Having the cake and ........

A controversy is raging across the newspapers and television channels and anchors are burning midnight oil to interpret, misinterpret the rules and provoke the participants. It's all about allowing a student who does not fulfill certain requirements to appear for an exam. If it had been an ordinary student nobody would have cared for a second look, but the student here happens to be the latest cricketing hero - Unmukt Chand, Captain of the Victorious Under19 World Cup Indian Cricket team.

In pursuit of that coveted cup, Unmukt has not been regular to his classes at the prestigious St. Stephens College, Delhi. College, quoting rules is refusing to allow him to appear for the First year exam

A section of the people are up in arms that Unmukt was doing a yeomen service for the country and that he should be supported with extra classes to cope up and write the exams. Some section always hysterical about the game went further that the delinquent skipper must be declared passed even without writing the exams!

College principal, clearly buckling under pressure walked out of a TV talk show not before stating that the College is acting within its rules and that only the Vice Chancellor can make an exception to this!

Kirti Azad, one of the heroes of the 1983 triumphant world cup team says that he was also a student and was well supported by the College when he had only 8% of attendance against the expected 33% to clear the exams and questioned as to why it is not being done now!

Keeping aside the hysteria around the game and the hyperactive responses, let the College assess the situation- the candidate was admitted under sports quota anticipating that his strength in the game would bring more laurels to the college. While the college wanted a share in the laurels are they blind to the realities of the game and its expectations? They must be well aware of his constraints and so it is upto them to support the student instead of throwing the book at him. Come on St. Stephens - you cannot have the cake and eat it too. Kirti Azad made a valid point that in 1983, he was representing 7 leagues and that there was no way he could have attended the college. The then management fortunately realized this and supported him in his cause and for the nation. The present college would also do well to remove the dark glasses and have a better vision. I am sure that the college would ultimately buckle, as the public furore supported by the Minister of Sports would be too much for them to handle.

But, let us be clear that Unmukt and his likes should only be supported to appear for the exams and in no way should be given a pass without an exam. This is precisely the situation which the old maids of the College fear about, losing to Cricket the values of education!

All said and done, it must have taken a lot of courage for the St. Stephens to put down their feet and quote the rules. Here, win or lose is not the point; atleast they have the mind to shout against the eroding values of education, however feeble the voice may be.