Vadodara Woman Fulfils Teenage Dream, Earns PhD in Jainism at 67

Dr Usha Lodaya holds a PhD in Jainism with a focus on the tenets of peace advocated by the religion.

Dr Usha Lodaya earned a PhD in Jainism at 67.

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People say that age is just a number, but Dr Usha Lodaya has truly lived up to the expression. Earning a PhD in Jainism at the age of 67, and fulfilling a teenage dream has made Dr Lodaya a true inspiration for anyone who wants to start something new at this age.

In her younger days, Dr Lodaya wanted to be a medical professional, but had to let go of the dream after getting married at the age of 20 years.

“It was a dream come true. I can now prefix Dr in my name. It took me almost 50 years to achieve something that I had aspired for when I was a teenager. Though not medical but I did get a doctorate degree," said Dr Lodaya to The Times of India.

A resident of Harni Road, Vadodara, Dr Usha has earned her PhD in Janinism from Maharashtra's Shatrunjay Academy. She first completed her bachelors from the same university and then proceeded to pursue her masters in Jainism.

The journey was anything but easy. One and a half year into her PhD, her husband, Khirendra Lodaya passed away. She decided to pick herself up and finished what she had started nevertheless. I took her four years to finish her reasearch and thesis, and it was only recently that she passed her viva too. She says, "The self-imposed lockdown was, in fact, a blessing for me, as I could focus on writing my thesis."

Guided by Dr Jaydarshita Shriji Maharaj who was a professor in a Mumbai University, she also says that her son Bhavesh and her daughter Minal fully supported her dreams.

There were some challenges to attending sessions and classes online, but it was all worth it in the end for Dr Lodaya who plans to get into teaching and help other students who are interested in Jainism.

(With inputs from The Times of India).