Guwahati / Shillong — At 58, when most peers consider retirement, Assam’s Parthapratim Goswami has embarked on a bold new journey—as a law student. After 35 years in banking and the heartbreak of losing his wife, Goswami decided against a quiet retirement. Instead, he packed his books and enrolled in law school at a university in Meghalaya, finding himself in classrooms with students younger than his own children.
A Surprise First Day
The moment Goswami walked into the lecture hall, heads turned. Students mistook him for a guest lecturer or visiting professor. With a nervous smile, he reassured them: “Please sit down. I am a student like you.”
This simple scene captures his powerful choice—to stand beside the next generation of learners rather than be left behind by age norms.
Challenging Retirement Norms
In India, where life expectancy now averages around 70, most retire by 60 and face years of idle time. Goswami refuses to accept that life ends at 60. “Pension is given so that you enjoy your life,” he says.
What started as preparation for golf memberships or leisurely days for his peers turned into a profound decision for him: a three-year law degree, pursued with purpose.
A Career Born of Love
Goswami’s journey began decades ago—fresh out of an agricultural science degree in Maharashtra in 1989. He fell in love with Abha, a woman from Madhya Pradesh. Despite societal pressures, he dared to forge a path. Determined to win her hand, he cleared one of India’s toughest banking exams and began a 35-year-long career that took him from Cochin to Guwahati via Nashik, Delhi, Jorhat, Shillong, Ranchi, Dimapur, and more.
In 1992, he married Abha, and the two navigated transfers, responsibilities, and life’s ups and downs together—until tragedy struck in 2023, when he lost her.
Law Was Always in His Mind
Even during his banking years, Goswami had a fascination with law, political issues, and justice. He noticed a critical gap: “Many advocates know basic law but aren’t clear about banking or corporate law, and struggle to present effectively,” he observed.
India’s legal sector, especially in corporate litigation, is booming. Yet legal professionals with deep knowledge of both finance and law are rare—a niche Goswami believes he can fill.
A Life Reboot with Purpose
Now, every morning, he joins classes alongside 21- or 22-year-olds—students young enough to be his children. His own children have cheered him on: his son, Digvijay, now a tech entrepreneur who studied at Harvard Business School, and his daughter, Shristi, a Chevening Scholar based in Mumbai. When he finally decided to go ahead with law school, they were surprised—but supportive.
Shristi’s Instagram post when she dropped him off went viral—with 70,000 views. “I just dropped Papa off at college,” she wrote. He asked her, “What if I feel embarrassed?” After a pause, he added, “There’s no shame in learning.”
Setting Ego Aside
Transitioning from managing hundreds—or even thousands—of people as a banker to being a first-year law student required humility. “Sometimes we carry egos thinking, ‘I once had 1,500 people reporting to me,’” Goswami reflects. “But now I’m just a student. I live in the present.”
That humility is his strength—and a lesson for us all: growth doesn’t retire.
Looking Ahead
With a law degree in hand, Goswami hopes to channel his banking expertise into practice—especially areas like corporate finance, banking law, and compliance. He envisions a long, engaging career ahead, using these 15+ years post-retirement to actively contribute rather than coast through life.
His story is a stirring reminder that age is not a barrier but a backdrop to the chapters we choose to write next.
Key Takeaways
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| New Journey Begins | At 58, Parthapratim Goswami starts law school |
| Previous Career | 35 years in banking across India |
| Trigger | Losing his wife, lifelong interest in law |
| Classroom Dynamics | Surrounded by students young enough to be his children |
| Family Support | Encouraged by son and daughter; viral Instagram moment |
| Vision for Future | Merge legal training with banking experience to add professional value |