Four women in search of a future

This is the story of four brilliant students: Shivani, Tara, Tanvi and Anita from the Class of 2004. Their names have been changed...

This is the story of four brilliant students: Shivani, Tara, Tanvi and Anita from the Class of 2004. Their names have been changed, for their story is being told without their permission. They are all 21, getting ready to claim the world. Unfortunately, something has gone terribly wrong.

Shivani was her school’s head girl. Bright, extremely creative, she managed admission into a leading college. She became an active member of the college’s dramatic society. She wrote, produced and directed plays, winning acclaim at inter-college festivals. She received an invitation to perform one of her plays in Pakistan. She spent a summer vacation training young adults bring out wall newspapers. She spent another holiday getting little children in a slum to act in a play. Every day for two months, in Delhi’s gruelling summer heat, she put them through rehearsals. The play gave the community an evening of colour, joy and laughter. She applied for a post-graduate degree course in mass communications. She did not make it. India had said no to a person of high calibre. She’s now preparing for CAT conducted by the IIMs. She might get in, but her aptitude lies elsewhere.

Tara went to one of India’s best schools and made it to a leading college. She writes lyrics, composes music and plays in an all-girl band. Motivated and creative, she brought out a campus newspaper. She too had sought admission to the same mass communications course. She too failed to make it. Why are such brilliant students failing to secure seats? Are reservations taking such a big toll?

Tanvi had set her heart on medicine. A conscientious student, she scored well in school. She took a year off to prepare for entrance examinations. While others her age were having fun, she sat through special classes. India denied her a seat. But many aspirants, way down in the list, did make it. She was not even aware they belonged to a ‘backward category’. Their parents were high-ranking bureaucrats and politicians. She lost a year but, worse, also her belief in hard work. She learnt that India sacrifices merit. Embittered at the age of 18, she sought admission to a BA course.

While still in school, Anita volunteered to teach at a neighbouring school for disadvantaged children. In college she spent time with an NGO working for women in mental trauma. She entered an international competition and her entry got selected. At 19, she had the distinction of being published in a leading international medical journal. She coordinated the women’s development cell of her college and got interested in development studies. She applied to two prominent British universities and a leading Indian institute offering courses in development studies. The British universities gave her admission. But her parents couldn’t afford the fees. The Indian institute rejected her. Disheartened, she entered another stream. India has lost a caring individual who wished to work in development.

Where do we go from here? Are we going to let our talent get wasted like this? Are we going to let our politicians lead us this way? India needs to nurture its young, socially committed youngsters. And it needs to do so very badly.