ZERO FOR BRILLIANCE

I taught Political Science to Post Graduate Students in Utkal University at Vani Vihar as Assistant Professor for about a year before joining the IAS in 1966. I remember the performance of a student whose answer paper I had scrutinised in a class test. The question was to write about the contribution of Mazzini, Cavour and Garibaldi to the unification of Italy. He had written almost six pages , in A4 size paper, on the subject with absolutely no idea of the subject. Luckily the question had revealed that those three had worked towards unification of Italy. Had we asked him on their role in the unification of Germany, I am sure, he would have answered similar way and written six pages. I was taken aback at his ability to write trash so boldly. I remember to have awarded a zero to him for the answer. Now I find that DNA of such genius gets transmitted to succeeding generations as well and the world rejoices at their appearances in various examination halls. The way a brilliant student answered a few questions ‘correctly’ is for you to appreciate. “What is the main reason for failure” he was asked. “Examination” was his answer. “And the main reason for Divorce”? He wrote “Marriage” as answer. “Which State does River Ravi flow in”, was the Question. He replied “Liquid”. “Where was the Declaration of Independence signed”, he was asked. His reply was “At the bottom of the Document.” He too got a zero for his answers.