Mysore/Mysuru: Though 8,338 students received their degrees at the 17th Convocation of Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) in city yesterday, two of them caught the attention of the audience by proving ‘anyone who keeps learning stays young.’

The 81-year-old Srinivasa Murthy of Bengaluru and 75-year-old N. Sridhar of Mysuru are the duo who received their Post Graduate (PG) degrees in Kannada and Sanskrit respectively.

The two senior citizens, sort of shamed the youngsters who are least bothered in studies, by showcasing their interest in learning new subjects. The duo proved that learning is a continuous and joyous process and age is no barrier to learn something new.

Srinivasa Murthy preferred to enrich his knowledge in his mother- tongue Kannada while Sridhar pursued Sanskrit. When these two veterans received their MA certificates and special cash awards from Governor-Chancellor Thaawarchand Gehlot yesterday, the audience gave a thunderous applaud.

Srinivasa Murthy

Srinivasa Murthy, a resident of Bengaluru, is basically from Davangere. A retired engineer, he got enrolled in KSOU Regional Centre in the year 2019-20 and obtained MA in Kannada by securing 67%. Srinivasa Murthy, who is a relative of noted Kannada poet H.S. Venkatesh Murthy, had earlier joined KSOU in 2016-17 to study Sanskrit but later switched over to his mother-tongue Kannada.

“I used to study for 8 hours a day and make notes. Initially I was finding it difficult to write but didn’t give up and practised by writing two pages a day to increase my writing speed. T.N. Srikantaiah’s Kavya Meemamse was my favourite text. I studied moderately and wrote the examination,” said                                     Srinivasa Murthy.

N. Sridhar

N. Sridhar, a resident Hebbal 2nd Stage in city, is a graduate from NIE (National Institute of  Engineering). He retired as Chief Engineer with Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). He joined KSOU in 2019-20 in Mysuru to study MA in Sanskrit and passed out in first class securing  72% marks.

“I wanted to know more about culture and tradition; hence I chose Sanskrit. I have learnt many things now. Sanskrit is necessary to know more about Veda, Upanishad and Indian Culture. Study of Sanskrit should be encouraged at Schools and Colleges and youths must develop interest to know more about our culture,” he opined.