Shiv Singh scored 44.83% in first attempt after decades.
By Sreekanth A. Nair
Shiv Singh, the mayor of Bharatpur Corporation in Rajasthan, cleared his Class X Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) exams on Sunday.
The 52-year-old politician scored 44.83% marks in his first attempt after decades, reported The Times of India.
Singh decided to attempt Class X examination after the Rajasthan government led by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia decided to make it compulsory criteria for contesting the local body elections.
Singh had to stop pursuing an education in 1971 after passing class VIII due to some personal reasons. After enrolling as a private candidate, Singh attended special coaching classes held for weak students. He also hired a tutor for English and Mathematics.
“Being a mayor, I hardly got time for studies during day hours. I studied for two hours daily at night. I got time in the night to study as I have a lot of work to do in the day,” Singh told The Times of India.
“Recently, I got a chance to visit a foreign country but I was unable to speak in English. I felt very bad,” he added.
The businessman-turned-politician contested the municipal election in 2004 and elected the chairman of the municipality. In 2014, he became the first mayor of Bharatpur when it was declared a municipality.
“I feel motivated after the results are announced. Now, I plan to apply for Class XI. Being a mayor, it was tough to find time to study. It was also very challenging to study after nearly 40 years,” he told Deccan Herald.