The Curious Case of the Privileged Few

" No doubt, this mammoth of a headline was optically quite amusing, but digging deeper, it pushed up questions that affected nothing if not our anxiety. After all, I myself gave my blood, sweat, and tears into its preparation. Okay, maybe blood, sweat, and tears? a tad too hyperbolized, but trust me, this was the case for thousands of students. Thousands of students for whom these scores were probably synonymous to the name of their desired university, their desired course, their ever aspired degree. "

Monday, May 31st, 2021, at the nineteenth hour of the day came the news that will probably remain etched in the minds of the 12th graders of 2021 FOREVER. A momentous decision made by the government of India to cancel the AISSCE board exams left a bittersweet feeling in the mind of nearly every young board aspirant who faced the brunt of this news. And the biggest question that grappled everyone- “What now?”

No doubt, this mammoth of a headline was optically quite amusing, but digging deeper, it pushed up questions that affected nothing if not our anxiety. After all, I myself gave my blood, sweat, and tears into its preparation. Okay, blood, sweat, and tears? maybe a tad too hyperbolized. But trust me, this was the case for thousands of students, thousands of students for whom these scores were probably synonymous to the name of their desired university, their desired course, their ever aspired degree.

Even though I agree scores can’t really hold that much power to dictate our entire lives (or college lives per se) but speaking from the mind of an academically driven student, scores/marks/grades, have given me that sense of intellectual validation that has reinforced both my ability and my motivation to study more and do more. And that’s an incentive that flips the entire debate of whether scores matter to a big YES for me. And well, with the cancellation of boards came down the walls for this age-old debate (so much for validation hah).

Recently, a comprehensive criterion delineating a method to calculate the final results on the basis of the grades scored in 10 boards,11th, and12th home examinations, was published by the CBSE which, honestly, was expected as the only reasonable option but well it does manage to send jitters down our spines oof.

Why the jitters? Well, for starters, let’s talk about 11th- probably one of the most challenging years in one’s school life, a year when students discover and rediscover their interests in different arenas and well amidst that discovery also let their grades take a bit of a toll, which comes naturally if you ask me. The emotional, mental and academic stress that this year entails on a student is unimaginable. But okay, everyone hopes to redeem themselves manifolds in the 12th boards because of course, not only is it the last resort to establish the final grade on our transcripts but the significance it carries for our future is colossal, or so it seemed.
The other point we can’t really avoid is the totally transparent, unadulterated methods some schools might engage in to give themselves an edge in the final results. Well, I guess almost everyone is somewhat a slave to status, reputation (am I wrong though?) Anyways let’s not dig this arc any further (LOL).

Right so, coming to my final question, which is totally valid if you have a politically open mind- was there perhaps a slight trace of political propaganda behind this decision by the Modi Government? See, I’m not trying to defame our prime minister or our government or accuse them of vote bank politics, if anything PROPS to him for coming up with such a genius vote bank strategy and we know, necessity is the mother of invention, right? I’m quite certain he’s managed to bag the votes of at least SOME FRESHLY turned 18-year-olds. I mean what good is a decision if it doesn’t ensure at least a few hundred…THOUSAND votes in the next elections. Of course, the prima facie was health and to safeguard the students from the virus, but it doesn’t mean a politically twisted mind can’t make a guesstimate, right? We do live in a democratic country, after all. Anyways, I understand the government must have been in a tight spot to come up with an unusual decision as such, given COVID is no a normal issue.

Well, this brings a substantial-end to my train of thoughts about this issue (for now OBVIOUSLY). I can’t say there won’t be more blogs about this, but I hope I was able to articulate and put into words the thoughts of many out there. I know I didn’t provide any solutions, but my intention to write this blog was to create an open forum for everyone to express their opinions about the subject. I hope this little personal analysis acts as food for your thoughts and stimulates more meaningful conversations.

I’ll be writing more, as and when time allows me, stay tuned, and do let me know what more you’d want me to talk about. Until then, if not before.

- Vidushi Sinha

  (Student and Author)