Answer To The Point

In our schooling days, as it is now, examinations were naturally an integral part of learning process. The system of examinations was somewhat different then than what it is today. It was a fixed date and time business, unlike today's round the clock affairs. It was paper and pen system and not pick and click systems of present times. In the lower classes, we had to carry our own paper as well for writing answers. Hence there was the spectre of answer papers of different sizes, colours, and plain white sheets as well as ruled sheets. Students carried their own simple gadgets like pen, pencil, eraser, scales, instruments box, and so on. A family's economic status could be easily gauged by looking at the nature of items their children carried to the examination hall. 

At higher levels, referred to as public examinations, a student would pay a prescribed fee to write the examination. The recognised body conducting such examinations would supply the standard answer books, and additional sheets in case the candidates needed more paper. There were indeed some brilliant students (as at all times) who could write more lengthy answers than others. They naturally needed more paper. They were not examinations with multiple-choice answer questions with given answers and the student picks one of them and ticks the answer. This system came in much later. 

After the time of examination is done, and the candidates are out of examination halls, there would be the usual small groups of candidates discussing the events of the examination rooms. "Who took the maximum number of additional sheets?" was a popular question asked in these groups. "What was there so much to write? He might have written all irrelevant things!" would be the exclaim of those who could not fill even the given main booklet. 

To discourage candidates from writing irrelevant and unnecessary lengthy answers, question papers carried a warning at the top of the paper. "Answer to the Point" was the popular phrase giving expression to these sentiments. Even when oral questions were asked in the regular classes, students attempting to digress or beat around the bush would be warned by the teacher. "What is it that I asked? What is your answer? Answer to the point!", the teacher would admonish.

"Answer to the point" remained the essence of the learning process. Even with all these, there were many students who never understood this simple rule. For some of them, it needed more than mere schooling to understand this very valuable principle!

*****

The patient was lying in the Intensive and Critical Care unit (ICCU) of the big hospital. His hands and legs were tied to the bed and their movement was restricted to a few inches at the most. This was for his own protection as otherwise he might have pulled out any of the many wires and tubes that were attached to his body. He knew there were many nerves and blood vessels in his body, though he did not know the count. There were so many wires and tubes attached to his body from the outside, but he could not count them as well. There were computer monitors around showing so many numbers and graphs all the time. He could not make any sense out of those numbers. The graphs they presented looked similar to some of the graphs he studied in his Mathematics classes. But it was long long ago. 

Now and then, the monitor would beep. The sound would draw the attention of a nurse. While he could not understand the reason for beeping, she knew exactly why it was so beeping. Her adjusting or moving a wire would stop the beep. She would also add some liquid to the bottle in the stand. The tube linking the bottle and the blood vessel on his hand would do its job and ensure that the liquid slowly but steadily reached his veins or arteries. When this happened, sometimes he would get agitated, while at other times a soothing feeling engulfed him. 

The lights in the room were always on. It was difficult to know whether it was day or night, or what time of the day or night it was. Initially he did not understand anything, but as days passed he realised that a shift had changed when a different nurse was moving around. There was no question of eating or drinking as the bottles in the stand and tubes connecting them to his veins did the needful. At times it would seem as if it was unfathomable bliss. A team of strong young men would come from time to time, and move him from one position to another, for whatever reasons they deemed fit. 

*****

He opened his eyes after another spell of drowsiness, or sleep, or whatever it was. A different nurse was staring down at him. Another shift has changed, he reasoned. Hers was a familiar face, as seen in earlier shifts. She had a syringe in her hand. Why does she need a syringe? The bottle is already there. She could as well drop the medicines in it, he thought.

"Good morning!", she said.

Oh! it is morning now, he understood. He tried to smile. With all the tubes around, she might not have understood that he was smiling. 

"I have to draw some blood for the lab. Can I draw, please"

"What difference will it make to a person who is already wet, standing in neck deep water, if it rains a little?"

"Can I draw some blood, Sir?"

"So many times blood has been drawn. What difference one more time will make?"

"Can I draw some blood, Sir?"

"If any blood is still left in the body, you are welcome to take it"

"Can I draw some blood, Sir?'

"You can do whatever you want"

"Is it a "Yes" Sir?"

He realised it was no time for a humorous or implied answer. Nor a round about answer. "Answer to the point! You silly", he felt his primary school teacher was shouting in his ears. 

"Yes", he replied meekly. Answer to the point, at last. Needful was done.

An individual's privacy is highly respected in some societies. Touching another person's body without permission is not acceptable. Not even by a doctor or a surgeon, while conducting an examination. They show the courtesy of asking whether it can be done. The answer should be a straightforward "Yes". Not an implied or round about permission. Express and unambiguous permission is required. 

*****

Many teachers over several years had failed repeatedly to teach him the importance of "Answer to the point". Many superiors in his work life had also failed miserable to bring home its importance. 

