Former MP pursues post-graduation at 70

Narayan Sahu who was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1980 from the now-abolished Deogarh Parliament constituency has already started attending classes much to the delight of his younger classmates.

Sahu had also been elected to the State assembly twice from the Pallahara assembly seat in coastal Angul district in 1971 and 1974.

It came as a very big surprise for the students as well as the teaching staff of philosophy department of the Bhubaneswar-based university when Narayan  Sahu turned up to attend his classes on Monday.

“Initially I thought he was the guardian of a newly enrolled student. But soon I realized that he himself is a student. I had already heard from university office that an elderly person has enrolled himself in our department. I feel happy for him,” said philosophy department head R C Das.

The students, too, have welcomed Sahu whole-heartedly. “We feel very happy and encouraged by his zeal to go for post-graduation at this age,” said a student. Sahu had graduated from Ravenshaw College in Cuttack, one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the State which has now turned into an autonomous university, in 1963 with philosophy and economics as his subjects.

Second innings

The former MP seemed to be determined to complete his post-graduation with flying colours as he was seen seriously listening to the lecture and noting down the points while sitting in the first row of the class on Monday.

“This is my second innings in life. I had a successful first innings as a family man and a politician,” said Sahu who had almost retired from active politics. If sources in the university are to be believed, he wants to be a boarder and has already applied for a room in one of the gents’ hostels within the university campus.

DH News Service