Anupam- The Dreamer

This was the target sheet that I got when I started my journey of 2 years in 2006 with the Bansal Classes, as I entered 11^th standard. Look at the dates carefully- TARGET JEE 2008, which was our sole aim at that point of time in life. Although I lost this sheet, but somehow got lucky to find exactly the same on internet after deep search 😛

And I vividly remember the first introductory class that Mr. Vinod Kumar Bansal took for all the new entrants to the Bansal Classes at the auditorium of Instrumentation Limited on a hot sunny day i.e. 1^st of May, 2006 (check the date of journey commencement in sheet above). He introduced us to the Concept of Time Management, wherein the whole day was strictly divided into 3 S’s viz. S-1, S-2, S-3. We will discuss each with his anecdotes one by one:

First was Sleep, S-1. It was essential for a healthy and active mind. Mr. Bansal insisted on no more than 7 hours of sleep. And see the sheet, he told that it is “to be availed only in the night”! which translates to no sleep during the day! Then, in his trademark way told that – “10 min इधर से उधर हो जाए तो कोई बात नहीं, लेकिन उससे ज़्यादा नहीं होना चाहिए”. He himself probably was very disciplined in this aspect, and maybe that was the reason he himself was gold medallist of BHU University Mechanical Engineering in 1960s.

Second was interesting for the details it entailed, S-2. Shit, shave, shampoo, sports, miscellaneous. And the time reserved for this was 5 hours. Who writes “shit” in a target document 😀 But Bansal Sir was Bansal Sir. He didn’t give a damn about anyone! He spoke his mind, so shit was an important thing to be included in the 24-hour breakup. Then, came shampoo. Here, I remember one interesting story told by him. He told that there was a brilliant student who was slated to get a good rank in the upcoming JEE exam. He was performing brilliantly in the internal coaching exams. But, just before the exam day, he accidentally slipped on a soap bar kept in his bathroom and broke his writing arm! And unfortunately, couldn’t write the exam that year and this cost him one year more! So, Bansal sir implored that during shampoo, take care that -कहीं आपका पाँव साबुन पर ना फिसल जाए, वरना एक साल खराब हो जाएगा! Such was his attention to detailing that he didn’t want his students to waste their precious year just because of a silly uncalled for accident. Then, shave for boys and hair-washing for girls. When Bansal sir told later in one of our classes that –“लड़कियां तो generally sunday को बाल धोती हैं”, heads turned and we thought Sir ye kya bata rahe hain! But, as his “girlfriends” (girl students) would have told him over breakfast table in his home, he knew what their schedule was. Nevertheless, an enlightenment for us boys 😀

Then, some sports and miscellaneous time like calling parents etc. was also essential to maintain physical and mental health. Maybe, he meant that the students can go out sometime to eat Kota kachori and poha! By the way, let me tell you that it was a ritual in Kota for the students to go out for a movie after the monthly Sunday exam, for some refreshment and then to Amar Punjabi Dhaba for a mouth-watery dinner. The exception to this rule was students like me, who were Kota localites, and had enough avenues to spend time with the family and who could not venture out like the “free students” from other cities.

Third was Study, S-3, the most essential thing which would take us closer to our goal. You can see “Bulls Eye” in the sheet aiming towards JEE-2008. 12 hours of School, coaching and self-study. It was explicitly mentioned that you have to do “less school” which virtually meant that you have to show your face in schools just once in a week for Chemistry and Physics practicals! Some schools were dummy schools, which allowed the liberty to show face only 3 times in a year- during quarterly, half-yearly and final exam! I was in the first category as our school still maintained some discipline. And coaching and homework given by the coaching had to be the major focus. Sometime later Bansal Sir told us that his neighbours used to complain to him that “आपके लड़के हमारी लड़कियां ताड़ते हैं, उन्हें समझाइये”. You won’t believe what Bansal sir retorted- “ये बात मैं मान ही नहीं सकता, क्यूंकि हम homework ही इतना देते हैं, कि हमारे लड़कों को आँख उठाने का तो time मिलता नहीं, आपकी लड़कियों को कैसे ताड़ेंगे”. And he sported his devilish mischievous smile after that! The boys couldn’t have thanked him more in their hearts. Afterall, Mr. Bansal also was a boy some decades ago, so it was but natural for him to take the side of his boys!

So, this marked the start of our 2-year grilling journey at Bansal classes. And by the time this journey ended, and before we even realized we turned into adults from school boys and were ready for the next chapter of life. But, the lessons Bansal Sir gave us stayed with us well after those 2 years, more about which I will share sometime later…

Till next time….