Would we have made the cut now?

Lt Gen Baljit Singh (Retd)

In my student years, the longest vacation was the four-month gap awaiting the School Leaving Examination Certificate from Cambridge University and entry to a college of my choosing, in 1953. I used the time poring over the prospectus and admission forms of nearly a dozen colleges and shortlisted three. None of the admission forms wanted the applicant to declare his overall pass percentage. It was a moment of joy that the first response for admission interview came from St Stephen’s College — my first choice. I wasted no time in packing my belongings and setting out on an overnight train. 

At the Delhi station, I hired a tonga and entered the college in style! There was time to wipe my brow and dust the shoes before my name was called out by a functionary outside the Principal’s office. Dr Raja Ram beckoned me to a chair and enquired: ‘Why do you want admission to St Stephen’s?’ My honest response, ‘I am fascinated by the college campus, sir!’ elicited a smile. Turning to my marksheet he said: ‘I notice you scored a distinction in history, so would you like to pursue History Honours?’ ‘Distinction’ implied above 80% (a matter for great celebration); ‘Credit’ above 60% and ‘Pass’ above 45% — which in today’s milieu of 96% cut-off, are simply a dismal academic attainment.

The history department was headed by Kapadia saheb — a short, slim and spruced gentleman. He was luckily also my tutor and guide for the entire three-year term. In the nature of instruction imparted, each of us met our tutor in his chamber exclusively for 20-30 minutes, once a fortnight. I guess it was natural that in my first meeting, he should enquire where I was headed in life. When I told him that a career in the Indian Army was my beacon, he was nonplussed. I promptly proffered that I needed to successfully complete at least one year at college, the minimum education bar set by the UPSC for entry to the Indian Military Academy.

Our term began with a course in medieval European history and the Mughal period from Indian history. Besides assigning me one or more study projects each fortnight, with an eye on the term-end examination, Kapadia saheb also assumed responsibility to educate me on matters military. So, the military achievements and failures of personalities, the likes of Catherine and Peter the Great of Russia, Bismarck and Frederick of Prussia and, of course, Napoleon became my special, additional assignments! 

Several of his students had risen to the rank of General in the Army; one head of the IAF (Air Chief Marshal PC Lal); and another head of the Pakistan army and President of Pakistan (Zia-ul-Haq). But one wonders if any of them would have made today’s cut-off grade!