Education is often seen as a journey of individual growth, but for Jigisha Tailor and her son Aditya Kapadia, it became a shared experience that brought two generations together. The 45-year-old former electronics teacher and her 21-year-old son recently graduated from IIT Madras’s online Data Science programme, marking a rare moment where a mother and son completed the same academic journey side by side. What began as Aditya’s pursuit of a course in data science during the pandemic eventually became a journey of mutual encouragement, late-night studies, academic challenges and a renewed belief in the idea that learning has no age limit.
Mother Son Duo At IIT Madras
For most students, an IIT Madras convocation marks the end of an academic chapter. But for Jigisha Tailor and her son Aditya Kapadia, it represented something far more special: a shared dream achieved together. In a rare moment at IIT Madras, the 45-year-old mother and her 21-year-old son walked onto the convocation stage side by side to receive their degrees from the institute’s online Data Science programme, turning years of dedication, discipline and mutual encouragement into an unforgettable family milestone.
Their journey stands out not because they competed for the same achievement, but because they supported each other through the same academic challenges. Jigisha, a former electronics teacher who returned to education after years dedicated to family responsibilities, and Aditya, who began his IIT Madras journey during the Covid-19 pandemic, became classmates, study partners and friendly competitors.
The moment highlighted a changing landscape of education, where online learning platforms are allowing people from different generations and backgrounds to continue their academic journeys.
IIT Madras Data Science Journey
Jigisha’s path back to education began after she stepped away from teaching in 2019. She had spent 16 years as an electronics faculty member at an engineering college in Bharuch, Gujarat, before leaving her job due to family responsibilities.
Three years later, inspired by her son Aditya, she decided to return to academics and enrol in IIT Madras’s online BS in Data Science and Applications programme.
Aditya had joined the same programme in 2021 at the age of 18, during the Covid-19 pandemic. With traditional college education disrupted by lockdowns, he saw the IIT Madras programme as an opportunity to explore his interest in data science and artificial intelligence.
Initially, Aditya balanced the online programme with a diploma course at a college in Ahmedabad. However, after IIT Madras recognised the BS degree as equivalent to a regular four-year undergraduate programme, he chose to continue only with the institute’s programme.
What started as a personal academic decision soon became a shared family journey when Jigisha joined the same course and began studying alongside her son.
IIT Madras Convocation Moment
The most memorable chapter of their journey unfolded during the IIT Madras convocation ceremony, where mother and son unexpectedly found themselves sharing the stage.
Although both had completed the same programme, they had not planned to graduate together. Students from different categories were seated separately, with BS and diploma students assigned different sections during the ceremony.
However, after a classmate learned about their inspiring story during a pre-convocation dinner, arrangements were made for them to receive their degrees together.
The emotional moment saw Jigisha receive her diploma while Aditya collected his BS degree. Standing together in academic gowns at one of India’s premier institutions, the mother-son duo represented a rare example of education becoming a shared family achievement.
Study Partners And Achievers
Beyond the classroom, Jigisha and Aditya developed a unique student relationship. They were not just mother and son but also study partners who motivated each other throughout their IIT Madras journey.
Jigisha followed a disciplined routine, waking up at around 4:30 am to study before beginning household responsibilities. She attended live doubt-clearing sessions and relied on support from classmates through online groups.
Aditya, who had started the programme earlier, helped his mother understand upcoming subjects, prepare for viva examinations and manage online assessments.
Their relationship also developed into a healthy academic competition. They compared grades, celebrated each other’s achievements and pushed one another to perform better. Aditya shared that competing for higher grades, including the programme’s highest ‘S’ grade distinction, motivated both of them.
Aditya completed his BS degree in 2024 and later joined Syngenta as a data science intern before receiving a full-time opportunity. Jigisha completed her programme around the same time but decided to focus on supporting her younger son’s education before exploring professional opportunities again.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The story of Jigisha Tailor and Aditya Kapadia goes beyond a rare IIT Madras graduation moment. While academic success is often measured through ranks, placements and professional achievements, their journey highlights a different form of success: the courage to restart.
Their story brings attention to an important aspect of modern education that often remains overlooked: learning is no longer restricted by age, career breaks or traditional timelines.
Jigisha’s return to academics after years away from formal education reflects the possibilities created by flexible learning models. At the same time, Aditya’s encouragement of his mother shows how education can become a bridge between generations rather than just an individual pursuit.
The mother-son duo’s achievement is not only about earning degrees from IIT Madras. It is about curiosity, resilience and proving that the desire to learn can continue at every stage of life.
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