At 85, Haryana veteran earns MA with 965 marks; eyes PhD or law degree

When many of his peers were well into retirement, 76-year-old Lal Chand Godara returned to his studies. Five years later, at the age of 85, he earned his Master of Arts degree with an impressive 965 marks out of 1,200. His ambition does not end there - a PhD or a law degree could be on the horizon. Godara's life story is one of resilience and determination, having moved from a military career and government service to competitive athletics and eventually back to the classroom.

Godara's journey began in the Indian Army, where he served during the wars of 1962, 1965, and 1971. Despite his service, his thirst for education never waned. He opted to finish his Class 11 studies after his military career. This decision led him to pursue his degrees entirely through the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). He went on to earn his graduation degree at the age of 81, and now, at 85, he has completed his Master of Arts with remarkable scores.

For Godara, education is not merely about obtaining degrees, but also about broadening one's perspective. He firmly believes that a person's desire to learn should not be limited by age. His post-retirement life has been remarkably active. After leaving the Army in 1972, he worked as a yardmaster in the Transport Department until 2002.

Upon retirement, his attention turned to sports, where he became a masters athletics competitor. He won numerous medals at the Haryana Masters Athletics competitions, competing at both the national and international levels. His medal count is estimated to be around 200, with 150 gold, 30 silver, and 20 bronze medals.

Godara's family acknowledges that he continues to excel at the athletics track while simultaneously pursuing academic degrees. He firmly states, "Advancing age need not mean giving up on an active life. My own journey bears this out: while pursuing medals on the athletics track, I continued pursuing degrees in the classroom." His younger son, Dalbir Singh, notes that these achievements are milestones, not the end of the line.