10th board's. Then and now.

It doesn't feel as distant in time as it might to some. Perhaps it is because of the ease with which I can still jump right back at the centre of the emotion, that prevailed just before and during the board's exams of class 10.

It was mainly fear. And it was 1986!

I remember my room and the stacks of books, notebooks, thread-bound sheaves of foolscap papers and the host of leaky ink pens... (I still use only ink pens. No more the leaky kinds though)

There used to be constant music. Those days I used to be hooked on to Anand Shankar’s orchestra albums. I had a pretty big sound system. And being the only child, I had the l

uxury of a single-occupied bedroom. Hence I could shut the door and play music non-stop on my system, which was quite powerful even by current standards.

My school was far from home. Still, there were sessions where some of us friends would travel long distances on public buses to meet and study together. The nerve-wracking need to score well was in part, to be able to get a seat in a better junior college. But more than that it was perhaps to make our parents happy. They were so invested in the whole thing!

I look at us now. The whole household is so chilled about his 10th exam. Tomorrow my son’s boards exams starts. And I have been watching him prepare for the same. And quietly I have also been realising how the times have changed.

First of all, there is no fear.

This generation doesn’t care of the outcomes so much. Or maybe my privileges were different than what my wife and I have managed to give our children. There are many many more avenues open today than the usual Engineering and Medical of our times. The kids of these times are also multi talented. Much more informed. Aware. Quick to learn.

There could also be a possibility that they have seen me gain certain academic assimilations and yet make a career out of something in which I had no formal education. Maybe that gives them some confidence.

Yesterday as he studied, I thought of capturing the time for him.

Someday he'll be in my shoes and look at his children appear for the board's. If at all the board's exams prevail that long.

Group studies have become so convenient now! Screen sharing, group chatting, net, past paper repositories, Khan Academy… the list can go on!

Ryth, my son was in one of those sessions with some of his mates. I told him to ignore me as I rolled my camera.

By now, my family members are used to me getting in their faces with my camera. I realised they are not even camera conscious as we used to be, in that age…

https://youtu.be/6R2SGgBO6dk