Ageing boosts her learning instinct

Divya Sharma
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, April 19

At 57, Manju Arora is busy learning Urdu language. She completed her Masters in French from Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) in 2018.

A grandmother of two, she not only learnt a foreign language, but also topped her French masters course (2016-2018). She was pushed by her daughter Ankita to follow her passion and learn a language.

“Initially, my desire to learn a foreign language was found strange by many. But I never left a book in my life. Age should not become a barrier to try something new. It was my daughter who encouraged me,” she says.

The former academician has also been taking spoken English-cum-personality development lessons at her home to invest herself beyond the household chores. “I resigned from a local college as the state became instable in the late 1980’s. It diverted me to focus on other things, my passion. One should live life to the fullest. There is so much to do in life,” she feels.

Born and brought up in the holy city, she gradually developed a knack for reading. She also urges young women to be independent and give wings to their dreams.

Now, she is planning to translate traditional stories, such as Panchatantra, into French to create kids’ interest in foreign language.