Matriculation Time in March

We are marching into the month of March, a time for Spring Break for the kids at school here. It also reminds me of examination time back home, especially the matriculation and Board exams (called tests in America). In our time there was a saying in rhyme

"Matriculation examination,
Is a great botheration,
For the young generation".

 

Matriculation or the Board exam as called in the English medium schools, was arguably a make or break moment of our time. Failure was not an option. A below par performance in other exams always had the prospect of a second chance, yet if you do bad in this particular exam chances of a comeback is remote, though not mission impossible. I have seen very few as exceptions who after GANDHI SHRENI or Gandhi Class ( sarcastically named after our Father of the Nation who supposedly passed in 3rd division) who have excelled academically. Often I wonder why not name 2nd Division after Nehru and 1st Division after Subash Base as a fitting tribute to the icons.

A good score in Matriculation assures you an entry into a decent college, otherwise for many the goose is cooked. Not getting into a good college can get you tagged as a DHAIN, which in the local lingo means a person with respiratory ailments gasping for breath but as a slang depicts a "worthless" person. It's not unusual for teenagers to commit suicides post the ignominy of poor performance, as they can't cope up with the prospect of being persona non grata or as we call in Odia LOKE BOLIBE KANA (what the public will say) ?

 

Often failing in an exam in Odisha in the local lingo is said as KHARAP HEIGALA or "bad happened", a more soothing metaphor for the ill sounding "Fail". In my father's generation passing the Matriculation examination was a matter of prestige as well as a passport to a decent government job. A contemporary of him passed it after no less than dozen attempts. His initial attempt with Mathematics Optional paper, the preferred option of good students. After that he kept switching optionals to the less preferred Sanskrit yet failed again. Finally he toggled with the least preferred Physiology & Hygiene and Home Science optional before finally managing to clear the exam well into his 20s, following the footsteps of Gandhi. He was ecstatic as it propelled him into landing  up a coveted Goverment job and a secured life.

 

Many who could not clear the papers under Odish BSE (Board Of Secondary Education), had the option of getting the Matriculation degree from Andhra matric. The later was considered an easier option, yet still it provided the solace of having a degree. Those less fortunates had to stay satisfied (often in ignominy) of MABF degree for rest of their life.