Two unsuccessful attempts did not deter Mhopre (84), a retired education extension officer. He got 47.88%. After the results were out, Mhopre Guruji, as he is popularly called, was felicitated in Vita in January.
Shankarrao Dnyanoba Mhopre, an octogenarian from Vita in Sangli, has become the talk of the town after he cleared his masters in Marathi from the Kolhapur-based Shivaji University (SU) on December 30 last year.
Two unsuccessful attempts did not deter Mhopre (84), a retired education extension officer. He got 47.88%. After the results were out, Mhopre Guruji, as he is popularly called, was felicitated in Vita in January. The function was attended by Congress MLA Sadashivrao Patil, Retired Government Employees Association members and his family.
“I felt like a young student when I was preparing for my examination. Memories of my school and college days flashed before me at the examination hall. I was overjoyed at my success,” he said.
Mhopre said, “I got a chance to read poetry, short stories, dramas and many other works of literature. Have I done anything wrong by writing the examination? Actually, I gave the papers to test my memory.”
Mhopre had enrolled for the MA (distance learning) three years ago. “I think there is no age bar for learning. We should continue with learning while on the job and after retirement,” he said.
In the past three years Mhopre stayed at the teachers’ quarters on the SU campus with his younger son Rahul (29), a lecturer and
doctorate in economics.
“My father used to study for at least five hours daily. He gets up at 4 am and begins his study after yoga. During the exam, he studied at least 12 hours a day,” Rahul told DNA.
Mhopre’s wife Indubai (65) is standard VII passed. His elder son Surendra (55) is a BSc, while daughter Surekha Jadhav (52) is SSC passed and another son Digvijay (33) is standard XII passed.
Born on April 19, 1928, Mhopre served as a primary schoolteacher from 1947 to 1972 after clearing standard VII in 1942. He was a headmaster from 1973 to 1984 and an education extension officer between 1985 and 1986.
He cleared his SSC in 1952 and BA in 1975. After retirement, he completed a course on food processing in 2000.
Mhopre delivers lectures on yoga and health. He is a successful farmer and heads the Maharashtra state amla (gooseberry) producers organisation.
“Our country was the land of education in ancient times with universities like Takshashila and Nalanda. I just tried to set an example that age is no bar for acquiring more knowledge,” he said.
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