Proving that age is no barrier to education, Sarojini Bhagawati, an 86-year-old former schoolteacher, has earned her second postgraduate degree from Gauhati University (GU) in Assamese, achieving a commendable CGPA of 5.5. Her academic program was demanding, encompassing subjects like applied linguistics and Western literary criticism, which required patience, extensive reading, and strong analytical skills—challenges she accepted with steadfast determination.
Bhagawati’s inspiring academic journey began when she completed her first postgraduate degree in Political Science at the age of 72, following a considerable gap after her initial education. Initially, she had withdrawn from formal schooling to return to her hometown, Bardia, in Assam’s Pachim Nalbari region, where she dedicated over twenty years to teaching as a founder teacher at Barnadi High School. Living a modest life, she did not draw a regular salary or pension, eventually retiring quietly from her role in a venture school.
Having earned her BA from Handique Girls’ College in the 1960s, she contributed to several rural educational institutions for more than two decades. It was years later that the distance education program at Gauhati University provided her with the opportunity to return to higher education. This led to her first master’s degree at the age of 72, and now, at 86, she has achieved her second—it is a remarkable testament to the concept of lifelong learning. Sarojini Bhagawati’s achievements underscore not only her personal resolve but also the inclusivity within the academic framework of Gauhati University, serving as a potent reminder that the aspiration for knowledge transcends age.