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Mizoram man, born before Independence, goes back to school: ‘Age will not deter me’

For Mizoram native Lalringthara, age is just a number. Every morning, the 78-year-old walks 3 km to the nearest school in his village, where he is enrolled in the 9th grade.

August 03, 2023 / 12:00 IST
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A 78-year-old Mizoram man has enrolled himself in Class 9 (Representational image)

For Mizoram native Lalringthara, age is just a number. Every morning, the 78-year-old walks 3 km to the nearest school in his village of New Hruaikawn, where he is enrolled in the 9th grade. It was his desire to complete his education and learn English that motivated him to return to school.

Born in pre-Independence India in the year 1945, Lalringthara lost his father at a young age and began to help his mother in the fields. Circumstances and financial constraints forced him to give up his education at a young age.

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Till Class 2, Lalringthara studied at a school in Khuangleng village of Champhai district in Mizoram – albeit with constant breaks. Then his mother moved to New Hruaikawn village and he was forced to give up school.

It was only three years later that his mother was able to enrol him in Class 5 – but his new stint at school was also short-lived. Lalringthara was placed under the care of distant relatives who did not place too much importance on education. Instead, he was forced to make a living working in paddy fields.