Many years had passed and now I was quite big in size, in fact I had completed my studies. Everyone was surprised on the fact that I had got campus placement in a reputed MNC and I was surprised because the company asked me to join (in Hyderabad) before the completion of my course. I joined the company on 2nd of April and I had to come back to Noida for my final semester exams after one month.
I reached Noida 1 week before the exam so that I can recall something (or at least anything) which I was taught in final semester. The day I reached Noida, the student inside me suddenly opened his eyes after a long sleep and I realized that I have to submit a dissertation project report in college which was part of my final semester curriculum. There were only three problems. First, I had not prepared it, second, the project report was of 200 marks and third, I had to submit it the next day I reached Noida. It was 3 in the afternoon and a big daru party was also taking shape in our house cum hostel, so I had to complete this report thing asap. I was about to feel helpless when one of my friend came up with a solution. It was not the best solution but because I did not had any other option so it was actually the best solution.
In less than 20 minutes we both were in Atta market, in front of a small printout shop. The shop was full of restless creatures who were actually students, like me. The uncle ji ho was sitting in that shop was looking very friendly and generous person. And then my friend told to him, “Sir, we want to buy a project report”.
Without giving us any alien look he handed over one booklet kind of thing to us. I opened it and saw that it was full of project titles. There were more than 200 project titles in that booklet. Uncle ji asked me to select one. My eyes scanned the book in few seconds and I selected a very long and strange looking title from the book. (On asking, Uncle ji informed us that these are project reports made by students of various colleges in last 4-5 years. All the reports are at least 2 years old). I took the printout and gave it to binding shop for hard binding. While returning, I noticed at least 40% of my classmates buying reports from similar shops in Atta market.
Next day, I submitted the report in the college and got busy in the exams. Finally the day came of the viva of the dissertation report. Everyone was carrying a photocopy of their original report. I noticed one of my classmates (whom I say buying report that day), trying to tell others how much hard work and efforts he has given in preparing this report. I smiled and moved ahead and suddenly my legs stopped automatically.
A report was lying on the table and the funny part was that it had the same title of my report. I picked up the report and found that it is word to word same. Same charts, same case studies and even same page numbers. I was almost killed by God’s justice.
I shouted in horrified voice,” whose report is this”. One of my classmates (girl) came forward from the crowd and told me “this is mine. It is good na”
“Yeah, it is really good. That’s why I have also bought the same report”. I replied.
Cuteness of her face suddenly disappeared. Even I was not in very good position.
“I will be caught, they will give me 0 marks, I will loose my job” Thousands of similar thoughts came in to my mind in less then 3 seconds and all of them were possible.
Suddenly, a good friend of mine (who was Dood of our class) came in to existence, analyzed the situation and said in confident voice,” Nothing can be done man. You are screwed” and disappeared.
But he came back again after 10 minutes, took the report of the girl and ran towards I don’t know where (at that moment). I run behind him and she ran behind me. Because of curiosity, some of my classmates also started running behind us. They did not even know why we are running. We reached at the photocopy shop of my college block one by on and somehow managed to change the cover page of her report.
She went for the Viva first and everything went fine. Now it was my turn for the Viva. I entered in the room and sat on the chair like the most innocent guy on the earth. The teacher who was taking my viva was the most notorious visiting faculty of our class. I don’t know why but he liked my report and asked me as many questions. To my surprise, I answered all the questions like I have actually made that report. The viva went fantastic.
After few months, I got the news that our convocation ceremony is going to happen very soon and I have got the award for best dissertation project.
I know many of my classmates were really annoyed. Even I knew that I do not deserve this reward. This reward was one more reason why I did not attend my convocation.
I never planned to won this dissertation project award by cheating. It was just that I ran to escape from a dog and when I stopped I came to know that I have won a race
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
I know I won...but - Part I
They say that honesty wins at the end..............they are wrong.
Many years back when I was quite small in size (I was in 8h standard), I took part in a G.K. competition. Those who know me today would say that I should not even allowed to sit in such competition. My general knowledge is horrible. Today when people ask me something related to G.K., I just start Googling. Probably Google is the only hope left in my life.
But, I was better in G.K. that time and so I took part in the competition. Some of my classmates and friends also took part in the competition and I know they were far better than me. I was just hoping for a consolation prize or a participation certificate. The competition was organized by a reputed organization and so all the participants were really serious about the competition except me. As usual I was busy in cricket and other activities when all other were eating “Samanya Gyan-Kaun Kya hai”.
Finally the day of test came and one of my Kitaabi Keeda friends called me up at 9 in the morning. I wake up by the tring tring of the phone. It was not more than 15-20 day we had taken the BSNL landline connection and it was our first phone. (Try to remember the first landline phone at your house and initial tring tring of it. People used to wait 3-4 day to hear the tring tring of the phone). I wake up by my friend's call and I saw the time. The test was supposed to start at 10 and it was 9 already. (The best thing about my parents is that they never try to wake me up early). My friend told me that he has read 7 books and he is confident about winning a prize. I said all the best to him and I wished that he get the 1st price coz he has really done hard work for the competition.
I was about to start for the venue of the test when suddenly one of my neighborhood friend rushed into our house with many A4 size sheets in his hand. He was looking like a man who has just broken a prison and running away from Nicholas Cage, the FBI officer.
“What is the matter? You are moving life football. You have killed some one or you are making a documentary on ants” I asked him.
He replied,” I am running like an ant for you”
Before he could complete his sentence, I said, “I haven’t killed anyone either. I have just wake up. Ohhh, are pintu’s parents coming for me. Yesterday I hit him with the cricket bat.