The smiling nurse in ICCU achieved this in a single instance!

The Wise Believe They Are Immortal

Cambridge English Dictionary defines "NEET" as "Not in Education, Employment or Training" and denotes a youth who has completed his education, but is not engaged in any activity or is unemployed. It appears this was the usage by the UK government in the 1980s. But in India, NEET means "National Eligibility cum Entrance Test" that is held for deciding the eligibility for admission to the undergraduate classes like MBBS, BDS and allied courses. It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on All-India basis. Students desiring admission to these courses make all out efforts to perform well in this examination and secure a seat for admission to the courses. There are complaints about conduct of the examinations from time to time, like improper way of conducting the examinations and leakage of question papers. Nevertheless, all desiring students seeking admission to these courses look forward eagerly for the examination and its results. 

The examination was conducted two days ago, on Sunday, 4th May, 2025 in various centres across the country.  As is customary on such examination days, some eager parents also accompany their wards to the examination centres, anxious about locating the right room for writing the examination, encouraging them to well and so on. Some even wait outside the examination centre till conclusion of the examination and enquire about the performance of the candidates. This is indeed the culmination of months of efforts be the candidates, tutors and family members. 

Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh was one of the centres for conduct of the examination on Sunday. Among the many candidates and others waiting at the examination centre was one 72-year old Pothula Venkatalakshmi as well. As the parents and guardians wished the candidates well urging them to perform well, all the candidates moved towards the rooms assigned for them to write the examination. Pothula Venkatalakshmi also moved along with the candidates. One of the officials tasked with the conduct of the examination gently told her that parents are not allowed to enter the rooms. She produced her admission card and informed that she was also one of the candidates writing the examination. Dressed in a modest salwar kameez (photograph given above) she confidently took her seat and went on with writing the examination. 

*****

It appears the NEET lifted the age limit for writing the examination in 2022. Thus being able to write the examination, Venktalakshmi availed the opportunity. Reports say that she earned admiration form everyone around the centre and later from all over the country, She underlined the fact that determination and pursuit of dreams does not come with any expiry date!

One of the seven great Rishis, the Saptarshis, Sage Bharadwaja is a shining example of continuous learning, for the entire life span, getting extensions in life span and even then continuing to learn for ever. Please click here to read about his unquenchable desire for learning. 

We know of innumerable instances where people believe that the learning process concludes once a final degree (in their opinion) is obtained and working life starts. We also have some examples around us where many persons who were deprived of opportunities to get proper education in their younger days doubling up in later years in life and earning tremendous recognition for their efforts as well making valuable contributions to the society. 

Venkatalakshmi has chosen to write an entrance examination for a probable 4-year course. The pursuit of the goal requires tremendous physical energy as well as other resources. The desire to achieve the goal is paramount as we can recognise this from her endeavours.

*****

There is a Subhashita in "Samoyochita Padyamalika" that symbolises the spirit shown by Pothula Venkatalakshmi. It is as under:

अजरामरवत् प्राज्ञः विद्यां अर्थञ्च साधयेत् 

गृहीत इव केशेषु मृत्युना धर्ममाचरेत्  

Ajaraamaravat pragnyaha vidyaam arthancha saadhayet 

Gruheeta iva kesheshu murutyunaa dharmamacahatet 

A wise man should consider himself immortal 

(free from ageing and death) 

while putting efforts for learning and earning (resources like money etc,).

At the same time, while doing good deeds (practicing dharma), 

he should do them quickly 

as if death is dragging him by grabbing his hair!

*****

This beautiful saying summarises how we should shape our attitude towards life. There is no end to learning and earning. It should be pursued till the last breath. Otherwise, we cannot achieve these goals. On the other side, do good as quickly as possible and don't postpone it. Life is indeed uncertain. 

Pothula Venkatalakshmi just did not explain this to us. She has showed it to us by her own efforts! 

*****

This is my 450th blog post. I am beholden to all readers, friends and well-wishers who have motivated me all along, by their kind words of encouragement.

The Alternate Route

He returned from office that evening earlier than the usual time.  As he entered the house, he realized that the atmosphere was very tense.  Returning from a hard day's work to a tension filled home is something nobody wants.  But life has its own twists and turns and does not always go on as one wishes.  The young girl was sitting in a corner of the hall with swollen red eyes and tears rolling down her cheeks.  Her mother, having returned from a daylong work at office half an hour ago, was cooking supper in the kitchen.

