A 92-year-old great-grandmother, Salima Khan from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh achieved her lifelong dream by learning how to read and write after attending school for the very first time, becoming an inspiration to others in the process.
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) September 27, 2023
Salima Khan's Story
Salima Khan, born around 1931, and married at the age of 14, had always harbored the aspiration of acquiring literacy. Growing up in a village in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, she had no access to schools during her childhood.
Approximately six months ago, she began her education alongside students who were nearly eight decades younger, with her grandson's wife accompanying her to class. Her journey to literacy became widely known after a video of her counting from one to 100 went viral on social media.
Reflecting on her earlier life, she mentioned, "My grandchildren used to trick me into giving them extra money as I couldn't count currency notes. Those days are gone."
India's literacy rate stands at approximately 73 percent, as per the 2011 census.
Lakshmi Pandey, a local education officer, emphasized that Khan's story reaffirms the idea that the pursuit of knowledge knows no age limits. Volunteers from a government educational initiative identified Khan as a potential student and encouraged her to enrol in school.
Initially, the teachers were hesitant about teaching Ms Khan, but they were won over by her unwavering passion to learn, said Pratibha Sharma, the school headmistress. "We didn't have the heart to refuse her," Sharma mentioned.
Since Khan's enrollment, 25 women from her village have also joined literacy classes, including two of her daughters-in-law.
108-Year-Old Inspiring Story
A 108-year-old woman from Tamil Nadu emerged as the top performer in Kerala's literacy program, earlier this year. Kamalakanni, born in 1915 and residing in Cumbum, Theni District, Tamil Nadu, had started working in cardamom fields in Kerala during her early years.
Despite her age, Kamalakanni enrolled herself in Kerala's literacy program. Her commitment to learning earned her recognition and she was hailed as an exemplary participant in the initiative, Sampoornam Shastra literacy programme. She diligently practised writing in both Tamil and Malayalam and achieved an impressive score of 97 out of 100 on the Literacy Project test.
Kamalakanni studied up to the second grade before moving with her family to the Vandanmedu region, where she began working in the cardamom field to support her family. Kamalakanni spent 80 years labouring on the farms, which prevented her from completing her formal education.
Previous World Record Of Oldest Person Attending School
Guinness World Records recognizes the late Kimani Ng'ang'a Maruge from Kenya as the oldest person to complete primary school. He began his schooling journey in 2004 at the age of 84. A former Mau Mau guerilla fighter during British colonial rule, Maruge's motivation for attending school was to learn how to count money and read the Bible. He even earned the title of senior head-boy during his educational journey.
Suggested Reading: 92-Year-Old Sets Record As Oldest Woman To Complete Marathon