My School Years

My first 4 years in primary school were in Akola municipal school No 5. We had no desks and benches but long jute strips from one end of the class to the other. We used to keep our slate by our side. I was the first kid in school to have an unbreakable slate made of black painted metal sheet instead of slate stone. I was one of the rare students who had footware. Most others came barefoot to school. Only some wore our school uniform as the others couldn't afford the cost of a white shirt and khaki half pants. Then I went to another school for 5th where my grandfather was the managing trustee. But this has made a deep impact on me. Not only do I realise that I am one of the God's favourites but even today I am able to connect to and relate to economically weaker persons when I meet them. At that time my father was a lawyer. When he took up a position as a judge, he was getting transferred very frequently. So every year I was going to a new Marathi medium school in different parts of Maharashtra. I have studied in Nashik, Dhule, Ahmednagar, again Akola (with my grandparents) and finished off with SSC in Aryan Education Society's high school in Girgaon, Mumbai. Each of these schools had different school board with different curriculum. English as a subject was from 5th standard in Akola but 8th standard in Nashik. Sanskrit was not a subject in the school where I was studying but it was from from 5th in Nashik and I joined the school in 8th. The problem was that I could never have school friends, as by the time I could form a friendship, I was out of the school. The advantage is that, today when someone says he is from a particular town in Maharashtra, I can instantly connect with him/ her by mentioning my school near his place. After I finished my SSC, I had a choice of joining Xavier's, Jai Hind and Elphinston. I called up my Dad in his office to ask him where I should go and he said Elphinston, as it was walking distance from our flat in Colaba. BTW did I mention we changed houses 3-4 times during my SSC year as there was a long queue to get Govt quarters in Mumbai where my Dad was posted that year. We were in Malabar hills in his colleague's huge quarters, then with a distant relative in Merryweather road in Colaba and the in our own quarters in Majestic (erstwhile) Hotel in Colaba. 

After I was admitted to Elphinston, the first thing the principal did was to hold an English proficiency test for us "vernies". I was soo good in it that I was promptly placed in division H or J or some such alphabet far from A or B which were for Sr Cambridge and English medium schools. The lecturers were instructed to handle us with kid gloves while talking to us in English. We were made to attend special tuitions arranged by the college for learning English (FOC of course). 

Our side of corridor was for vernies and the opposite side was for the SOBO crowd with their Girlfriends. And here were, scared to be in a coed class for the first time in our lives. Our mortal fear was talking to girl. 

Anyway, I enjoyed both Bio & Maths and I don't remember getting stuck because of language of instruction. I did well in first year science. I don't remember how I got inspired to appear for IIT JEE but I did. My parents came to know of it when we received a letter of admission from IIT. 

In IIT I was a loner keeping to myself. How did I pass time? Not studying, as I hated studies but by
reading English novels whenever I could lay my hands on any book. I finished complete Ian Fleming, Sherlock Holmes, Neville Shute (I think that was the spelling) and best of all The entire set of HAROLD ROBBINS!  I found that all my adolescent fantasies were in those books and some more. The advantage was that through all my trash reading I picked up spoken English. So when I went to Yankeeland for studies I had little problem in communicating. 

So all in all I don't think I had any disadvantages by schooling in Marathi except no girlfriends in school and college! 

            

Why did an IIT student commit suicide?

 

I have been reading with interest about the case of an unfortunate suicide committed by an IIT student. Though as usual the politicians are using the sad incident to their own advantage, as an ex-student of IIT, I felt I should express my opinion about the incident.

I was a student of IIT Bombay way back in the late 1960’s. Even though some believe that studies were less competitive compared to today in those days (I don’t agree but more about it later) every year we used to have one suicide. It was a given that someone will end his life every year. So, suicides are nothing new to IIT.

IITs pick the best of best students from across the country through a highly competitive exam. Only the cream of the student crop is able to get in. It is well known that it is tougher to get into IIT than any of the top USA universities. So, all those entering the institute are used to getting top ranks in their schools and colleges. It is taken for granted by them, their family and friends that they will be at the top in any academic test they give. Now in IIT everyone is a topper so in the first few exams someone is at the top of the class and someone has to be at the bottom. The students at the bottom are just not able to accept this fact. If one of them is highly disturbed by this turn of events and can’t accept this situation, s/he may take the ultimate escape route of a suicide. It is extremely sad but true. This may not be the only reason for taking the extreme step but I think it is one of the major reasons.

What is the solution? I think the institute has taken steps in the right direction by providing psychological counselling to all the students. The people close to the student such as family and friends should also accept that bottom of the class in IIT is at the top of any other STEM institute in India and probably the world. It should also be clear that at the end of the course, the student at the bottom will also get job opportunities though they may not be as lucrative as the ones showcased in media. It is also important to understand that an IIT degree is only a stepping stone to one’s career and life. The topper from IIT may not be as successful in life as a mediocre student there, as he may have talents not apparent in studies.

Now coming to the question of parents and students complaining about how academics are getting more and more competitive day by day. Well in my time the population of India was half of what it is today but the number of seats in all IITs together were approximately 2000. Today the number of seats available are 16,600+ i. e. over 8 times what they were in 1960’s and 70’s. So, guys stop complaining and start studying! You don’t need to be a genius but a good logical thinker to clear the entrance exams.