Three hours at a stretch, daily for four working days on a steel tool, with a steel desk in front of it, and amongst several boys and girls of one-third my age, all maintaining ‘Do Gaz Ke Dooree’ appearing in Term End Examination in the first floor of the heritage building of Sri Pratap College kept me engaged last week. Three steps up to the pavement (varandah) of the ground floor, 90 degrees right turn three more steps towardsanold-patternsimple wooden doorof a narrow staircase leading to the first floor varandah. The class room last in the row, with a notice pasted near its door showing my course number, was my destination. Its wooden floor, the mud plastered white walls and small squares engraved in the wooden ceilingwere the typical features of the heritage building. However, the wooden furniture and black boardalso expected there, have been replaced by steel andwhite sign board respectively perhaps post floods-2014.
Every day I had new companions appearing in the examination for different courses. The examination-stress visible on their face while taking their seats diminished considerably after seeing me occupying a place as an examinee. All of them would stare at me, smile and at times wink towards friends till the answer books were distributed. Taking advantage of the old type window on my left side, I would in the mean while enjoy outside world right up to the far end of the playground. The situation reminded the pleasure we used to derive while sitting in such type of windows in the traditional houses watching seasonal changes on the surface of earth around us. Every week additions, deletions and alterations could be easily noticed.
Voyage from the past to the present after a while, would now engage me in remembering the personalities responsible for establishing and developing this premier institute of learning. The British social reformer and educationist, Dr. Annie Bassant, a visionary lady ismainly responsible for getting a school upgraded to college in the year 1905. Mr. M.U Moore, Prof. Vinamali Chakarvati, Prof. I. K. Sharga, Prof. LawrenceMac Dermot, Prof. Molvi Mohammad Ibrahim, Dr. Mohammad Din Tasser, Prof. Jia Lal Kaul and Prof. Saif-ud-din are the names of principals with significant contribution. The list of the highly efficient, dedicated and eminent teachers and their role in guiding thousands of students over a period of more than one century would be long. During this period, hundredsof the college alumni rose to eminence in different fields of humanactivity in thestate, by occupying important positions.
The landscape-oriented answer books with wide spaces between the lines were not easy to hold and write, in most of my earlier examinations; the last one attempted three decades ago. In contrast,I found the IGNOU answer books appropriately sized and suitably designed. The features like double security (metallic clips plus smooth thread machine stitching) to prevent tampering with the pages, no extra pages allowed, enrolment number in figures and the digitsto be translated into words (not in crores and lakhs, the way we write in bank cheques), last but one page only to be used for the roughwork, both the front as well as the last page to be signed by the candidate, were all appreciated by me; a teacher by choice.
The question papers (reportedly of our recently started course only) were received virtually (indicative of our internet service becoming trust worthy) by the superintendent or coordinator, just few minutes before their distribution in the examination hall. While trying to jot down descriptive answers to five of the total eight questions in the paper, I had to stop after every page, provide some relief to the fingers and simultaneously to the eyes by watching outside greenery. The concepts grasped from the IGNOU ‘brand’ study material proved useful while writing the answers. For me, the three hours’ time was sufficient to write 18 to 20 of the 24 pages. Once finished writing, could realise that most of the young fellows had already left the hall. They met me as strangers and departed as strangers.
The staff of the IGNOU examination centre (code 1209) was well versed with the job and experienced in holding the examination of different courses simultaneously in a credible way. Regional Director and inspectors who visited the centre, were courteous to approach and encourage the odd man out in the examination hall.
We can’t hold on or recapture youth. Even plastic surgery has limited scope. Mind needs dreaming to stay sane and keep the inner child alive.The week-long exercise gave me an opportunity to revive the memories of the teenage exam fever, sit in traditional offline essay type three hours examination schedule, amongst the wrinkleless, glooming faces full of dreams and career ambitions. Since then, I am feeling elated for establishing some sort of association with the oldest and the most prestigious seat of learning in the valley. Also feel honoured to have enrolledin the biggest university (with three million students on rolls) in the world, that presently holds Term End Examination in acredible manner for approximately eight lakh students. This course gave me an opportunity to collect and connect comprehensive information regarding varied and important issues related to the subject close to my heart; that remained focus of my working for four decades and INSHALLAH shall remain so till the five senses continue to perform collaboratively. Whether “Papu Bhai Pass Hojayay Gaa” or not, is not very important for the examinee. The objectives already achieved and the credit goes to the IGNOU: The People’s University for Open and Distance Learning.
(Prof. (DR.) Mujeeb Fazili, SKUAST-Kashmir)