Marching towards the month of March, we are reminded of testing time for the kids at school. It's examination time back home, especially the Matriculation or Board exams, the counterpart of what we call Tests in America.
Arguably this examination was a make or break moment of our time. Failure was not an option. A below par performance in other exams always had the solace from the hope of a second chance. But if you screw up in this particular exam chances of a comeback is remote, though not quite mission impossible. Some I have come across, still regret that 30-50 odd more marks in this crucial examination could have altered their life, as they compare themselves to others, lamenting for falling behind having missed the boat.
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) but later excelled in academics. 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, a nincompoop.
It's not unusual for teenagers to commit suicides post the ignominy of poor performance in this crucial examination, 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 failing, he kept on 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 Odisha BSE (Board Of Secondary Education), had the option of getting the Matriculation degree from Andhra, known as Andhra matric. The later was considered an easier option, second rate, yet still provided the solace of having a degree. Those less fortunates were condemned themselves to the life sentence of MABF (Matric Appeared, Bychance Failed) degree for rest of their lives.
No wonder, In our time there was a saying in rhyme
"Matriculation examination,
Is a great botheration,
For the young generation".
Arguably this examination was a make or break moment of our time. Failure was not an option. A below par performance in other exams always had the solace from the hope of a second chance. But if you screw up in this particular exam chances of a comeback is remote, though not quite mission impossible. Some I have come across, still regret that 30-50 odd more marks in this crucial examination could have altered their life, as they compare themselves to others, lamenting for falling behind having missed the boat.
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) but later excelled in academics. 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, a nincompoop.
It's not unusual for teenagers to commit suicides post the ignominy of poor performance in this crucial examination, 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 failing, he kept on 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 Odisha BSE (Board Of Secondary Education), had the option of getting the Matriculation degree from Andhra, known as Andhra matric. The later was considered an easier option, second rate, yet still provided the solace of having a degree. Those less fortunates were condemned themselves to the life sentence of MABF (Matric Appeared, Bychance Failed) degree for rest of their lives.
No wonder, In our time there was a saying in rhyme
"Matriculation examination,
Is a great botheration,
For the young generation".
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