Idukki: As the morning rays spread over his modest 950-square-foot house in Adimali, 62-year-old Saseendran VT, tends to a lush green canopy of passion fruit vines that drape across his rooftop terrace. From the street below, the sight is striking; clusters of ripening fruits in delicious hues, hang like ornaments, clambering up the railings and ropes. For Saseendran, the greenery is not a mere exhibit but it's part of a deeper philosophy that defines his life: growth never stops, not for plants, and certainly not for people.

While many at his age might slow down, Saseendran's days are filled with a rhythm that combines soil, books, and purpose. An LIC insurance advisor by profession, he is currently pursuing his second Master’s degree in Malayalam from Sree Narayana Guru Open University, after completing his first in Psychology in his late 50s.

 “I’ve always loved learning. I couldn’t finish my degree when I was younger, and that always stayed with me,” he says. “I’m a follower of Sree Narayana Guru, and I realised that to truly understand his teachings, I needed to study Psychology and Malayalam in depth.”

 In 2017, he completed his undergraduate degree in Psychology from IGNOU, followed by a Master’s in the same subject. Now, in his 60s, he's back with notebooks and textbooks, attending classes and submitting assignments, fitting it all into a life already full with work and farming.

 “Studying at this age is tough,” he admits. “It’s not easy to memorise things. But I fight for it. I study while ironing clothes, listen to class recordings while driving, and watch lessons while cooking or farming. You just have to make time.”

 He makes times not just for academics but for a thriving rooftop farm that’s become the talk of his neighbourhood. Saseendran and his wife, Sumathi, grow four varieties of passion fruit, along with okra, beans, broccoli, papaya, green chillies, and more, most grown in a criss-cross pattern that maximises space and sunlight.

 “The roots of the passion fruit are in the ground,” he explains, “but we’ve directed the vines to climb up to the terrace using ropes. It actually grows better here because it’s protected from direct rain and sun.”

 For Sasindran, this isn't a trendy experiment in urban gardening; it’s a lifestyle. “This is not fashion, it’s passion,” he smiles. “I’ve always loved farming. Maybe it’s inborn. My wife is just as involved, and together, we grow almost all the vegetables we need at home.”

 What makes their farm even more admirable is its complete reliance on organic fertilisers. “We use only compost from kitchen waste and sometimes cow dung. Nothing from outside,” he says.

 The passion fruit is the main attraction, thriving for over eight years now. “Once it dried up, but then it grew back on its own,” he says, as if the plant mirrored his own story of renewal and resilience. The fruits are not sold; they’re shared freely with friends, family, and neighbours.

So what drives a man in his 60s to juggle farming, work, and a second Master’s degree?
 “Maybe I just don’t like being idle,” he laughs. “There’s still so much to learn and do. The idea is to live green, think clear, and keep moving forward.”
With two children, a garden full of fruit, and a student login to his online university portal, Saseendran isn’t just growing plants, he’s nurturing the idea that it’s never too late to start again.