First Naari Shakti Puraskar Awardee Bhageerathi Amma passes away at 107

By: WE Staff | Friday, 23 July 2021

Bhageerathi Amma, Kerala's oldest learner who passed the literacy examination at the age of 105 two years ago and won Prime Minister Narendra Modi's praise, passed away, according to family sources. She was 107 years old when she died late Thursday night at her home from age-related ailments, according to her family.

The centenarian, who hails from Prakkulam in Kollam district, was awarded the prestigious Nari Shakti Puraskar by the Central government for her exceptional contribution to women's empowerment.

She made history in 2019 by becoming the oldest student to pass the fourth standard equivalency examination administered by the state-run Kerala State Literacy Mission (KSLM).

The woman took the state literacy mission's examination in Kollam and passed with flying colours, scoring 205 out of a possible 275 points and receiving full marks in math.

According to KSLM sources, Bhageerathi Amma had difficulty writing the exams due to her advanced age and took three days to complete the three question papers on environment, mathematics, and Malayalam.

After her mother died, the woman, who had always wanted to study and learn, had to give up her dream of educating herself because she needed to care for her younger siblings.

Bhageerathi Amma dropped out of formal education in class three when she was nine years old.

Her dedication to her studies had earned her praise from none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi.          

Modi said in his radio address last year, while narrating the storey of Bhagirathi Amma,"If we wish to progress in life, we should develop ourselves, if we wish to achieve something in life, the first pre-condition for that is the student within us must never die."  According to family sources, she left without completing her dream of passing the 10th standard equivalency exam.

Modi said in his radio address last year, while narrating the storey of Bhagirathi Amma,"If we wish to progress in life, we should develop ourselves, if we wish to achieve something in life, the first pre-condition for that is the student within us must never die."  According to family sources, she left without completing her dream of passing the 10th standard equivalency exam.

Bhageerathi Amma has a total of 12 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.They added that one of her six children and three of her fifteen grandchildren had died.

Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor expressed his condolences on the centenarian's death. He wrote, “One of the winners of the First Naari Shakti Puraskar, Smt Bhageerathi Amma, known fondly as Akshara Muthashi, or Literacy Grandmother, passed away in Kollam, Kerala, at 107. She was an inspiration to millions. Om Shantihi!”

According to reports, Bhageerathi Amma's funeral will be held in Kollam, with state honours.