Mother and son graduate together from IIT Madras at 45 and 21
At the IIT Madras convocation, Jigisha Tailor and her son Aditya Kapadia received degrees from the same online data science programme together. The unexpected moment capped a journey of shared study, family support and friendly competition.
On the convocation stage, what could only be imagined became a reality this time at IIT Madras's latest convocation. It was on that stage that Jigisha Tailor, 45, and her son Aditya Kapadia, 21, stepped up together to receive degrees from the same programme.
The unusual moment took place during the recent IIT Madras convocation, where mother and son shared the stage after completing the institute's online Data Science programme.
According to The Indian Express, although both earned their degrees from the same programme, neither had planned to graduate together.
The convocation ceremony celebrated students from different academic programmes, including the institute's online BS in Data Science and Applications.
During the event, graduates received their degrees in the presence of faculty members, families and guests. For Jigisha and Aditya, the ceremony became even more memorable when they were invited to collect their degrees together, creating a rare moment for the family.
Jigisha had taught electronics at an engineering college in Bharuch, Gujarat, for 16 years. In 2019, she left her job because of family responsibilities.
Three years later, she returned to studies after her son encouraged her to enrol in IIT Madras's online programme.
Aditya enrolled in IIT Madras's online BS in Data Science and Applications in 2021 when he was 18. The Covid-19 pandemic had forced colleges across the country to shift to online learning.
"It was Covid time when I was entering college," Aditya told The Indian Express. "So if I did a regular course from any IIT, or even MIT or Stanford, it would have been online only."
He said he chose the programme because he was interested in data science and artificial intelligence.
At the time, students in the online programme also had to remain enrolled in a physical college.
Aditya joined a diploma course at a college in Ahmedabad while pursuing the IIT Madras programme. Later, after the IIT Madras Senate recognised the BS degree as equivalent to a regular four-year programme, he left the diploma course and continued only with IIT Madras.
Jigisha first watched her son study from home. She saw subjects such as statistics and computer systems, which were related to her background in electronics but also introduced new concepts.
Aditya repeatedly encouraged her to join the programme, and she finally enrolled towards the end of 2022.
She attended live doubt-clearing sessions organised by the institute and also received support through a WhatsApp group created by her classmates. Unlike her son, who handled a heavier workload, she chose to study only one or two subjects each semester.
Aditya said this flexibility was one of the strengths of the programme because working professionals and learners returning to education could complete the course at their own pace.
Jigisha followed a disciplined routine. She woke up at around 4:30 am and studied until 7 am before starting household work. She continued studying again in the afternoon after finishing her daily responsibilities.
"Many of our relatives would say, 'Why are you studying now? Why do you want a job?'" she told The Indian Express. "I would tell them that I want to do something different."
However, her family supported her throughout the journey. Her husband, who is also a college professor, encouraged her whenever she felt stressed.
As time passed, mother and son became study partners and also friendly competitors.
"There was a sense of competition, like who would score an A or an S," Aditya told The Indian Express.
An 'S' grade is the highest distinction in the programme and is generally awarded to the top-performing students. An 'A' grade is also a high distinction but ranks below an 'S'.
Whenever one of them earned a better grade, the other became more determined to do the same. Since Aditya had started earlier, he also guided his mother by explaining upcoming subjects, viva examinations and online proctored tests.
Aditya completed his BS degree in 2024. He later joined Syngenta as a data science intern and was eventually offered a full-time position.
Jigisha also completed her programme around the same period but decided to postpone her job search because her younger son is now studying in Class 12. She wants to support him during this important stage of his education.
She is also thinking about returning to teaching. Her husband has suggested that she take guest lectures at his college.
The most memorable moment came during the IIT Madras convocation.
According to The Indian Express, a classmate who learned about their story during a pre-convocation dinner helped arrange for them to receive their degrees together. Jigisha received her diploma while Aditya received his BS degree.
Neither of them expected it. They had even been seated separately because BS and diploma students were in different sections.
For Aditya, watching his mother return to studies became an inspiration.
