India’s oldest learner no more; tributes pour in

New Delhi, July 24

Praises poured in from all quarters for India’s oldest learner, Kerala’s Bhageerathi Amma, who passed away on Thursday due to age-related illnesses. She was 107 and had cleared her literacy examination two years ago, becoming the oldest learner in the country.

Amma, who hailed from Prakkulam in Kollam district, was also the recipient of

the government’s prestigious Nari Shakti Award for her persistent endeavour in the field of women’s empowerment and literacy. Amma’s top feat was to pass the Kerala State Literacy Mission’s fourth standard exam scoring 205 out of 275 marks and a cent per cent score in mathematics in 2019. Since she had difficulty in writing the exams due to her age and physical limitations, Amma had famously taken three days to complete the answers to Environment, Mathematics and Malayalam question papers.

Her life dream of passing Class X exams, however, remained unfulfilled. Hailing Amma’s never say die spirit, leaders across the political spectrum tweeted praises for her with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan describing her an inspiration.

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan tweeted, “Bhageerathi Amma personified sheer determination to become literate. Her name reminds us of the usage Bhageeratha prayatnam. Her unfailing will to succeed in learning at the age of 105 was an inspiration to everyone who wishes to learn.” Minister of State for External Affairs

V Muraleedharan also hailed the late Amma, saying age was just a number for her. — TNS

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