What a Great Change!
Posted : May 28, 2004 at 10:38 am [IST]
In our days and even many years after that, the results of all the examinations- be it a school final, intermediate, graduate examinations, or entrance tests, even different competitive examination- used to appear in newspapers. Candidates used to eagerly wait for the vendors. Vendors awaited the day and used to charge premium of their liking for each copy. Candidates and their guardians never bothered about higher than usual price of the news papers. Some used to go to even board’s office to avoid embarrassment after the result. It used to be placed on notice board or pasted on the wall some time late in night. Even as late as last year, the results were communicated to the schools. But for the last CBSE examination of class XII this year, the candidates could get the result on cell phone through SMS. The candidates used their own PCs, nearby cyber cafés or cell phones to get their results. The school premises were completely empty. The teachers on duty were happy, as they were not to face the students and their parents. And when I talk of cell phone, it has become a poor man’s tools for living. This happened only yesterday. When I was on my morning walk, I saw a couple going on a bicycle perhaps to his work. Suddenly, he stopped. I could also hear the ring tones of his cell. I wanted to know how that man was using the cell. I pretended some trouble in my shoes and waited. As I could understand, it was his son on the other side. The message was about his successfully passing the examination with 82% marks. I was bold enough to approach him and congratulate him. Then I put my query and asked how he uses his cell phone. He was pretty forthright. “Sir, now, it is a necessity. I am a mason. My wife works as a manual labour where I work. I have given my cell number to a number of civil contractors and builders. Whenever they require, they call me. It has made my life very easy. I have some labour force known to me. They prefer to work with me. So the contractors prefer me.”
‘How are your children placed?’
“Sir, by God’s grace, we have only one son. He has crossed Class XII now?”
“Did you intend to have only one child?”
“Yes Sir. Just after the Nikah, we both decided to have only one child and educate properly.” I thought for a while why we go on blaming the people for all the miseries in this country. I just said, “Well done. You are great. Thank you for talking to this old man and answering questions.” I have started liking my morning walks better. I have become more hopeful about this great country of mine.
Is not India shining? Why should we always take the worst of the examples? This is a great country. I was in Kedarnath last year on a pilgrimage trip with my wife. I found more than a thousand young men of Nepali origin working as manual labourer in odd situations and earning good money from pilgrims, whereas our Indian brethrens were present there in plenty as sadhus of all cults and were busy in begging. I felt miserable. Yesterday it was a different positive feeling. .
- Indra
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