In an inspiring story from Rajasthan's Jaipur, 71-year-old Tarachand Agarwal has successfully cleared the Chartered Accountancy (CA) exam, a tough challenge even for younger aspirants. A retired banker, Tarachand proved that age is no barrier when one is determined to achieve something big.
From Bank Career to Books Again
Tarachand was born in Sangria, Hanumangarh, into a large family. He completed his studies in Rajasthan and later joined the State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur (now SBI) as a clerk in 1976. After serving for 38 years, he retired in 2014 as an assistant general manager.
Life took a quiet turn after the passing of his wife in 2020. Struggling with grief and loneliness, he turned to spiritual reading, especially the Bhagavad Gita, which helped him reconnect with learning.
A New Goal After 70
While discussing the idea of pursuing a PhD with his children, they encouraged him to take up something even more challenging — the CA exam. His granddaughter's words deeply moved him: "If you can guide me, why not do it yourself?"
With their support, Tarachand registered for the CA course in July 2021. He cleared the foundation level in May 2022 and the intermediate level by January 2023. Although he couldn’t clear the finals on his first attempt in May 2024, he passed successfully in July 2025.
Learning Without Limits
Tarachand studied up to 10 hours daily, managing age-related challenges like shoulder pain and long writing sessions. He used books, YouTube tutorials, and his own discipline—without any coaching. At times, he studied at his younger son's shop to avoid being alone at home.
"Both his sons are working — the elder one is a chartered accountant, and the younger one is a tax consultant in Delhi. They played a key role in motivating him throughout the journey.
A Lesson from the Gita
Tarachand says he owes his success to a value he learnt early on: do every task with complete dedication. "That’s what the Gita taught me," he said proudly.
