Indian woman learned to read and write at the age of 92

As Indian media reported, Salima Khan was born in 1931 and married at the age of 14. There was no school in her village in the state of Uttar Pradesh at the time. But reading and writing had always been her life’s dream, the senior told the Times of India newspaper. Six months ago, it was finally her first day at school, to which her grandson’s wife accompanied the 92-year-old.

Here you see a photo of Salima Khan at school.

Literacy courses for another 25 women
Principal Pratibha Sharma said teachers were initially “hesitant” to teach Khan, but her “passion” eventually convinced everyone. “We didn’t have the heart to turn them down.” Since Khan started school, 25 other women from her village have started literacy courses, including two of her daughters-in-law.

There are still many illiterates in India. According to the 2011 census, the literacy rate is approximately 73 percent. Khan’s story underlines “that the pursuit of knowledge is not limited by age,” says education official Lakshmi Pandey. Volunteers from a government education initiative encouraged Khan to go to school.

Can count up to 100
“My grandchildren always made fun of me by giving them extra money because I couldn’t count the bills. Those times are over,” said the 92-year-old, who can now count to 100.

Here you can see a video of Salima Khan counting.

By the way, the late Kenyan Kimani Ng’ang’a Maruge is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest person to complete primary school. He went to school in 2004 at the age of 84 so he could count money and read the Bible.