Nagpada taxi driver, 50, turns Commerce graduation along with son

Farooque Shaikh, a 50-year-old taxi driver from Nagpada, has cleared his final-year BCom exam at the same time his 21-year-old son, Hazim, completed his graduation in the same stream, albeit from different universities.

Farooque had completed his schooling from Hume High School but he never got a chance to complete his graduation.

His elder son is a civil engineer, while Hazim, his younger one, was pursuing a bachelor's in Commerce from Mumbai University. Farooque himself was enrolled with the Yashwantrao Chavan Open University (YCOU).

Both Farooque and Hazim secured second class in their final-year examinations, the results for which were declared, separately, earlier this month.

"I never got a chance to complete my graduation despite being keen on a good education. Once, at a flag-hoisting ceremony a well-known lawyer gave a speech about a tea vendor who completed his graduation despite being poor. That chaiwala went on to pursue a degree in law. His story inspired me. I have been driving my own taxi for the past six to seven years and I thought I could fulfil my dream of completing my education. So I discussed it with my family and joined YCOU, attending lectures on Sundays. The teachers were supportive and so was my son who gave the Commerce exam with me. He helped me study during exams and cleared my doubts."

Farooque studied for at least two hours a day and score 49 per cent in his third year. He'd carry textbooks with him while driving his taxi.

His son, Hazim, said, "I am very proud that my father completed his BCom final year. Our syllabus was not all that different. So it was not difficult for me to clear his doubts."

CLERK TO COM. GRAD

• Farooque used to work in a bank’s clerical department before driving his own taxi. 
   
• He got inspired after hearing the story of a tea seller who went on to be a lawyer despite all odds.