Quinquagenarian in Maharashtra clears class 10 exams in 28th attempt

Juggling between work and studies, a 50-year-old peon working with a public heath department, has cleared his class 10th examination in his 28th attempt here.

Avinash Chaugule from Mumbai's Bhandup suburb in Mumbai could not clear senior secondary certificate (SSC) examination as he failed in mathematics paper each time.

When the results were declared on Monday, Chaugule and his family broke into celebrations as he had cleared the examination after almost three decades of hard work.

Chaugule had left his studies midway and joined the state's ministry of public health 25 years ago. He has been working in the same position since. His persistence to get promoted as a clerk in the ministry's office pushed him to clear the exam.

Though the state's education curriculum changed several times in the past three decades since he left school in1987, Chaugule managed to clear his papers solving previous years' question papers rather than referring to text books.

"My father, mother and sisters used to ask me how many times will you appear for the paper. I said until and unless I get rid of mathematics paper. I wanted to get promoted as a clerical. My wife encouraged me. On preparations I collected the questions papers from 2012-2014 and worked on it... In office everyone supported me. My officers, co-workers supported me," said an elated Chaugule.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis contributed to Chaugule's joy by congratulating him on the feat.

"The chief minister greeted and congratulated me," said Chaugule

"Congratulations to our employee from Mantralay Shri Avinash Chaugule to passClass10 board examination at the age of 50," Fadnavis tweeted earlier in the day.

Recalling his days in the school, Chaugule said that children mocked him in the classroom, calling him Uncle.

He spent over Rs.12,000 as fees to appear for the SSC exams over the past three decades.

Chaugule in his initial years had cleared all the subjects except Hindi, English and mathematics. Though he cleared Hindi and English in the subsequent years, it was mathematics which held him back.