Fun at the exams.....

[Guest guest]

Last week we had two sets of examinations on Hinduism.

Both the GCSE and Advanced / Supplementary level examinations

were held in the UK on 15th and 20th June.

We are fielding a total of 140 candidates this year.

The ages of candidates range from 8 to 72. Some of the younger ones

exhibit unusual antics at the examination hall. Let me share my

experience.

 

At the first examination I noticed one of the younger candidates

produce an image of 'Laxmiji' that he sat up on his desk.

Then studiously he tried to focus on the question paper and

tried to answer the questions as best as he could but

after about half an hour's struggle when he had exhausted his supply

of all possible answers he gave up. Then he proceeded to

dismantle all his ball-pens. These were stuck on the edge of a

ruler and used to produce a star wars type spaceship. During the

rest of the examination he happily continued to play

'Starship enterprise' with Laxmiji.

 

At the second --a more advanced examination; one of the candidates

-- a mere 10 year old (sitting for Advanced examination dealing

with Patanjali Yoga sutra, Gita, and Kathopanishad) called me over

and asked me in a hushed voice, " I do not like to copy but I have

memorised all your notes on these topics - can I copy from memory " .

 

I had to say ... Yes, yes , copy, ... copy. : )

 

He thought the exams meant he has to come up with new/original

interpretations/versions of Yoga sutras, etc! And copying of

any sort including from memory is somehow not right....God bless him.

The lowest grade issued for this advanced examinations is a 'U'

that stands for 'unclassified...... I have told my younger candidates

not to worry if they end up with an " Unclassified " grade - that means

they belong in the same category as " Brahman "

 

In the name of Sri Ramakrishna we are having great

deal of fun in London...... jay : )