Usha Ray, at the age of 80, has become India’s senior-most MBA graduate. She enrolled for an MBA in Hospital and Healthcare Management at Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth Centre for Online Learning in Pune when she was 77 and completed her final semester exams just weeks after turning 80.
“I feel on top of the world. In the beginning, all the subjects were new to me. I had a background in zoology and had taught biology for decades. Learning economics and statistics was challenging, but I love challenges,” she said from Lucknow.
A Life of Teaching and Leadership
After earning her M.Sc. in zoology at 19, Ray became a teacher, working in India and internationally in England and Yemen. She retired from teaching in 2009. Later, she joined Lovee Shubh Hospital in Lucknow’s Gomtinagar and continued to handle administration and events while seeking new learning opportunities.
“Seeing so many MBAs in interviews at our hospital made me curious. I wanted to understand what an MBA really meant,” she recalls.
Embracing Technology and Learning
Despite not being computer-savvy, Ray bought a laptop and managed the online classes. Her specialization in Hospital Administration and Health Services aligned naturally with her role as CEO. She maintained a rigorous study schedule, working on assignments in the evenings and waking up at 3 a.m. to revise.
“Memory and age were not in my favor. I had to repeat tasks multiple times, but I managed and scored around 80-82 percent in exams,” she said.
Triumph Over Life’s Challenges
Ray is a two-time cancer survivor. In 2003, she battled stage-four chest cancer while in Yemen. The disease returned during COVID-19 in 2020, but she faced it with courage.
“When you overcome setbacks, you become stronger. I have become like an iron lady. If I can beat this disease, I can win any battle,” she said.
Lifelong Learning and Mentorship
Her family and colleagues supported her decision to pursue the MBA. She now mentors and guides others in her hospital, continuing her teaching in a different form. Recently, the university invited her to a webinar and even offered a PhD opportunity, which she declined, saying, “An MBA is enough. I really feel proud of myself.”
Ray plans to return to reading and suggested starting a nursing institute to train students for ANM and GNM tests. “Teaching is in my blood, in any form,” she said.
Advice and Inspiration
She believes in celebrating every day. “Every day I put one feather in my cap. Whatever I do, I do with confidence,” she said. A fan of Amitabh Bachchan, she admires his poise and confidence and watches Kaun Banega Crorepati sparingly.
Her advice to young people is simple: “Do what interests you. Focus on one thing at a time. You can’t cross a river sitting in two boats.”
