Gerald D'Cunha

A s a student, both in school and college, I was always scared of my exams. Obviously, I did badly in all my exams. Somewhere in my S.Y. B.Com, I had decided to enjoy studying and leave my exams alone… I wasn’t keen on preparing for exams… I was only keen – in fact, obsessed – to ‘discover’ more and more and more! Planning for exams, trying to excel in them, needs the right ‘exam-cracking’ mindset. I did not possess one. I just wanted to ‘express’ myself well… and, teaching became the medium… and, the subjects I taught just happened to be  there… So, for nearly four decades of my teaching, I have never ever asked a single student of mine, “How much did you score in your exams?” I don’t even keep a track of their exam dates… I don’t hold the typical ‘Tests’ and ‘Test series’… I do not like to correct papers and declare marks… All these are assumed to be so essential and typical of all ‘coaching’ system… May be… But, I tell my students, and I stick to...

Pic.: Chetna Shetty T oday is the twelfth-standard Accountancy (CBSE) Board-exam. An hour before the exam, the mother of one of my very committed and focused students called me up. “Sir, today is Varun’s* Accountancy exam,” she said with humility, “Please bless him.” It was very unusual, at least for me. I have been teaching for more than thirty-five years. I don’t remember many students – leave alone their parents – calling me up on the exam day to seek my blessings… I am not complaining. Just that it is not done by many… that’s all. “Oh yes ma’am, certainly, I will,” I said to the mother, enthusiastically, “Please give the phone to Varun.” When Varun came on line, I said, “Hi Varun, wish you all the best, beta .” “Thank-you very much sir,” Varun replied. “Varun beta , you have been one of my most committed and focused students,” I continued. “Remember, you have given your best; leave the rest to God… All will go well. God bless.” Well, will ...