- Salima Khan, a 92-year-old great-grandmother from Bulandshahr, India, has become a viral sensation for pursuing education after a lifelong dream.
- Despite challenges in her youth due to the absence of educational institutions in her village, Salima began studying alongside students nearly eight decades younger.
- Her determination to learn won over teachers initially hesitant to instruct her, and her inspiring journey has encouraged 25 other women in her village, including her daughters-in-law, to pursue education.
An old woman in India, Salima Khan has gone viral on social media for pursuing education at the age of 92 years.
Salima Khan, a great-grandmother born around 1931, was married off at the tender age of 14 in the 1940’s. Education that is a distant dream for many girls in the sub-continent was an impossible thing to achieve at the time Salima Khan was of the school going age. Throughout her life, she harbored an enduring aspiration: to acquire the ability to read and write.
Hailing from Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh, Salima recollected that during her childhood, there were no educational institutions in her village that she could go to. Fast forward to six months ago, and Salima embarked on a remarkable journey, pursuing her studies side by side with pupils nearly eight decades her junior. Remarkably, her granddaughter-in-law accompany’s her on this educational journey daily.
Viral Old Lady Wins School Teachers Over With Her Focus and Determination
The viral spread of a video capturing Salima confidently counting from one to hundred has brought her inspiring story to the forefront of social media.
“My grandchildren used to trick me into giving them extra money as I couldn’t count currency notes, those days are gone.”
The government education initiative’s volunteers recognized Khan’s potential as a student and played a pivotal role in persuading her to embark on this educational journey. Initially, the teachers held reservations about instructing Salima due to the significant age gap, but her unwavering enthusiasm for learning ultimately won them over, revealed the school’s headmistress, Pratibha Sharma.
Sharma said that they couldn’t bring themselves to turn her away, and thus, they gladly embraced her as a student.
#WATCH | “…I told her if she came and studied in the school, I would arrange her pension, she got inspired by this…now she can count up to 100, can write her own name…” says Dr Pratibha Sharma, Headmaster of primary school Chawli pic.twitter.com/r1KsEdJKd7
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) September 27, 2023
Salima Khan Inspires 25 More Women to Pursue Education at Old Age
In a heartening turn of events, Salima’s decision to pursue education has ignited a wave of inspiration in her village. Since her enrollment, 25 other women from her community have also taken up literacy classes, including her two daughters-in-law.
This extraordinary story serves as a powerful reminder that the thirst for knowledge transcends age and circumstances. Salima Khan’s unwavering commitment to her dreams, showcases the enduring spirit of lifelong learning. Khan is an inspirations to all generations to pursue their aspirations with zeal and determination. Her story continues to resonate as a beacon of hope, proving that it is never too late to chase one’s dreams, regardless of the challenges life presents.
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