On this day [29th May] in 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary & Sherpa Tenzing scaled Everest - the bane of all academic trouble. I used to hate this duo. You will wonder, why?
Going to school was a nightmare in those days – That weird khaki shorts and white shirt uniform [No. It wasn’t RSS-run school] and trudging on with a sack full of notebooks, textbooks, difficult-to-close compass box, lunch box and of course, some comics. The beautiful part of life was primary education. It was a co-ed school! Now, do not give that naughty wink. Read through this story.
Everybody had that share of a good and bad experience at schooling. Maybe you were one of those boring studious ones.
My brother was one – I was always asked to look up to him. Yeah! You know how difficult it was all the time to do that. He was a bit taller than me. And subsequently, I had to look up to this Edmund guy who was 6ft 6 inches taller, even in photos. Do you understand what I am saying?
Was that enough for a young life?
Life was very hard for a dull student. The brilliant ones would not understand that. Accompanying mother to the market, to help her carry bags; and in return getting a bar of chocolate or two was not a merry walk. I was asked to look at a banana seller, an egg seller or a bangle seller and warned that if I do not study well, I could be one of them. I somehow liked that last chap for the work he was doing.
The teachers used to come in all shapes and looks. A tall, stern-looking drawing teacher used to wear white dhoti with an oversize kurta, the sleeves multi-folded. He would hover around with a thick wooden ruler, hidden under those folds to whack us once in a while. How I wish, in hindsight, my drawing teacher was something like M.F.Hussain. The English teacher would slap us across the face and my fainting at every mathematics class. Troubles aplenty!
To make light of the situation, my brother and I had a role play. He pulled down all clothesline, tied my school bag on top of a ladder, some books along the way up and rolled down the ropes. I was to climb the Everest of education! I failed in that expedition with a few bruises but did pass the matriculation in a single attempt. Then, I realised this Edmund guy was not that bad - he had to make a couple of attempts!
In all fairness, I learnt that ultimately it is what you want to achieve - your goal that is important. For some, the goal is to seek a job ahead or further education, become a doctor or an engineer or even some social status.
But, getting married - a goal? Are you crazy?
Things were not pretty cool for a few. These guys had a truly Everestine task ahead. They made anything between 33 to 47 attempts to climb their Everest of the matriculation examination.
[1] Meet this braveheart -
Trilochan Naik from Parikheda village under Sogarapasi gram panchayat in Sadar block of Dhenkanal (Orissa). He wanted to become an Advocate. I do not know who inspired him - maybe Jethmalani or Palkhivala. Sorry, those Mehta, Sibal and Salve were greenhorns at that time. He first appeared for his matriculation examination in 1972 and failed. And finally, with his grit, he passed the matriculation in 1993 with flying colours in his 42nd attempt that included both Annual and Supplementary examinations.
42 attempts yet, Trilochan pursued Plus II at Dhenkanal College. He got himself admitted and sat for the annual exam. Again, like the Matric exam, initially, he could not succeed. But he went on trying and could pass Intermediate after 10 attempts.
The journey continued. And after Plus II, he sought admission in Shri Biswaguru Law College [do not get confused with our Neo Vishvaguru] in Cuttack. And, at last, he achieved his goal by graduating at law in December 2020, admitted to the Bar Association in Cuttack. This seemed to be a smooth climb!
He says it wasn’t an easy journey for him. He had to hear unwanted remarks and people mocking him. But, he was determined to become a lawyer and now wants to provide justice to the poor people.
[2] Now, here comes another braveheart -
Shiv Charan from Rajasthan. Also known as Sheojiram, a resident of Kohari village of Behror town, over 140 KMs from Jaipur. And why did he want to pass his matriculation examination? To get married to his beloved.
In the early years, Shiv Charan vowed to get married only after passing his matriculation examination no matter what.
At the age of 82, he made 47th attempt [ the first was in 1969] to pass the 10th Class examination but failed. When asked by press reporters why this roller-skater of matriculation examination? Shiv Charan stated that in 1995, he had cleared almost all subjects except mathematics.
Now, you understand why I used to faint in my mathematics class?
If only the Board of Examination and some teachers had helped him, Shiv Charan would have been a happily married man in 1995 itself. But no. Some people must have cited their personal experience and allowed him to fail. Too bad.
I learn Shiv Charan is dependent on the old-age pension given by the state government and lives in a temple. His advanced age, weak eyesight, impaired hearing and inability to walk, has not stopped him from pursuing his elusive dream. Ultimately, hope is the best thing!
[3] But unlike Shiv Charan, Mohd Nooruddin of Hyderabad was a lucky guy!
He is 51 years old and made 33 attempts to achieve that elusive dream of passing the matriculation examination. He first appeared for his Examination in 1987. After successively failing, Nooruddin attempted a novel thing - he enrolled for Open Examination for his secondary school certificate last year. And unlike Shiv Charan, his formidable enemy was the English subject. Every year, he would pass in all subjects except English.
For Mohd. Nooruddin, and students like him, the Govt. came in for the rescue. Just like Sherpa Tenzing to Edmund Hillary.
While the coronavirus pandemic has been very hard on millions of students, the government decided to pass all students appearing for the Class 10 board examinations last year. And that included Nooruddin.
See how joyous Nooruddin is showing off the numerous admit cards of his various examinations.
No. It is not known whether he is married or marriage was his goal. Is he going to attempt the Plus-II examination?
I told you, English cannot be taught by slapping children and fainting in Mathematics can be avoided. Although I am happily married but need to brush up on my Mathematics better!
Now, do not forget to like and comment on this story.
Kudos to all these brave souls who spent their lives trying to master the game....but you Sir not being brilliant in school is something I find hard to believe😄
Sadly though, except for the ruler being used for its intended purpose these days....nothing much seems to have changed where the tedium of schooling is concerned!
I tried my Best all these years to teach simple maths like addition and multiplication. Efforts continue...