Iron Lady.
The WhatsApp moniker I use for my bold 72-year-old grandmother, Mrs Thayammal Paranjothi Pandiyan.
She has an iron will. The kind of resolve required to pursue a law degree when society labeled her “too old,” or when she returned to class just three days after her husband’s death, and passed every paper on her first attempt.
Her life is defined by discipline, hard work and a thirst for knowledge. She earned multiple academic degrees, like Bachelor of Literature (B.Lit) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil), while working full time.“I did not waste my time, studied and received these certificates,” she said.
After retiring in 2012 from three decades of teaching Higher Secondary Tamil and Science, a beach vacation was not on her bucket list. She wanted a law degree. “If I learn law, no one can cheat me,” she said.
Initially, she was considered too old for college. When policy changes later removed these age restrictions, she was reluctant to study law and wanted to solely focus on caring for my grandfather, who battled cancer. He strongly encouraged her to pursue her studies, however, which she finally did in 2023.
“Everyone laughed at me, and were convinced no college would admit me due to my age. So I decided that I would study and prove them wrong”, she said.
My parents, Mr Suresh and Ms Viji, later enrolled her in a college about 20 kilometers from her home in Tirunelveli. “Everyone will come and ask if I was a student, and I felt embarrassed. I let go of that shame though, because I had a desire to learn. Slowly, the students became very affectionate to me,” she said.
But the trials were not over.
During her second year, my grandfather, her greatest source of support, passed away. Struck by grief, she considered quitting. “I am now alone, my children are abroad, so I won’t study anymore,” she said. However, her family refused to let this be the final verdict. “She had a strong desire to learn, so we motivated her to continue,” her daughter-in-law, Ms Viji, said. With their encouragement, she returned to class.
“It is a big inspiration that Ma’am came to college on the third day after Sir’s death. No one will do this. She is a bold lady”, her professor, Ms Subalakshmi, 45, said.
My grandmother studied hard and excelled. Her seminars were interesting and became a class favorite, her classmate Ms Balapriya, 33, noted. She embraced college life and attended field trips, such as to the Madurai High Court which became one of my grandmother’s fondest college memories. “She won’t bother about age, but will mingle with the other students and enjoy with them,” Ms Subalakshmi added.
One of her proudest moments came in her third year, when she went to the Tirunelveli District Court. In every courtroom, she met her former students, now practicing law, who praised and cheered her on. “It was a source of great pride for me,” she reflected.
“Law is a tough subject, and it is a big thing that she cleared all her papers on her first attempt at this age,” Ms Subalakshmi said, calling her “a role model and a gift to the college.” Her impact reaches beyond the classroom too. “She showed me that even in difficult times, one can choose to keep growing. Her decision gave our family strength and hope,” her daughter, Ms Sheela, 47, noted. Though my grandmother is currently taking a break without immediate plans, she may pursue advocacy and become a lawyer in the future.
As I now follow in her footsteps pursuing law, I must forge an iron will of my own. I know that while the path is steep, the strength to climb it has already been passed down to me.
