NOTE: To read about the book ''My Fantastic Failures'', read the post Jun 29.
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For this story scroll down:
What do you do when a teacher fails you? Not because you didn’t perform well but just because she is irked or displeased with you. You try to talk to the teacher! That’s what I tried to do but it unfolded into a life changing event of my life.
What happened?
In third year of my college, one day, at the end of the computer science class, our teacher asked us to ask questions. I had a doubt, so I raised my hand and asked her the full form of “JVM”. She did not answer my question and I could see she felt offended.
Why could she be offended?
May be because I was a good student and was the topper of all branches of our college across the country for two years in row now and she thought I was asking the question to pull her leg.
How could she think like this?
She was a young teacher and inexperienced too. She often fumbled while teaching. But that's fine. We all start somewhere someday. I always cooperated and helped her too at times.
Did I really ask her the question to test her?
It wasn't planned. I saw JVM flashing on my computer as I compiled my program so I asked her instantly. But she took it wrong way?
Wrong way?
Yes wrong way because in the following exams, she marked me on F grade (failed me).
College destroyed the copies?
I went and spoke to her. She said that I didn’t answer the way she wanted and without giving me a chance to speak she left the class. I went to those who received good grades. They were surprised to see me get an F and wondered why she was doing this to me. But I knew why she did this. I recalled her face when I asked the question in our last class before the exams.
Did I accept an F?
No. Few days later, I went to her and said that I wanted to see my copy and get it re-evaluated. She got infuriated and turned down my request. She also said that the copies had been destroyed and that was the rule of the college to destroy the copies after the exam.
What did I do Next?
I discussed it with dad and he said that in IIT also they show the copies to the students and my college was a central government body too. So they should also show my copy and they could have never destroyed my copy. Dad suggested that I file the RTI (Right to Information) and the college would have to honour RTI.
RTI worked – Teacher revived my copy from ashes.
Delhi and Karnataka were the only two governments who passed RTI act way back in 1997. I was fortunate to be in Karnataka. Dad told me the process. I had to fill a form and drop it in a post box. It was that simple! This is how I filed my first RTI.”
The director called me and showed me the copy. I brought the issue to his notice. He accepted the teacher’s mistake but he said he would not be able to do anything about it as he could not go against a teacher.
Either teacher had lied earlier or she knew the art to revive the burnt copies from the ashes. Pun intended!
Turning Point –
Next day teacher called me and offered to increase my 14 marks and in turn asked me to withdraw my RTI application.
I declined. The director and teachers joined hands against me. A panel was set up to investigate my case. The coming months saw me attending many meetings where I was ordered to be present to hear the proceedings of the panel.
Panel of four teachers warned me that if I did not withdraw my RTI application they would not let me finish my college. By hook or crook they wanted me to settle with the 14 marks increase.
They harassed and at times I broke down too. Though I didn’t show it outside. At few instances, I tried to share with my friends but they could believe what language teachers used in talking to me.
I recorded –
Soon I got an idea. I decided to record the sessions. I used a pen drive that could do small recordings. I started carrying the pen drive at all times in my pocket. I made sure that I wore shirts and trousers, which had pockets. Each evening I downloaded the recordings on to my computer and created a folder of the audio files. I also maintained a backup. And on weekends, I listened to the recordings to create a case file for myself.
I had no plans. I just wanted to keep a proof of what was being done to me. But in few days, I realised the continued harassment, listening to the recordings and preparing the case created a negative energy around me.
It took a toll on my health too. I started experiencing panic rush. My ears turned red and hot and I felt uncomfortable. Dreams haunted me where I saw myself standing in the panel discussion and being threatened by the panel that they would not let me finish my degree. I decided to talk about it with mom dad during my Diwali holidays.
High court case filed –
First day at home for Diwali holidays, I broke down at mid-night when I experienced the panic rush. I walked into mom dad’s room. Tears rolled down my eyes for the first time for this case. I woke them up and narrated the complete situation and asked them to help me file a case in high court. Within a month I flied the case in Delhi high court.
Harassment increased – Now along with RTI they wanted me to withdraw the court case too.
- Teachers kept me average in my grades
- Warned me to fail me in my internship if I didn’t go to internship everyday but how could I go when they called me to attend the panel discussion everyday till afternoon. Internship was 50 km away, I reached there at 5 pm after changing two buses and walking many kilometres.
- A few teachers who supported initially also discouraged now. They said – Institution is always bigger than the individual.
Many more things happened. Find details in the book My Fantastic Failures.
I wanted to kill myself?
With passing days, the director along with the teachers got worse in harassing me. One day I succumbed to it and called up dad and said that I felt like killing myself.
As always, dad remained calm and asked me, where was I at that moment. I told him I was standing outside the director’s cabin.
Dad said that I will not stop you. This is your decision. But you first finish the reason behind your decision. Dad replied with the same demeanour and poise which he maintains in all situations. Instead of dad, I was surprised now. I was disturbed so I had blurted out that ‘I feel like killing myself’ but I didn’t mean it. But dad didn’t take it lightly.
Dad asked me to stay where I was and wait for his call. I waited outside the director’s cabin. After few minutes I heard the director close his cabin from inside and within minutes dad called me. He assured me that the director will not trouble me again.
Dad had called up the director and told him about my call and also told what he as a father suggested me about killing the reason before killing self. To this the director asked him, where was I. Dad told him that I was waiting right outside his office. And I understood that’s why director closed his cabin from inside just before dad called me.
Judgement –
I won the case that went on for two years. My lawyer appreciated the way I had done recordings and prepared my case file. My marks were increased and college was asked to make changes in their strictures so that no other student faces what I faced.
In addition to this, court asked the college to demote the concerned teachers. She was to become head of the department in few days. She lost on her position. Court has also passed orders for the transfer of my director.
Today Sid says, he is happy Not Only because he won the case BUT also because the teacher failed him.
"Yes, I am happy that she gave me less marks and I had to go through this trauma. Yes, I am happy that other teachers too kept me average and I missed to be the topper.
Because this whole incident has made me fearless. I have already seen the worst. Now sky is the limit for my dreams as I am free of fears."
Sid is right. Had his computer science teacher and the other teachers who supported her given Sid the marks he deserved, he would have just topped his college. What great in that? Year after year college produces toppers. But the experience and wisdom he attained out of this case has made him a winner in life.
When asked, was there a need to fight the case for marks?
He says – It wasn’t for the marks. It was for my right.
"If I had not fought for my right, I would have lost myself. And I didn’t want to lose myself. Fear of losing myself was too tall in front of the fear of failure."
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This happened in country's premier design and fashion college.
It is an excerpt from the book My Fantastic Failures. To know more read the book.
My Fantastic Failures book is about college courage, dreams, failures, ENTREPRENEURSHIP and a relationship.
It has been released in India and internationally.
Grab your copy from Amazon (http://amzn.to/1LeWta9) or Flipkart (http://bit.ly/1cLkAyb)
