After completing Class 7, I thought of joining Canara High School in Urva. But I did not have money for fees. They used to collect Rs 25 in fees. They had a Scholarship test which was conducted after admission to the class 7. Under this test, one student who topped the test would be given free education till 10th Standard. A teacher named Victor D'souza used to reside near our home. He used to teach in Saint Aloysius School. He was very fond of me. I went to him and said that I need Rs.25 to take admission to Canara High School. Without saying a word, he went inside the home and came out with Rs.25. I told him that if I top the exam, then after completing my studies, I will return the money. I took admission and wrote the exam at Canara High School. And I TOPPED the exam!!! As committed, the school management provided me free education till SSLC (Xth Std). I won a lot of prizes in studies, sports and extra-curricular activities in Canara High School. There used to be occasions when my name was being called just after I had come down the stage after collecting a prize.

After SSLC, I joined Saint Aloysius for Intermediate. There was no PU course then. In Canara High School, I had done Secretarial course in which I had learnt typing and other skills. I earned Merit scholarship from the Government of India while at Saint Aloysius College and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree (BCom). I had a strong desire to write the Civil Service exams to become an IAS officer. After much thought, I decided to complete my law degree in Mumbai first and then write the IAS exam.