He said the experience strengthened their relationship. Spending time together as fellow students allowed him to see another side of his mother.
On the convocation stage, what could only be imagined became a reality this time at IIT Madras's latest convocation. It was on that stage that Jigisha Tailor, 45, and her son Aditya Kapadia, 21, stepped up together to receive degrees from the same programme.
The unusual moment took place during the recent IIT Madras convocation, where mother and son shared the stage after completing the institute's online Data Science programme.
According to The Indian Express, although both earned their degrees from the same programme, neither had planned to graduate together.
The convocation ceremony celebrated students from different academic programmes, including the institute's online BS in Data Science and Applications.
During the event, graduates received their degrees in the presence of faculty members, families and guests. For Jigisha and Aditya, the ceremony became even more memorable when they were invited to collect their degrees together, creating a rare moment for the family.
Jigisha had taught electronics at an engineering college in Bharuch, Gujarat, for 16 years. In 2019, she left her job because of family responsibilities.
Three years later, she returned to studies after her son encouraged her to enrol in IIT Madras's online programme.
Aditya enrolled in IIT Madras's online BS in Data Science and Applications in 2021 when he was 18. The Covid-19 pandemic had forced colleges across the country to shift to online learning.
"It was Covid time when I was entering college," Aditya told The Indian Express. "So if I did a regular course from any IIT, or even MIT or Stanford, it would have been online only."
He said he chose the programme because he was interested in data science and artificial intelligence.
At the time, students in the online programme also had to remain enrolled in a physical college.
Aditya joined a diploma course at a college in Ahmedabad while pursuing the IIT Madras programme. Later, after the IIT Madras Senate recognised the BS degree as equivalent to a regular four-year programme, he left the diploma course and continued only with IIT Madras.
Jigisha first watched her son study from home. She saw subjects such as statistics and computer systems, which were related to her background in electronics but also introduced new concepts.
Aditya repeatedly encouraged her to join the programme, and she finally enrolled towards the end of 2022.
She attended live doubt-clearing sessions organised by the institute and also received support through a WhatsApp group created by her classmates. Unlike her son, who handled a heavier workload, she chose to study only one or two subjects each semester.
Aditya said this flexibility was one of the strengths of the programme because working professionals and learners returning to education could complete the course at their own pace.
Jigisha followed a disciplined routine. She woke up at around 4:30 am and studied until 7 am before starting household work. She continued studying again in the afternoon after finishing her daily responsibilities.
"Many of our relatives would say, 'Why are you studying now? Why do you want a job?'" she told The Indian Express. "I would tell them that I want to do something different."
However, her family supported her throughout the journey. Her husband, who is also a college professor, encouraged her whenever she felt stressed.
As time passed, mother and son became study partners and also friendly competitors.
"There was a sense of competition, like who would score an A or an S," Aditya told The Indian Express.
An 'S' grade is the highest distinction in the programme and is generally awarded to the top-performing students. An 'A' grade is also a high distinction but ranks below an 'S'.
Whenever one of them earned a better grade, the other became more determined to do the same. Since Aditya had started earlier, he also guided his mother by explaining upcoming subjects, viva examinations and online proctored tests.
Aditya completed his BS degree in 2024. He later joined Syngenta as a data science intern and was eventually offered a full-time position.
Jigisha also completed her programme around the same period but decided to postpone her job search because her younger son is now studying in Class 12. She wants to support him during this important stage of his education.
She is also thinking about returning to teaching. Her husband has suggested that she take guest lectures at his college.
The most memorable moment came during the IIT Madras convocation.
According to The Indian Express, a classmate who learned about their story during a pre-convocation dinner helped arrange for them to receive their degrees together. Jigisha received her diploma while Aditya received his BS degree.
Neither of them expected it. They had even been seated separately because BS and diploma students were in different sections.
For Aditya, watching his mother return to studies became an inspiration.
He said the experience strengthened their relationship. Spending time together as fellow students allowed him to see another side of his mother.
