Age should never be seen as a barrier to realizing one’s dreams, and many individuals have proven this by achieving remarkable milestones later in life. A shining example of this is Shraddha Dass from Nasoso, Nadi, who recently celebrated her graduation with a master’s degree in arts at the extraordinary age of 74. Her remarkable academic achievement earned her a gold medal for being an outstanding student, along with the Ami Chandra Vidyalankar Memorial Award from the University of Fiji.
Mrs. Dass’s inspiring journey began in Indore, India, where she was born and raised. After marrying the esteemed Fijian musician Sattvik Dass in 1972, she relocated to Fiji, where she has happily resided for nearly half a century. A retired Hindi and music teacher, Mrs. Dass has dedicated her life to sharing her passion for classical Indian music, further enriching her community.
Throughout her career, she taught Hindi and music at various schools in Viti Levu, finally retiring in 2009 from Swami Vivekananda College. Following her retirement, she felt a strong desire to continue her education in Hindi, driven by her love for the language since her school days. With the unwavering support of her family, particularly her son Saral, who enrolled her in university, she pursued her passion for learning.
Despite facing challenges, including an illness that interrupted her studies in 2015, Mrs. Dass persevered. In 2020, she re-enrolled at the University of Fiji during the pandemic and successfully completed all her courses within four years.
Her message resonates deeply: the love and preservation of one’s mother language are vital for cultural identity. Mrs. Dass encourages everyone to cherish, study, and embrace their native languages, emphasizing that our culture and language are integral to our identity.
She concludes with an empowering reminder that dreams can be pursued at any age, reinforcing the notion that age truly is just a number.
This remarkable story serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for those who may fear that it is too late to chase their dreams, illustrating that with determination and a supportive environment, anyone can achieve their goals regardless of age.
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