A pensioner has failed his high school exams for the 38th consecutive time - but vowed to continue taking the tests until he dies.
Shiv Charan, 74, learned last week that he had failed in all but one subject in this year's tests.
Despite devoting his life to passing India's year 10 exams, he scored just 14 per cent in English, 17 per cent in science, 5 per cent in mathematics and 25 per cent in Sanskrit.
He only managed to scrape a pass in Hindi, scoring 34 per cent.
Shiv Charan first took the exam in 1969, after vowing not to marry until he had passed, and has entered every year except two since.
He has remained true to his word and is still single, which is now his main motivation.
"As long as I am alive I will go on giving examinations in order to get a wife," he said.
Despite failing across the board he blames mathematics for his poor performance.
"Though this time I failed in almost all the subjects except Hindi, it's the mathematics paper that always drags me down," he said.
Asked if he was ready to give up his quest, he said: "Better to die than go back on your word.
"It is not in my nature to change. I will fulfil my commitment and continue taking the board examinations till I pass, no matter how long it takes.
"For me, success is not merely about clearing the examinations. It will also throw open the doors of marriage."
Lovingly known as Pappu by his 15-year-old classmates, he says he has no regrets about the odd situation he faces every year in the examination halls. "Sometimes invigilators throw me out of the examination halls on the pretext that I am the guardian of a student.
"Whenever I go to the exam centre, people converge in hordes to see me," he said.
When asked which girl he would like to marry, if he clears the examination next year, Pappu said: "Only a girl below 30 will be my wife."
He is a little hard of hearing and age has slowed him down. While he is too weak to continue farming, he has enough stamina to take another exam. A die-hard optimist, Pappu has already started preparing for next year's examination.
"We really want him to pass the examination," said a neighbour in the desert state of Rajasthan.
"He is probably the worst student in the world but God has tested him a lot, now luck should smile on him."
Source