ZODIN SANGA
AIZAWL, April 5: Lalringthara, a
73-year-old man in New Hruaikawn
village in eastern Mizoram’s Champhai
district, is a living proof that it is
never too late to learn.
The septuagenarian has just been
enrolled in the village’s only middle
school in the 5th standard to fulfil his
lifetime desire to go back to school.
Vanlalkima, the headmaster (incharge)
of the government-run
school, said Lalringthara has a great
passion for learning. He is always
thirsty for knowledge, to learn something
new. Last year, he had applied
for admission. I told him to wait for
the new session, he said.
He is an inspiration and a challenge to both students and teachers alike. I
am happy to be able to help him fulfil
his dreams, Vanlalkima added.
Born in 1945 at Khuangleng village
near the Indo-Myanmar border,
Lalringthara could not continue his
education after Class II as his father
passed away when he was just two
years of age. Having no sibling, he
had to help his mother in the jhum
fields right from a tender age.
After moving from one place to another,
Lalringthara finally settled at New
Hruaikawn village in 1995. He has been
working as chowkidar in the local Presbyterian
church to earn his living.
Lalringthara can read and write in
the Mizo language. He has read the
Old Testament 14 times and the New
Testament 16 times.
I have no problem in reading and
writing in the Mizo language. One of
my motives for going back to school
is to learn some English so that I can
write an application in English and
understand the English news on television,
he said.
Lalringthara sits in the classroom
with other children who are more
than 60 years younger than him. He
will be provided with school uniform
and textbooks soon.
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