At an age when most people slow down, Usha Ray decided to begin again. At 80, she has made history by becoming India’s oldest woman to earn an MBA, proving that age, illness, or obstacles can never limit the human spirit.
Enrolled in the MBA in Hospital and Healthcare Management program at Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth Centre for Online Learning (DPU-COL), Pune, Usha completed her degree this year after turning 80 — all while continuing her work at Lovee Shubh Hospital in Lucknow.
Her remarkable achievement is not just academic — it’s a story of resilience, self-belief, and lifelong learning.
From Classroom to Comeback
Usha Ray has lived a life devoted to education. A former teacher with degrees in Zoology (1966) and Education (1978), she taught both in India and abroad. But after decades of nurturing others, she felt a void.
“An empty mind is the devil’s workshop,” she recalls. “I would come home in the evenings after work and feel I was wasting my mind. So I decided to study again—for myself.”
In April 2023, at the age of 77, she enrolled for an MBA — diving into a digital classroom she had never experienced before.
Learning in the Digital Age
Technology was her biggest challenge.
“I didn’t even know how to use a laptop,” she admits. “But I bought one, practised every day, and learned. I wasn’t going to let that stop me.”
With the help of DPU’s online learning system, she attended evening lectures, reviewed recorded sessions, and balanced her job and studies. Her perseverance turned her into a student again — decades after her last degree.
Beating Cancer — Twice
Usha’s strength goes beyond academics. She survived stage-four cancer in 2003, and when it returned in 2020, she fought again — and won again.
“This gave me motivation,” she says. “God gives us problems, but He also helps us solve them.”
Her fight against cancer shaped her decision to study hospital management — a field close to her heart and her experiences.
Inspiring Generations
Usha’s teachers and peers describe her as an inspiration.
“She is a living example of courage and determination,” says Dr. Safia Farooqui, Director of DPU-COL. “At 79, she showed us that the passion for learning has no boundaries.”
Her story is now inspiring people across India — especially women, professionals, and senior citizens who gave up on dreams long ago.
Usha’s message to them is simple:
“If I can do it at 80, why can’t you?”
Dreams Still Alive
Even after achieving this milestone, Usha isn’t done yet. She now plans to pursue a PhD in Healthcare Management, continuing her journey of learning and giving back.
Her words echo the essence of her life:
“Whatever God gives you, be happy. Don’t stop. Keep moving forward and keep learning.”
At 80, Usha Ray is not just India’s oldest MBA — she’s a symbol of timeless ambition and unstoppable courage.
