Jaipur: Tarachand Agarwal, a 71-year-old resident of Jaipur, demonstrated remarkable resilience by passing the rigorous Chartered Accountant (CA) examination. Brilliantly, Agarwal did this not through attending coaching classes but through self-study and willpower. The story of his personal loss and the support of his family, followed by an inspired journey, is a testament to those who are resilient and ready to learn throughout their lives.
Agarwal is a former Assistant General Manager of the State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur; he retired in 2014. In 2020, he lost his wife, Darshana, during the COVID-19 pandemic, which marked a significant shift as he had to confront loneliness. In search of purpose, his children and granddaughter encouraged him to create something meaningful. Against this background, as Agarwal recalls, her granddaughter questioned her why she could not study herself because all she could do was to urge her granddaughter to study. The conversation motivated him to take the CA exam in 2021 and start a new and difficult process.
His life regime was regular but not standard. Agarwal committed to dedicating 2 hours a day (8–10 a.m.) to studying and writing practice. He used to read piles of books on the counter at his son’s general store or dedicate time to study at home. He remained focused until the time he was handling a showroom at the CA Intermediate stage. Agarwal did not give up after the first time taking a final exam. He reformed and prepared better, and he passed the exam on the second attempt.
The narrative of Agarwal has a general message to parents. Most importantly, he said, when a child fails, it is the responsibility of the parents to push him or her to start afresh, not to break down their expectations of the child and allow them to be discouraged. Not only does this success at the age of 71 defy age stereotypes, but it also serves as a source of motivation for anyone pursuing a dream despite facing significant challenges.