Age is no barrier: 89-year-old Krishnan from Tamil Nadu learns wife’s mother tongue Malayalam and takes exam

Proving that it’s never late to learn, M Krishnan from Adyar in Chennai, recently studied Malayalam and sat for an exam alongside enthusiastic children at the Chennai Malayalam Mission’s learning festival on Sunday. Despite being 89, he joined the youngsters, sharing in their excitement with stories, songs and lively participation.

Krishnan, a native of Tamil Nadu, retired as a superintendent from Madras IIT. His wife, Saraswati, retired from the State Bank of India, hails from Guruvayur in Kerala. His interest in Malayalam grew from her influence. Not only did he want to read and write in the language, but he also set his sights on passing an official examination. This determination led him to the Malayalam Mission classes for non-residents.

Krishnan joined the Malayalam Mission learning centre at the Kerala Samajam in Thiruvanmiyur in 2021. After completing his primary studies, he successfully passed the first exam. Continuing his studies with dedication, he was ready to attempt the Suryakanthi exam, which he said he completed very well. The next milestone is the Ambal exam, and the final level is the Neelakkurinji, the Kerala government-recognised language proficiency test.

Krishnan was not alone at the Chennai exam centre. Other senior citizens, including Neena Gopalakrishnan (67), Usha (54) and Shailaja Mohandas (66), also took the Suryakanthi exam on Sunday, showing that learning has no age limit.