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?

... contd.