82-year-old fails 47th time to pass Class 10 exam

By Anil Sharma

Jaipur, June 20 (IANS) Shiv Charan, 82, who appeared in the Rajasthan board's Class 10 exam for the 47th time a few months back, has failed once again.

The results of the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Examination announced on Sunday evening have again shattered his hopes of getting married.

Also known as Sheojiram and Pappu, the resident of Kohari village of Behror town, over 140 km from here, has been taking the test for the last 47 years.

In the early years of his life, he vowed to marry only after getting through the examinations.

"Till the time I am alive I will go on giving the exam," Shiv Charan told IANS on Monday.

Shiv Charan, who now lives in a temple, is fully dependant on old age pension given by the state government.

"It is not just passing the exam. It will also give me an opportunity to get married," he said.

Because of his age, he has problems with his eye sight, hearing and in walking but his passion to pass the exam remains intact.

"In 1995 I passed in almost all subjects except mathematics," he said.

However, this time he was not able to pass in any subject. In some subjects he secured zero marks.

Shiv Charan took his first board exams in 1969. Since then, passing them has become the main aim of his life.