Curiosity Has No Age: A Student’s Diary

The wooden stairs and dim light at Darbhanga House, Patna look familiar. The building that I used to visit about 24 years ago with three of my best friends while pursuing my Honours degree at Patna College in the year 2000, has not changed a bit. The river-front building, the mighty Ganga in the background, the Raja and Rani Blocks of the grand palace and the famous Kali temple are all the same. But there is something new and ‘not so normal’ about the way I feel today. This is because I am entering the premises of Patna University as a student; a student pursuing a Master’s in Journalism and Mass Communication; a student who is nervous, yet ready to take on the world in her forties—for age is just a number.

Though I have a Master’s degree in Rural Management from Xavier Institute of Social Service, Ranchi, and close to 15 years of experience in the banking and development sectors, I have decided to give myself a second chance by delving into the world of journalism. A degree does matter if you want to be a specialist in a particular field. It not only helps you to learn the nuances of that field but also makes you ‘market ready’. After getting a few of my stories published in leading newspapers and magazines in the last couple of years, I realised that I too could write and express myself in simple words, with empathy and emotions. However, with the passage of time, I learnt that a professional degree comes handy.

Thanks to my family (lineage) of writers, for both my grandfathers were prolific writers. My paternal grandfather was a reporter for Searchlight and Indian Nation and my maternal grandfather had translated Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice into Hindi. My father has been writing for Indian Nation and The Times of India since 1975 and my brother is a script writer for many blockbuster OTT series. So, I guess this was bound to happen.

Let me be frank. Entering the classroom on the first day felt like a nightmare. I had the same feeling that Sanjay Dutt might have experienced in the film Munnabhai MBBS, or Shah Rukh Khan playing a Major in Main Hoon Na, mockingly addressed as ‘uncle’ by some of his younger classmates. In both movies, the protagonists were much older than the average college-goer.

In the films, when they walked into class, their classmates mistook these characters for their professors. I felt the same. Seeing my classmates, most of them half my age, made me nervous. But the huge walls of the classroom and the gothic windows looked familiar and gave me the comfort and the much-needed confidence that ‘I too can do it’. And then there was a round of introductions. I was quiet for a while and listened to others speak. When I gave my introduction, I heard a thunderous round of applause. That was an ice-breaker for me. I could feel my batchmates’ acceptance and that was enough to boost my confidence.

My professors are either my age or slightly younger than me. But I respect them and talk to them in the same manner as any other student would do. I am learning many things and unlearning a lot, daily. And the fight to fit in is always there. From being addressed as ‘Kaveri Madam’ to ‘Kaveri ji’ to finally being called ‘didi’, makes me feel good. I look forward to attending my classes as 75 per cent attendance is mandatory.

This was not a decision taken in an instant. A lot of thought went into it. When I cleared the interview for admission and finally got selected for the two-year course, my eldest child was in her 10th grade. For all of us, this was a very crucial year. I was not very sure of my decision to pursue the degree. My thanks to my children, my biggest cheer leaders; and to my parents, who gave me the green signal to go ahead and do what I love doing.

Yes, there are days when the juggling becomes too much, but ‘I have to finish what I started’. This mantra keeps me going. Studying at this age is a cumbersome task, especially if you have to look after your kids and your family, and run many errands.

Along with theory classes, I have lectures on photography and design to attend. But what is life without challenges? With a supportive ambience, studying late at night and getting up early in the morning, this imposing-looking task has become easier.

I do not know what the future holds for me. Will I be able to get my dream job or will I continue working as a freelance writer...I am pretty sure about one thing though. I will walk with a lot more confidence now, aware of the theories of journalism coined by Sebastian Schramm and Marshall McLuhan; of development communication; of journalism ethics; of design; and of much more. I am slowly trying to understand many things that once seemed like jargon to me.

And yes, getting a degree in your forties is definitely an achievement!

Kaveri Mishra is an ex-banker and freelance writer

This article is part of 카지노 Magazine's July 1, 2025 issue, 'Pre-emptive Unprovoked', which explores India’s fragile borderlands and the human cost of conflict. It appeared in print as 'A Student’s Diary'.