AGE NO BAR!!
It is aptly said, “Learning has no age bar”! Mulund’s 43-year-old rickshaw driver Sharif Khan has exemplified the age-old axiom as this middle-aged man, father of five children, is one of the students appearing for the ongoing HSC Board examination!!
Sharif Khan’s passion for education can be gauged from the fact that, just before the examination, one of his hands got fractured in an accident while driving his auto. His family and friends persuaded him to skip the examinations, but Khan was adamant to give the examination. Speaking to Home Times, Sharif Khan said, “My family and my friends advised me to drop this year and give examination next year, but I was resolute as I have wasted many years of life and now, I could not afford to waste any more time. Hence, despite the pain, I appeared for this examination as I aspire to become a graduate.”
An original habitant of Pratapgad in Uttar Pradesh, Khan quit education in 1991 after Class VIII due to economic crisis in the family. Being the eldest son in the family, he had the onus of looking after his family. Hence, he came to Mumbai and made little money driving an auto rickshaw. Later, in 2017, after marriage and children, Khan decided to fulfill his dream of completing his education. His relatives laughed, but Khan was determined and, thanks to the support from his daughters, Khan passed his SSC student as a private student in 2017.
The success pepped him with confidence, and he decided to move ahead towards his dream. He decided to pursue Commerce and got admission at Nutan Junior College. Sharif Khan said, “I am obliged to my daughters for cheering and motivating me to study. Further, being poor, I could not afford a tutor for myself but, thanks to my daughter Asifa, who taught me and kept infusing confidence that I can make it!”
It may be noted that, incidentally, Khan’s daughter Asifa is also giving Class XII Commerce examination along with her father. She told Home Times, “My father had to quit education to accomplish the demands of his family. Now, it is my duty to make him a graduate and fulfill his dream.”
The highlight of Sharif Khan’s life is that, despite being poor, he has educated all his five daughters. Though his family and relatives were against imparting education to girls, Sharif ignored them and provided education to all his daughters. On being quizzed about his ambition, Khan proudly states, “My ambition is to do L.L.B. and become an advocate,”
Truly, Sharif Khan’s passion for education is laudable and his struggle to acquire education in the twilight of his life is worth admiring. Home Times salutes Sharif Khan for his dedication and devotion to education.
