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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday January 25, 2008 - 25 Resident, 82, earns his PhD and is still working By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF He's 82 years old, he's still working, he just finished earning a PhD in Social Anthropology and he's showing no signs of slowing down. Fifteen years ago, Kanu Bhatt moved to Oakville with the intention of retiring. His 25-year career as a marriage counsellor/psychotherapist in Ottawa had come to an end when the city purchased his house to make way for a road expansion project. Bhatt's daughter pointed out that the incident could have been a sign from God for Bhatt to move to Oakville and settle down near his children to enjoy his golden years. Bhatt's son, a prominent builder, constructed a luxurious home for Bhatt and his wife, Sushila, complete with Jacuzzi, sauna, air conditioning and an elevator. The home is located a stone's throw away from Lake Ontario and would have been the ideal retire- ment setting, except for one problem. Bhatt was not ready to retire. "When we first came from Ottawa, for the first few months I was miserable. My wife certified me as miserable because I had that vacuum in my life and I didn't like it," he said. "So I went out, started talking to people, listening to them and the practice just picked up again." For a time Bhatt said his marriage counsellor/psychotherapy practice in Oakville was busier than his practice in Ottawa had been and even today, at 82, he continues to see patients for between four and six hours each day. Usually, Bhatt said, the sessions involve alcohol councilling, communication councilling, couples councilling and sexual councilling among other areas. "I love it," he said. "I can't imagine my life without this." While his career may have been one of his great passions, eventually it proved insufficient to keep Kanu Bhatt Bhatt at home and in 2001 he began work on a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Gujarat, located in his native India. Bhatt recalls that at times the experience was a strange one as he was about 20 years older than his professor. Every year Bhatt would journey to India to work on his thesis, which among other things, looked at how the 300 million people liv- ing in dire poverty in India could be helped if India adopted a different banking system. "In Bangladesh they have a program called the Grameen Bank where even a beggar can ask for a loan and get it because no collateral is required," said Bhatt. "It's an investment, not charity. That is the principle of Grameen Bank, they lend money to people that they will return." Muhammad Yunus, who received the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for pioneering the Grameen Bank concept in Bangladesh, reasoned that if financial resources were made available to the poor these millions of people with their millions of pursuits would add up to create great development. In particular the Grameen Bank provides the poor with student, business and housing loans and despite the fact that it asks for no collateral or high credit standing from those it does business with, the Grameen Bank enjoys a return of rate of around 98 per cent. "The people who get these loans have very little, but they do have honour," said Bhatt. "Their honour is the collateral." While making his case that the Grameen Bank can be used in India earned him his PhD, this was not enough for Bhatt, who is currently trying to bring together the means to create the bank in India himself. Later this month Bhatt intends to throw a party at which 100 select Canadians of East Indian decent will be invited. At this party Bhatt said he will announce that he will put $10,000 of his own money towards creating a Grameen Bank in India provided those present dig into their own considerable resources to come up with another $10,000. "This $20,000 would be around 400,000 in Indian rupees. That's a lot of money to start a bank," said Bhatt. With so much going on, Bhatt jokes that he is too busy to get old, but also points out that pushing See Bhatt page 27 up to For a limited time get unlimited savings at La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries. 50% OFF FOR * DO NOT PAY * 1 YEAR from Recliners $ * 399 from Sofas $ 799 * from Reclining Sofas $ * 999 Tables & Lamps from $ * 99 It's our annual January Liquidation event where you'll find remarkable deals on the largest selection of Genuine La-Z-Boy furniture in Ontario, including one-of-a-kind discontinued items and floor models. With 1,000s of colours and styles to choose from, and No Interest, No Payments for up to One Year* you can have the Beautiful furniture you need, right now! So hurry in, an event of this magnitude won't last long! 1,000'S OF MODELS IN STOCK FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY! Comfort. It's What We Do. www.lazboytoronto.com Store Hours: Monday - Friday 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. * See store for details. Limited time only. Offers cannot be combined. Prices include all discounts. OAC.