PIPA DADA --appeared for his higher secondary certificate (HSC) exam

Senior citizen in Mumbai writes HSC exam Published: Wednesday, Mar 16, 2011, 23:22 IST By Yogita Rao | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

Sixty-eight-year-old Govind G Dabholkar, grandfather of two, appeared for his higher secondary certificate (HSC) examination in commerce this year. He appeared for his last paper on Wednesday at a centre in Lalbaug, in a class full of 18-year-olds. Dabholkar is the grandson of Govind R Dabholkar, popularly known as Hemadpant, who penned Sri Sai Satcharita, the Marathi biography of Shirdi Sai Baba. While his grandfather was a magistrate, the junior Dabholkar could not clear his first year in junior college and discontinued studies. After clearing his exam in radiotelephony, he joined an airline company. He retired as deputy manager (flight operations) in Indian Airlines and now keeps himself busy with social work. A staunch follower of Anirudhha Bapu, a local godman, Dabholkar observed that most of Bapu’s followers are learned and educated, and so decided to appear for his board exams so he could pursue his higher studies. Dabholkar, who resides in Sai Niwas in Bandra, is known as Appa Dabholkar. “Our family is known for our devotion to Shirdi Sai. I decided to continue to my studies under his blessings. There is no age bar for completing education in life. So I took coaching from a couple of lecturers at Chetana College and registered as a private candidate from a junior college in Tardeo,” he said. He appeared for his papers from his centre at VL Nappu High School and Junior College, Chinchpokli. “I wish to complete my graduation in commerce and may continue to pursue studies further. Members in my family are all well-educated, but I never got a chance to continue my studies. After getting a job, I got married and settled with my wife and children and got busy with family life. There were property-related court cases that I had to fight. My wife has expired and my children have settled in life now. With Bapu’s blessings, I wish to clear the exams with good scores,” said Dabholkar.

'Radioactive' alerts spread panic

MUMBAI: Even as Japan faces a nuclear crisis, mobile phones in Mumbai have started beeping with bogus SMSes warning of radioactive rain. This is not the first time that fear-mongering text messages have done the rounds of the city. When the AIDS epidemic was at its height, chain mails warned of deadly syringes filled with infected blood that were being kept on dimly lit seats at cinema theatres. They spread panic among citizens. Do these messages have a noble aim or is unrest their only agenda? While sociologists and doctors say that urban legends usually have a social message, it is often exaggerated and not medically true. Consider the Japan-centric SMS which reads: "There was a nuclear blast at 4.30 pm on Sunday in Fukushima, Japan. If it rains today or in the next few days, do not go under the rain (sic)." The reason? "Radioactive particles which cause burns, alopecia or even cancer may be in the rains."