74-year-old man fails school exams for 38 years

An Indian man of pensionable age has failed every school exam for 38 years. While it is impressive that he has never passed, his never-give-up spirit is truly remarkable.

For more details, see below. Pensioner fails school exams for 38th year - Telegraph

Shiv Charan, 74, has devoted much of his life to passing his high school (10th grade) exams, but this year he failed all but one subject. He managed to pass Hindi with a 34% mark, but only got 14% in English, 17% in science, 25% in Sanskrit, and 5% in mathematics. Still, Shiv is taking the exams because he has vowed not to marry until he passes, and he has been taking them every year since 1969.

'I would rather die than take back what I said,' Shiv said.

He remains single to this day, and that motivates him to take exams. 'I will continue taking exams as long as I live so I can get a wife,' Shiv said. His 15-year-old classmates affectionately call him Pappu, but he once reportedly got banned from the exam hall after mistaking him for a student's parent.

Shiv is a little hard of hearing and can no longer move quickly, but he continues to work on the farm, so he has enough stamina to take the exam. He has already started preparing for next year's exam, and says, 'I want a wife under 30 years old.'