Masters degree at the age of 72

Sarojini Bhagabati, a widow from a remote village of Nalbari district of Assam has proved the power of will as the lady completed her Masters degree at the age of 72 years from the distance learning centre of Gauhati University. Now she is planning to do research to move ahead further in realizing her long nurtured dream.

“Today I’m very happy that I have completed my Masters degree which I wanted to do over the years. I would like to convey my sincere thanks to IDOL (Institute of Distant and Open Learning of Gauhati University) for providing me the opportunity to realize it,” said Bhagabati who came out successfully at the results declared on Saturday in MA in Political Science.

“Now, I would like to continue my studies and do research work especially on the lives and problems of suppressed Brahmin widows in our villages of the state. May be it would be my small contribution toward bringing them to a developed condition,” she said who herself had to struggle a lot against such social system.

Bhagabati who draws inspiration from noted literary figure of the region Mamoni Raisom Goswami, said her success symbolizes the aspirations of many women who always wanted to do something different in their life.

“I tried to prove that a woman from an underprivileged corner of the state can achieve the impossible even at the age of 72. There are many women like me even younger and talented and given the opportunity they can do wonders and I would like to send a message that nothing is impossible if you have the will,” she said.

Remembering her earlier days the lady who was married off at a tender age of 13, said, “Due to my strong desire for knowledge, I could complete my Pre-University from B N College, Dhubri and BA from Handique Girls College in 1968, breaking all barriers of the then conservative Brahmin family and an orthodox society.”

“I even collected the syllabus from Gauhati University in 1969, with a desire for pursuing MA, but it could not be materialized at that time” Bhagabati said who hails from Barnarddi in the Nalbari.

Meanwhile, the IDOL director Kandarpa Das said such feats are really motivating for the society and they deserve respect. “It’s a huge performance. Hats off to her for her stupendous achievement,” he said.