IE is investigating after 20 years what happened to the national toppers. It is throwing up interesting results. Whenever the results for the state board are announced for X or XII we find the girls securing the top positions. Not only that but improving the stats year after year. But for the higher education the gender bias & the family background plays a major role.
It is always ‘advantage men’ right from birth (unfortunately!) everywhere in the world. Haven’t we changed from the Stone age? But with ungainly things happening around I believe cautious behaviour is the trend.
50% of the toppers are abroad, mainly in the US. Most of them in science & technology. More than half of them grew up outside the Metros. They studied in Tier 2 or Tier 3 cities. It basically shows that not the city but the drive of the individual matters most.
Only one is in minority OBC category. No Dalit or Tribal. Now this is a clear indicator of the divide that exists. The capabilities, hard work & potential remains untapped. Of the 76 toppers who answered the questionnaire just 5 were first-generation college-goers.
Those of whom who stayed back pursued a career in finance. Then tech, consultancy & business. Those of whom who settled outside, work in tech sector.
Only one student said his parents earned less than Rs 1 lakh per annum when he topped the class 12 Board exam. Three fourth of the respondents said their parents earned more than Rs 5 lakhs when they passed their 12th std exam. The remaining reported their annual income between Rs 1 lakh & Rs 5 lakh.
Among the toppers51 men & 35 women gender does matter. From the low representation in science & tech to fewer girl toppers going abroad than their counterparts. Promising careers put on hold to those tailormade to suit family obligations.
Just 40% are studying/ working abroad but for men the ratio is 63%. Poonam Batra, Professor of Education at Delhi Univ says these numbers are small to generalise but acknowledges a ‘Gender lens’.
A few like Swati turn down a full scholarship to study in Singapore & was happy to study here. Sohini got married & all priorities changed. There are constraints on mobility & a longer commitment. She is juggling her baby, career & long distance marriage. Had I been a man things would have been different!
In the 21st century not everything has changed. We have to keep up our promises & work to achieve what is expected of us! The gender bias notwithstanding we need our space & our work. Get to like what we already have & strive for more! Yeh dil mange more!!
Asian Entertainment 