Age no bar: Meet the 66yearold DU aspirant

Monday saw not only teenagers and their parents flocking to Delhi University’s open day, but also 66-year-old Nagesh Chaddha. The retired public relations officer is currently awaiting the results of an advanced diploma in Urdu he had pursued at the elite institution, and hopes to study German next.

“I passed my second year of the diploma with distinction. I was at the top of my class. I want to study German next, or maybe a diploma course in personality development or something similar,” said Chaddha.

Chaddha hopes to converse in German with his grandson, who speaks a bit of the language. “I hear him utter certain phrases here and there in German. His mother works with a German company and is quite fluent in the language. She has taught my grandson the language too. I would like to be able to speak to him in German as well,” he said.

Chaddha seems to have a passion for learning. He claims to have written a pre-medical test in 1969 from Chandigarh, before doing a diploma in mechanical and electrical engineering from Fiji in 1972 and went on to complete his BCom (Hons) from DU in 1976.

“The passion has always been there. In between I did not have the time, because I was working. Now that I am retired, I am living out all my dreams,” he said.

Chaddha could be an inspiration to many and is living testament to the age-old adage that age is nothing but a number and should not be a detriment to following your dreams.