Raebareli's 70-year-old Rajaram Maurya Returns To High School To Learn Pali And Connect With Roots
From PNB cashier to Pali scholar: Rajaram Maurya’s quest to read the edicts of Ashoka.
Published : April 25, 2026 at 1:14 PM IST
Raebareli: Driven by the passion of reading and comprehending the Pali-language inscriptions left by Chandragupta Maurya and Emperor Ashoka, a 70-year-old resident of the Raebareli district in Uttar Pradesh - Rajaram Maurya - has resorted to his high school examinations.
The septuagenarian successfully passed the High School examination in Pali with an impressive score of 86 percent. His spirit and determination are truly commendable.
Rajaram, explains that he is originally a native of Moga, Punjab. He was born on December 11, 1956. He completed his undergraduate studies at Punjab University, Chandigarh, and completed his postgraduate studies at Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla.
Despite his well-educated background, he always harboured a deep desire to gain a profound understanding of his roots and the history of his ancestors — specifically Chandragupta Maurya and Emperor Ashoka Maurya.
Rajaram Maurya explains, "The inscriptions left by my ancestors — Emperor Chandragupta Maurya and Emperor Ashoka Maurya—are written in the Pali language. The curiosity to personally read and comprehend the contents of those inscriptions inspired me to become a student once again, even at this advanced age."
He specifically chose to study the Pali language because of this historical connection. Rajaram Maurya shares that he began his career on March 5, 1981, as a Clerk-cum-Cashier at Punjab National Bank (PNB). Throughout his tenure, he discharged his duties in various cities including Raebareli and ultimately retired on December 31, 2016, from the PNB Staff Training Center located in Vibhuti Khand, Gomti Nagar (Lucknow).
His entire family is deeply dedicated to the pursuit of education. Together with his wife, Anju Bala, he has guided their children to achieve high professional positions. His eldest daughter, Aarti Maurya, serves as a Headmistress in Kanpur Dehat.
His second daughter, Meenakshi, is a teacher at a Kendriya Vidyalaya, while his third daughter, Binu, works as an Assistant Teacher. His son, Amit Vikram, is a Senior Engineer, while his daughter-in-law, Lovely, works in an HR role at a company in Bengaluru in Karnataka. His youngest daughter, Dolly, is a teacher at a prestigious school in Lucknow.
Rajaram — who first passed his High School examination in 1974 with 62% marks — notes that the education system has undergone significant changes between then and now. Previously, answers were descriptive in nature, making it difficult to secure high marks; however, the introduction of objective-type questions has now made it easier to achieve good scores.
Through this success, Rajaram Maurya has delivered the message that education is not bound by caste, religion, or age. If one possesses the passion to learn, new horizons of knowledge can be explored even after retirement. Today, not only Raebareli but the entire Uttar Pradesh is applauding his sheer determination.
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