I came back from my junior college at about 8 in the evening. Well 'junior college' would be an understatement, it's more of a 'factory' and I am a 'factor', for it is the second home to aspirants like me who have been reading their days down to Mr.Verma, Mr.Halliday, Numerous Agarwals and Guptas and not to mention, the Hills and valleys of McGraw.
I switch on the T.V. while I watch dad smirking at me. I want to ask him if he knows already that I am not going to make it to the 'prestigious institutes' this year. He reads my mind and asks me to switch to 'Aaj Tak'. Given the spectrum of news stories these guys cover and the power of their predictive models, I wonder if someday they flash stories of the 'socialist Khan' becoming the President 10 years from hence.
Anyway, I am surprised to see 'the Institutes' in the news, again. I am happy this time as the news is not pertaining to any suicide. A garishly excited news reporter informs his audience of the ambivalency in the 'Joint' exams to be conducted in the coming year. Apparently, in view of the decreasing revenues and failing economy, the government wants to cut down on the expenses of conducting multiple entrance exams for IITs, NITs etc.. It has proposed, well rather decided to hold just one exam for all of them. Icing on the cake - weight to 12 class marks! Does not seem to be an icing for me though as normally I am not in the 'star batch'. But wait, my factory is affiliated to a 'high scoring board'. And oh yes, I am in an influential factory which would want its factors to score the highest marks! Fundamental transforms on the invigilator is child's play for them. I grin! So my 40% is secured! You ask me 'where is the cherry'? I tell you that 'one nation one exam' program goes live in 2013, giving virtually no time to the Institutes to gear up for the revolutionary setup. But soon I realize that it leaves factors like me with no time to prepare for an entrance setup that is not yet known. I can bother about that later. I laud Mr.Sibal for the decisiveness he has shown, given that his coalition is not known for the virtue.
Just when I am about to smile back at dad, and ask mom to get me the dinner-you know how mom's are at times like these when their ward is preparing for the 'toughest'(I hope you don't mind me saying that) exam- the sensitized reporter(whose emotions feed on the smallest of aberrations) voices that one IIT has decided to go against the will of Mr.Sibal stating the illegality of the decision in view of some Act and Ordinance. Another IIT is contemplating following suit. Oh no! But hang on, what about the other five? I see the smile back at me dad's face. Apparently, they are surprised at the reaction from their rebellious peers.They support us. Oh I mean, the government's decision. And the dinner is here!
As I sink my teeth in the now-all-the-more delicious sambhar-vada, I notice that the two IITs want to conduct tests on their own. Does not bother me I say. Never had a 'North IIT(N-IIT)' in mind since the stories I heard about no idlis and weekly dosa breakfasts! And even if under peer pressure dad asks me to unlock the N-IITs, I realize that I might not have to go through the pain of multiple tests as India is a democracy and that the Pressure(Peer) to which the N-IITs will eventually succumb to, is proportional to the number of moles. A practical example of Peer Pressure Theory. I mean, Ideal Gas Theory(reinforces my belief in chemistry). N-IITs would lose 2-5. One nation would indeed have just one exam. Will my 'factory' get sufficient time to change its 'settings' or would the default settings work? Only time will tell...! Speaking of time, its time for paayasam! You know what that is? A dessert you would not find in the N-IITs!
I switch on the T.V. while I watch dad smirking at me. I want to ask him if he knows already that I am not going to make it to the 'prestigious institutes' this year. He reads my mind and asks me to switch to 'Aaj Tak'. Given the spectrum of news stories these guys cover and the power of their predictive models, I wonder if someday they flash stories of the 'socialist Khan' becoming the President 10 years from hence.
Anyway, I am surprised to see 'the Institutes' in the news, again. I am happy this time as the news is not pertaining to any suicide. A garishly excited news reporter informs his audience of the ambivalency in the 'Joint' exams to be conducted in the coming year. Apparently, in view of the decreasing revenues and failing economy, the government wants to cut down on the expenses of conducting multiple entrance exams for IITs, NITs etc.. It has proposed, well rather decided to hold just one exam for all of them. Icing on the cake - weight to 12 class marks! Does not seem to be an icing for me though as normally I am not in the 'star batch'. But wait, my factory is affiliated to a 'high scoring board'. And oh yes, I am in an influential factory which would want its factors to score the highest marks! Fundamental transforms on the invigilator is child's play for them. I grin! So my 40% is secured! You ask me 'where is the cherry'? I tell you that 'one nation one exam' program goes live in 2013, giving virtually no time to the Institutes to gear up for the revolutionary setup. But soon I realize that it leaves factors like me with no time to prepare for an entrance setup that is not yet known. I can bother about that later. I laud Mr.Sibal for the decisiveness he has shown, given that his coalition is not known for the virtue.
Just when I am about to smile back at dad, and ask mom to get me the dinner-you know how mom's are at times like these when their ward is preparing for the 'toughest'(I hope you don't mind me saying that) exam- the sensitized reporter(whose emotions feed on the smallest of aberrations) voices that one IIT has decided to go against the will of Mr.Sibal stating the illegality of the decision in view of some Act and Ordinance. Another IIT is contemplating following suit. Oh no! But hang on, what about the other five? I see the smile back at me dad's face. Apparently, they are surprised at the reaction from their rebellious peers.They support us. Oh I mean, the government's decision. And the dinner is here!
As I sink my teeth in the now-all-the-more delicious sambhar-vada, I notice that the two IITs want to conduct tests on their own. Does not bother me I say. Never had a 'North IIT(N-IIT)' in mind since the stories I heard about no idlis and weekly dosa breakfasts! And even if under peer pressure dad asks me to unlock the N-IITs, I realize that I might not have to go through the pain of multiple tests as India is a democracy and that the Pressure(Peer) to which the N-IITs will eventually succumb to, is proportional to the number of moles. A practical example of Peer Pressure Theory. I mean, Ideal Gas Theory(reinforces my belief in chemistry). N-IITs would lose 2-5. One nation would indeed have just one exam. Will my 'factory' get sufficient time to change its 'settings' or would the default settings work? Only time will tell...! Speaking of time, its time for paayasam! You know what that is? A dessert you would not find in the N-IITs!
Nice one :) And again, I am happy to see that you remember a 5 years back evening, with such precision including your dinner :)
ReplyDeleteI totally get what a confused little brat our education system can be. But I suppose every transition-phase is bound to be jerky. More so in a country as ours.
ReplyDeleteIn either case, Smit, it's wonderful to see you blog! Keep em coming! :-)
Thanks! Something which precludes the trasition-phase is the admission of the fact that such a transition is desirable. Some feel it is, some not(which brings us back to your point of the system being confused). Therefore, the question to be answered is whether the change is required, and if it is then, the transition can be planned out...
ReplyDelete