Mumbai-based taxi driver Mohammad Farook Shaikh recently completed his graduation along with his son. Shaikh graduated from Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University in Maharashtra, with a Bachelors degree in Commerce.
“There is no age for learning. When I went to college, everyone was so much younger than me. I loved going there. Everyone would call me, ‘Uncle’,” said Shaikh, who scored 49 percent marks. Shaikh earlier used to work as a junior clerk, however, he was forced out of his job when his company suffered financial losses. Eventually, he started working as a taxi driver, which irked him, having done his schooling from an English-medium institution.
“I started by giving an exam near Crawford market. They checked if I was even eligible for further studies. Gradually, my interest in further studies started to climb,” says Shaikh, who now wants to get a Masters degree in hopes of better job opportunities.
It was his son, Hazim Farook Shaikh, who helped him through college, as he couldn’t be regular with classes due to his duties as cab driver. “I’m very happy that we graduated together. I would take regular classes while he couldn’t, so I would help with any doubts that he had,” said Hazim, who scored 56 percent marks.
(With inputs from ANI)
