CHENNAI: When you first meet him, you will never guess that behind his unassuming facade, VN Parthiban is prolific scholar with a three-digit number of academic degrees to his name. The associate professor and HoD of commerce at RKM Vivekananda College, greets us with a humble wave, handing over his visiting card. We flip it to see 140 academic degrees/diplomas mentioned on the back — that’s right, 140! That’s a lot of studying and examinations! How did he manage to write this many?! He laughs.
“I’m still doing more courses! My passion lies in studying for and writing examinations,” smiles Parthiban. Parthiban finished BCom in 1981, but it was the result of a long struggle, due to family and financial circumstances. Being the family’s first graduate, he scored 59% in his first degree, narrowly missing out on first class. “My mother had a difficult time raising me but she made sure I studied. She was disappointed that I didn’t get first class and therefore I took a vow to make her proud someday,” he says.
And now she is! Parthiban secured a first class in not only two master’s degrees in law alone — property law, human rights and environmental law, but also in MBA (part-time). “My mother cried when she sat in the front row, as I received my medal for MBA first rank,” he smiles.
Studying part-time, and whenever possible, the 56-year old versatile scholar has managed to achieve a range of degrees in various fields — law, business, sociology, science, commerce and arts. How did he manage to get 140 academic degrees in 36 years? “Many are not aware of the fact that there are courses one can do where one need not submit a Transfer Certificate (TC). I have been rotating my TC for the past 36 years through formal professional degree courses, and simultaneously pursuing courses which don’t require a TC as such,” he explains.
He lists some institutes where you can do professional courses without submitting a TC — Indian Law Institute, National Institute of Personnel Management, Indian Statistical Institute, Indian Institute of Industrial Engineering, Loyola Institute of Business Administration — to quote a few.
It wasn’t an easy journey — super-efficient time management and a lot of sacrifices along the way are reasons for Parthiban’s success. “I wake up at 5 am, and am working or studying till 11.30 pm,” he says. Teaching in various institutes, and squeezing study-time in between at libraries or parks, he claims that studying and reading are his only hobbies. “I have just one additional hobby — listening to Kannadasan songs every Sunday from 6 pm to 7 pm. It motivates me,” he laughs.
It is remarkable that he paid for all the courses on his own. “I have been working from 1982. All my salary goes in buying books and examinations, but I am happy,” he says, thanking his mother, his professors, his wife, M Selvakumari for her support, and Swamiji Shukadevananda, the secretary Maharaj of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College for his blessings.
Parthiban has written over seven books and has been recognised and given awards by many private Institutes. “I want some kind of award of recognition from the government, to motivate more people to study,” he says.
Does he have a specific number of academic degrees he’s aiming for? He laughs and adds, “I will surely study till my death, even after I retire as a professor.”
achievements
● 13 Master of Arts
● 8 Master of Commerce
● 4 Master of Science
● 10 Master of Law
● 12 Master of Philosophy (Research Degrees)
● 14 Master of Business Administration
● 20 Professional Courses
● 11 Certificate courses
● 9 PG Diploma courses
● 8 Master Degrees (Labour management, Financial Management, Foreign Trade, Social Work, to name a few)
● and several other Diplomas &
PG Diplomas
Currently pursuing
● PhD in Management
● Insurance course from Insurance Institute of India
● Masters in
Corporate Law
● Masters in Social Development