Meet the three-time Maharashtra MP who cleared SSC exam at age of 58

Shrirang Barne a 61yearold threetime Member of Parliament MP from Punersquos Maval Lok Sabha constituency is a living testament to the statement lsquosuccess is not determined by academic qualificationsrsquo Barne cleared his SSC board exam at the age of 58 in 2022 Whenever he saw ldquo10th failrdquo in his affidavit he felt he was lagging behindDetermined to change that Barne resumed studies at the age of 58 and successfully cleared his SSC exam When filing his nomination for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections he could finally write lsquoSSC passrsquo in his affidavitmdasha moment of pride for the leaderIn 1980 Barne appeared for his SSC board exam but failed in science subject Over the years he kept the desire to complete his education alive Barne said ldquoI always wanted to complete my education but my busy schedule never allowed it Winning awards and elections felt great but deep inside I knew I had to attain this goalrdquoAt the early days of the COVID19 pandemic in 2019 Barne decided to reappear for the SSC board exam to clear his science paper According to his close associates Barne usually studied at night and whenever he found timePolitical acumenBarne has won three consecutive Lok Sabha elections since 2014 defeating Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawarrsquos son Parth Pawar in 2019 A fivetime recipient of the prestigious Sansad Ratna Award as well as the Maha Sansad Ratna Award he has earned a reputation as one of Indiarsquos most diligent parliamentarians Yet despite his political triumphs one regret lingered in his heart for over 40 yearsmdashnot clearing the Std X examBarnes lack of formal education however never hindered his success He began his political career in 1997 as a corporator in Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation PCMC and served for nearly a decade In 1999 he was elected as the chairman of the Standing Committee demonstrating sharp administrative skills Throughout his career Barne authored five books on politics proving that education is not limited to a classroomDespite lacking formal qualifications he won public admiration for his sharp intellect indepth study of political subjects and powerful speeches His ability to analyse issues articulate viewpoints and connect with people made him a respected figure in political circlesPower of patienceRavindra Namde a close friend of Barne said ldquoThe reason for his success is patience He listens to everyone carefully If anyone gives a suggestion he thinks over it and tries to implement it Secondly he is always available to the people He never misses any phone calls or messages During Parliament sessions he may not be able to pick up calls but he responds later or asks his assistant to attend to them He never discriminates against anyone who comes seeking help He never gets involved in controversies and stays focused on workrdquolsquoBelieve in yourselfrsquoAddressing students taking the SSC and HSC exams the MP said ldquoDo not let exam stress take over your life There will be many more milestonesmdashHSC graduation and beyond Exams are just a stepping stone not the final destination Cultivate resilience explore your potential and face challenges with a calm and composed mind Believe in yourself and success will followrdquoShrirang Barne MP Maval Lok Sabha constituencylsquoI always wanted to complete my education but my busy schedule never allowed it Winning awards and elections felt great but deep inside I knew I had to attain this goalrsquo