‘Age is Just a Number’: Mauritian Fulfills Promise, Earns PhD at 69

A Mauritian resident in England, Needyanand Raya, has achieved his lifelong academic goal, earning a PhD in Social Policy from Middlesex University at the age of 69.

Dr Raya, also known as Roopsen, fulfilled a promise he made to his father to continue his studies until there were no more exams left to take.

His achievement has garnered attention, with the BBC featuring an article about him on its website, this 26th October.

Education and Background

Originally from Beau-Bassin, Mauritius, Dr Raya moved to London in 1999 to further his education.

He began his studies in the UK at Swansea University, where he earned a Master’s in research methodology with distinction.

• He subsequently obtained a scholarship for a PhD in forensic in mental health, a field in which he then pursued a career.
• He later embarked on the doctorate he ‘always wanted to do’—the PhD in Social Policy, which he completed in 2023. His thesis focused on anthropology.

A former student of New Eton College in Rose-Hill, Mauritius, Dr Raya revealed to the BBC that he had to abandon his studies in Mauritius due to his parents’ inability to afford the costs.

His father worked as a barber and his mother as a domestic helper. He also worked in the local press for a period, driven by a passion for politics, social issues, and an ‘insatiable thirst for learning’.

UK: A ‘Land of Opportunities’

Dr Raya credits the UK as a ‘land of opportunities where dreams can become a reality’. He received unwavering support from his family, including his wife, Lacksoomi, who is a teacher.

His overarching message to others is: ‘Where there is a will, there is a way.’

Source: Defi Media