Jharkhand education minister replies to detractors with video of him studying

BOKARO: State education minister Jagarnath Mahto, who made headlines nationally in August after he took admission to finish his schooling, said he is juggling between official, political work and his studies.
The 53-year-old minister enrolled himself in Class XI arts at Devi Mahto Inter College at Nawadih on August 10. He had passed his Class X examination in 1995.Mahto decided to complete the course after he was being often criticized by opposition politicians and people in general for taking up the education portfolio without a higher degree.
On Wednesday, Mahto posted a video on his verified Twitter handle where he was seen studying his textbook while travelling in a car to Upperghat at Nawadih in Dumri, his assembly constituency, to lay the foundation for several projects.
His tweet read, "People often ask me how when will I study for my intermediate course? How will I study for it? This (video) is for them. I have bought my books. I study whenever I get time, irrespective of the place I am in. I draw inspiration from many great people, who have studied sitting next to the streets, under streetlights and at the railway stations."
Mahto also said he draws inspiration particularly from the late Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri, who made sincere efforts to study. "Our former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri had only one garment and he had to cross a river on the way to school every day. He used to take off all his clothes and put them in a bag, swam across the river and then went to school after wearing clothes. If he can study after facing hardships, why can’t I while travelling in my car?"
He added: "I will prove my opponents wrong and I will score good marks in the intermediate examination. Just wait and watch."
Mahto’s aides said he is very serious about his studies. "He studies whenever he gets time. We have been instructed to not disturb him while he is studying on the move. He has also started keeping his phone in silent mode to avoid distractions," one of Mahto’s security personnel said.