When I see my grandson taking on-line classes and exams with glee, I realise how on-line schooling is depriving learners and academics of some outstanding experiences. My personal experiences are illustrative on this regard.

Writing a paper within the exams was at all times very exacting. We handed via many sleepless nights earlier than D-Day. This agonising, three-hour annual examination rigmarole was the one option to measure scholastic achievement. Entering the examination corridor was like getting into a jail cell. You couldn’t crane your neck to espy what your neighbors had been writing. There was a whole moratorium even on whispering. Such actions fell within the area of unfair means and will invite harsh punishment. All ethical classes about serving to our fellow beings in troublesome instances turned irrelevant within the examination corridor. Meritocratic ethic calls for that we surrender all beliefs of group solidarity within the scholastic rat race.

My life took a distinct flip after I needed to carry out invigilation obligation within the college exams on a routine foundation. To outsiders, an invigilator’s job would possibly seem too mundane to fuss about. But it proved to be adventurous for me. Contrary to frequent perception that instructing is straightforward, it does provide its share of challenges. The invigilation obligation itself provides sufficient alternatives for changing into a hero, and a martyr, too.

Those had been the mid-80s of the final century. Punjab was passing via a violent section of militancy. The college exams had been held underneath the cloud of militancy. It was in these days that I used to be requested to carry out invigilation duties in Gyani and Prabhakar exams meant for distance schooling college students. The very first day was eventful. One of the candidates in my room was an undertrial, who was accompanied by two constables. There was pin drop silence within the room besides the tip-tap of my footwear as I strutted from one finish of the room to the opposite with my head held excessive like a rooster. I had no fears.

My solely headache was that undertrial. He was stressed and looking out in the direction of me again and again. After about half an hour or so, I described him slipping a small booklet underneath his reply sheet. This was a second of reckoning, a second pregnant with a number of prospects. I might ignore it and be a reward. Or I might be a hero. I selected to be the latter. With my coronary heart in my mouth, I went to him, took the booklet and threw it within the dustbin. He didn’t resist. After half time was over, he received up and mentioned, “Sir, the sort of strictness you’ve here, I haven’t seen even in the jail.” I replied, “Well, I’ve by no means had the privilege to be in a jail. Yes, I will not enable copying right here. Tell me, how else can I show you how to?” He snapped, “Then get me a cup of tea a minimum of.” It was a request uttered in the manner of a command.

I ordered a cup of tea and a samosa from the canteen. After finishing tea, he left saying, “We’ll meet soon. I owe you a cup of tea and samosa.” I felt relieved. But then I remembered a Punjabi proverb – bhaaji mordna, avenging an extra dedicated by somebody. I noticed that my heroism was a mere three-hour affair. But the value might be martyrdom. I remained fear-struck for a very long time as I didn’t know in what type the debt can be returned.

Fortunately, he by no means got here to repay it. My fame as an uncompromising invigilator accompanied me to the day of my retirement. swarajraj@yahoo.com

The author is a Patiala-based retired professor of English