.