Numbers, Marks, Competitions and Us!

Why do we need numbers to prove ourselves? Why do we need marks to tell us that a student is brilliant or not? Why is it achievements in competitions only considered achievements?

Numbers, marks or competitions as far as I can think were just a tool to relatively consider various items in a space. Not to make conclusions that one is superior than the other. Probably to say by the given standard, various items may be placed relatively in a particular order.

But now, it seems we are obsessed with them. Until we do not have our GDP growth rate falling, we do not know that this country need policy reform. A student must have marks to prove her/his mettle.

A simple application of common sense can tell us what piles of analysis of numbers can't. Every child has a genius, but when looked with different perspectives, not forcing them to go through a rigid system like in a factory.

It pains me when students catch inferiority complex because they do not get good marks. Why the hell no one talks about learning that marks have no relation to at least in our education system?

One fine day, one fine gentlemen, Mr. Ravi Gulati, told us the crucial difference between SHOWING Vs. BEING. And it has stayed with me since then and has helped me fight the slavery of gimmicks, of numbers and marks.

The other day in conversation with Mr. Anshu Gupta, Founder, Goonj, MGNREGA is just an employement scheme not a Development scheme. People spend a 100 days, to dig a well. But just when 4-5 days of more digging would get water, they stop it. Why? Because according to the scheme they have worked 100 days and should receive the remuneration. Common Sense. Not so common.

Our ministers spend their precious time debating the number of Below Poverty line people in this country. But don't we know that there a substantial number of people (whether it's 25% or 30% of the total population), who expects the government to do something. Than just debating on the exact number.

Olympics and other world championships originated because of the inherent desire of human being to excel, not because one had to compete and win over the other. Which most of the competitions today have become. At least around here. Every participant just want to do just enough so that she/her is better than the other and can win the competition.

 But when i see some people who have actually risen above this modern caste system of marks and numbers, this hypocritical system of buzz words, my heart rejoices. And it gives wings to my imagination to fly, to experiment without caring for any number games or marks!