Pathanamthitta: Age and time could not hold back Parameswaran Pillai, a determined 71-year-old from Haripad Thannikal House, as he rekindled his passion for learning. In a story reminiscent of Santiago from The Alchemist, Parameswaran’s unwavering desire to pursue education saw him return to studies—this time as a student at Chenneerkara Government ITI.

Parameswaran enrolled in the Computer Operating and Programming Assistant course alongside 20 younger classmates, starting his lessons on October 30. However, his journey to the classroom was not without hurdles. The deadline to pay the course fee was September 30, and Parameswaran arrived 15 minutes late. Disappointed, he left, but received a call the following day informing him that the fee deadline had been extended by a month. This time, he returned with his fee and a certificate of enrollment, with the staff even waiving the fee as a gesture of affection and respect.

"I'm studying because I don’t want to sit idle in life, and I believe I can still work based on what I learn here," said Parameswaran. His thirst for knowledge didn’t stop with just one course. Alongside his ITI studies, Parameswaran is also pursuing a B.Com degree through IGNOU and has previously passed his Plus Two Equivalency Exam in 2018.

Though his initial plans to pursue Electrical and Electronics at Sree Narayana Polytechnic College were thwarted by financial difficulties, Parameswaran has never let obstacles stop him. He ran a financial consultancy in Chandigarh from 1977 to 1997. Even after returning to his hometown, he continued working as a machinist in various companies but always kept his dream of further education alive. He later worked as a Mathrubhumi agent between 2016 and 2018.

The Vice-Principal of Chenneerkara ITI, Annamma Varghese, praised Parameswaran for his determination and said that his passion for learning made him a standout student, marking a historic moment for the institution as the oldest student to ever enroll.