He sat on his usual chair by the window and looked at his daughter.  Before he could choose the words to ask her about the reason for her crying, voice from the kitchen said, "Tell your father about your achievement.  He will be very happy".  Ah! what a wonderful way of communication, he thought.  When the daughter or son does something good or achieves some distinction, she or he is my daughter or son.  When she or he defaults or suffers a setback, she or he is your daughter or son!  There is no discrimination; both father and mother use this logic at home as and when the opportunity throws up.  This time it was the mother's turn.  Another wonderful expression used in combination with this during such situations is to blame the other parent for pampering the child.  The one starting the argument with this logic and has a bigger voice usually wins the argument.  More often because the parent with a weaker voice does not continue the fight and the game ends in a walkover.

The daughter did not speak; her crying intensified.  "There is no use in crying.  Tell him and get scolded.  You have to face it", admonished her mother.  Daughter did not speak even then.  He knew he had a big problem on hand.  He beckoned the daughter to come and sit in the chair by his side.  She hesitatingly and slowly moved to that chair.  She knew by her own experience that whenever one of the parents attacked her, the other parent gave some support.  "Why are you crying?  What happened?", he asked in a kindly voice.  "I failed in my examination.  I could not get minimum marks required for a pass in Mathematics", she barely finished her reply and started crying even louder.

She was always a good student at school, but weak in Mathematics.  As we all know, this happens to many students and Mathematics has killed more students and their careers than Malaria or Typhoid.  There could be something seriously wrong in the way the subject is taught.  Some teachers may not have the necessary skills in teaching the subject. Absorption and retention capacity also differs from student to student.  Once a child develops an aversion to a teacher or a subject, the trouble can only escalate.  The biggest challenge before any teacher is two fold.  The first one is to make himself or herself acceptable to the student as a person.  The second one is to teach the subject in such a way that the child or student starts liking the subject.  There was some discussion at home two years ago about the subjects this girl was to choose at Pre-University level.  Father had suggested a choice of Arts subjects and avoiding Mathematics.  Other well-wishers had insisted on Mathematics as it would ensure (?) a bright future in the competitive world.  Well-wishers had won the battle and she chose Mathematics.  Trigonometry and Calculus intensified the trouble Arithmetic and Geometry had sown earlier.  Now the result was out.  "Fear of failure" that haunted her for two years had indeed crystallized now and staring at her, threatening her future.  Failure in the examination was bad enough; the music to face for having chosen the subject despite earlier warning was the worse part.  Wasting another year for passing the paper and taking up some other course thereafter was the later challenge.  She braced herself for the onslaught about to be unleashed.  She expected a "Jugalbandi" with father and mother scolding her in turns.  She also feared outbreak of a fight among her parents as to who was responsible for her failure. Who among the three, daughter or father or mother, is to be blamed the most?

"Congratulations!"  said the father in a cheerful voice.  She was flabbergasted at this remark.  "Has he gone mad?  Why is he congratulating me for failing in the examination?  Did my failure upset him so much that he has lost his sense of proportion?", she probably wondered.  "Why are you congratulating her?" asked the mother, coming out of the kitchen.  "She has upheld the family tradition!" exclaimed the father.  "What does that mean?" asked the daughter, with a smile on her face for the first time since she saw her result that morning.  "Your father had failed in Mathematics.  Your grandfather too had failed in Mathematics. His father too had failed in that subject.  Now you have made the fourth generation in that exalted tradition.  Should you not be congratulated for carrying forward this great legacy?", he asked.  Tension had eased.  Atmosphere was now more relaxed.  Supper was served in a pleasant environment.

Clearing the Mathematics paper was a per-requisite for finding an alternate course at the graduate course level.  A close relative helped her find a tutor to teach her Mathematics for three months.  This teacher was an expert in the subject as well as in teaching methods.  Supported by this arrangement, the girl appeared in the supplementary examination and passed Mathematics paper.  Six months were still to go for resuming college studies during the next academic year.  She utilized this time for acquiring alternate skills.  Shifting to arts and literature helped her in graduate school and she was now a class topper.  She forgot Mathematics and surged ahead in her chosen field, leaving her friends with higher marks in Mathematics far behind.  She had a lingering doubt about the family tradition of failing in Mathematics.  Several years later she mustered courage to ask her father about it.  He laughed and told her that her grandfather and great grandfather were both very good at Mathematics and were considered as the best teachers in the subject in their times!  He further told her that academic studies were indeed important, but that is not all in life.  In case of difficulty in studies in any subject, alternate routes should be explored.

One of the famous quotes of Will Rogers, American actor and humorist and known as Oklahoma's favorite son, is that he made fun of every known human being but he never found a dull person or a person whom he did not like.  He felt that every person he met was interesting in one way or the other!  The creator has bestowed every human being with some great qualities.  Some never know about those qualities they possess and walk into their graves with them.  Some do find them early in their lives and are smart enough to en-cash them.  Some others are lucky to find a mentor who help them find those hidden qualities and shine.  "Try, try, try again" is one approach.  Finding alternate routes is another approach.  Alternate routes are always available.  Only issue is we have to find them.  And find them before it is too late.