He said,”shut up and hear me. One of my cousin was in the organizer committee of the G.K. competition in which you have participated. He just came to me and gave me the question paper which is supposed to come in the test today. I haven’t participated and so this is not of much use for me, but this is a jackpot for you” he gave me the question paper.
I looked at it. 100 multiple choice question. I started reading it and I came to know that I hardly know the answer of 50 questions. It was 9. 35 already and suddenly a storm of G.K. books came into my house. Books of G.K. were coming from every corner of my home and I was amazed that I have this much G.K. books at my home.
Somehow, I managed to find the answer of most of the question and rushed to the venue of the test. I was 20 min late already and other participants were lost in the ocean of question. I requested the organizers to allow me to sit in the competition and gave the excuse which was most common and most successful excuse of that time. Sir, my bicycle got puncher in the way.
They were kind enough to allow me to sit in the test and I was the first one to finish the test in my room. I handed over my answer sheet to the invigilator like a born winner and walked confidently outside the room.
The judgment day has arrived and I dressed like never before. In a huge auditorium, my name was announced as the participant stood first in the competition. They added.” This boy has broken the record of previous years and has given 96 right answers. Although, he came 20 min late in the test but he finished it on time. He is simply outstanding”. My friend who worked hard for the test got consolation prize.
That day I was a champion for everyone. Everyone was praising me. As people came to congratulate me, a strange feeling inside me suddenly came into existence. I don’t know what it was but it was painful. I was not liking the word which everyone was using for me. By the evening, I transformed in to a looser.
I still see the trophy in my cupboard. I participated in many competitions and won many prizes in academics and sports after that but this trophy is still biggest among all. But being biggest is not the only difference. All other trophies and certificates give a feeling of satisfaction and proud……..
They say that honesty wins in the end........actually they are right. Its just that what is your definition of “WIN”
Many years back when I was quite small in size (I was in 8h standard), I took part in a G.K. competition. Those who know me today would say that I should not even allowed to sit in such competition. My general knowledge is horrible. Today when people ask me something related to G.K., I just start Googling. Probably Google is the only hope left in my life.
But, I was better in G.K. that time and so I took part in the competition. Some of my classmates and friends also took part in the competition and I know they were far better than me. I was just hoping for a consolation prize or a participation certificate. The competition was organized by a reputed organization and so all the participants were really serious about the competition except me. As usual I was busy in cricket and other activities when all other were eating “Samanya Gyan-Kaun Kya hai”.
Finally the day of test came and one of my Kitaabi Keeda friends called me up at 9 in the morning. I wake up by the tring tring of the phone. It was not more than 15-20 day we had taken the BSNL landline connection and it was our first phone. (Try to remember the first landline phone at your house and initial tring tring of it. People used to wait 3-4 day to hear the tring tring of the phone). I wake up by my friend's call and I saw the time. The test was supposed to start at 10 and it was 9 already. (The best thing about my parents is that they never try to wake me up early). My friend told me that he has read 7 books and he is confident about winning a prize. I said all the best to him and I wished that he get the 1st price coz he has really done hard work for the competition.
I was about to start for the venue of the test when suddenly one of my neighborhood friend rushed into our house with many A4 size sheets in his hand. He was looking like a man who has just broken a prison and running away from Nicholas Cage, the FBI officer.
“What is the matter? You are moving life football. You have killed some one or you are making a documentary on ants” I asked him.
He replied,” I am running like an ant for you”
Before he could complete his sentence, I said, “I haven’t killed anyone either. I have just wake up. Ohhh, are pintu’s parents coming for me. Yesterday I hit him with the cricket bat.
He said,”shut up and hear me. One of my cousin was in the organizer committee of the G.K. competition in which you have participated. He just came to me and gave me the question paper which is supposed to come in the test today. I haven’t participated and so this is not of much use for me, but this is a jackpot for you” he gave me the question paper.
I looked at it. 100 multiple choice question. I started reading it and I came to know that I hardly know the answer of 50 questions. It was 9. 35 already and suddenly a storm of G.K. books came into my house. Books of G.K. were coming from every corner of my home and I was amazed that I have this much G.K. books at my home.
Somehow, I managed to find the answer of most of the question and rushed to the venue of the test. I was 20 min late already and other participants were lost in the ocean of question. I requested the organizers to allow me to sit in the competition and gave the excuse which was most common and most successful excuse of that time. Sir, my bicycle got puncher in the way.
They were kind enough to allow me to sit in the test and I was the first one to finish the test in my room. I handed over my answer sheet to the invigilator like a born winner and walked confidently outside the room.
The judgment day has arrived and I dressed like never before. In a huge auditorium, my name was announced as the participant stood first in the competition. They added.” This boy has broken the record of previous years and has given 96 right answers. Although, he came 20 min late in the test but he finished it on time. He is simply outstanding”. My friend who worked hard for the test got consolation prize.
That day I was a champion for everyone. Everyone was praising me. As people came to congratulate me, a strange feeling inside me suddenly came into existence. I don’t know what it was but it was painful. I was not liking the word which everyone was using for me. By the evening, I transformed in to a looser.
I still see the trophy in my cupboard. I participated in many competitions and won many prizes in academics and sports after that but this trophy is still biggest among all. But being biggest is not the only difference. All other trophies and certificates give a feeling of satisfaction and proud……..
They say that honesty wins in the end........actually they are right. Its just that what is your definition of “WIN”
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