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CoachingandpoachinginaRajasthanicitytransformedbythebusinessofaspiration
ByDILIPD'SOUZA|April1,2012
SAURABHDAS/APPHOTO

INKOTA,EVENTHEROADSIDElittertellsstories.Leafletsandshredsofleafletsareallovertheplace.Inadesertedpublic
garden,justbelowabustoftherevolutionarymartyrChandrashekharAzad,Ipickeduponeforlornsheet,soggywithmorning
dewandstreakedwithmud.ItwasanadvertisementforGautamInstitute,completewithapictureofMrMGautam,
resplendentinapinksuitstraightoutofa1970sBollywoodmultistarrer,benteversoslightlyatthewaist,handsclasped
earnestly,urgingyoutoJoinNEWBATCHforCalculus&Coordinate.
Onthesideofanearbyroad,anotherleaflet,fromErRakeshRathiSir(Exp15years),promisesthattheguidanceyouwill
receivefromhimwillhelpyoutoimproveyourRankexponentially.Yetanother,aimedat11thto12thMovingStudents,
offersinstructioninphysicsfromoneGJoshiSir.TohelppersuadetheseMovingStudents,thebackofthepalebluegray
sheethasfourphysicsproblems(Aparticleofmassmmovesinthepotentialenergy)alongwiththeirworkedout
solutions.
AtownanditsUSP,inthesecrumpledbitsofpaper.
Youcouldmakeadecentlivinghere,gatheringdiscardedleafletsoffthegroundandsellingthemtoawastepapercollector,
orperhapsevenbacktotherespectiveinstitutessotheycanbehandedoutanddiscardedagain.OnmylastmorninginKota
Iwalkedpastawomandoingjustthat:efficientlycollectingleafletsfromthesideoftheroadonlythelesssoiledonesand
addingthemtotheinchesthickstackshebalancedinonehand.TheeconomyofKotathesedays,Ihadheardfromteachers
anddoctorsandteastallownersandfriends,revolvesaroundcoachingstudentsfortheIndianInstituteofTechnology
entranceexam(IITJEE)andothertests.Hardevidenceofthat,inwhatthiswomanwasupto.
ThepinksuitedMrGautamalsoappearsonanenormoushoardingonleafletstrewnRoadNo1inKota,wherethreeofthe
citysfivemajorcoachinginstitutionshavebuiltgreatgleamingtowers.GautamInstitute,however,isnotamongthem:itsone
ofpossiblyhundredsofsmallercogsintheKotacoachingclassmachinery,andMrGautamteachesonlymathematics.Buthe
looksoutfromhishoardingnevertheless,hopingtocatchtheinterestofthoseamongthethousandsofstudentsstreaming

pastwhobelievetheyareweakinmathematics.Hehascompetition,too,fromotherenormoushoardingserectedbesidehim.
OnefeaturesbespectacledandcrossarmedSatyendraKumarSKSirfromaninstitutecalledETOOS.ManojChauhan
MCSirwearingacheckedshirtandablackwatch,adornsanother.NearbyIcanseePJoyofAblesEducation,whois
apparentlynotknownasPJSirbutthereisaDJSirwhoserealnameIcouldnotdivine.AmitGupta(AGSir)andNeetin
Agrawal(NASir)shareahoarding,whichalsoliststheircellphonenumbers.
Inanyothercity,thesewouldbefiguresfromBollywoodorcricket,possiblypoliticiansatelectiontime.Butinthiscityin
Rajasthan,thebrightstarsarephysicsandmathematicsandchemistryteachers.Lookingupatthempeeringbackatyou,you
starttogetasenseofthisplace,ofhowstrangeitisandofhow,nevertheless,thiscity,likeothercities,celebratesambition
andachievement.
NoneoftheserockstarsarewiththethreeinstitutesonRoadNo1,norfromthetwomorethatarenotsofaraway.Thefive
bigKotainstitutesBansals,CareerPoint,Vibrant,AllenandResonancebetweenthememploymorethan400suchSirs.
Thenagain,manyofthemenstaringdownatmewereoncefromthoseplaces.Itsatributetostandardsestablishedand
reputationsbuiltthatmostofthesemenlist,undertheirportraits,linessuchasExSeniorFaculty,Bansals.Evenwithfierce
competitionbetweentheinstitutions,areferencetooneofthefiveasapreviousemployerisabigplusonyourresume.Oron
yourhoarding.
A20MINUTEWALKAWAYor10minutesbycycle,whichishowmoststudentscommuteisKotasTalwandi
neighbourhood,whereIwenttomeetaMrSharma.Anynumberofstudentscallthisareahome,mostofthemlodgedin
housesjustlikeSharmas.Itsthepayingguestbusiness,ofcourse,servingthethousandsofaspirantstoIndiaspremier
collegeswhoconvergeonKotaeveryyear,batchesatatime,andneedaplacetostay.
Genialtoafault,SharmaspentanhourormorespellingoutjustwhatitwasliketorentroomsinhislittlebungalowR2,500
eachpermonth,pluselectricitytoboys,onlyboys.MostotherresidentsinTalwandi,hesaid,wokeuptotheopportunityonly
whenthecoachingphenomenontookoff.Theyquicklybuiltnewroomsontop,oronthesideoftheirhomes,orsomewhere
elseintheircompounds.ButSharmahehadtheforesighttobuildsevenadditionalroomsduringtheconstructionofhis
house.Notonlythat,someofthemwerewhathecalledfamilyrooms,bigenoughtotakemorethanjustasinglestudent.
ThoughtIdrentthemouttofamilies,hesaid.Atleastsixareoccupiedatanygiventime,andheisabletocatertothenot
infrequentcaseofamother(alwaysthemother)escortingherhopefulchildtoKotaandstayingontoseehimthroughhistime
there.
Sharmaslivingroomwassmallbuttidy.Therewerefourcushionsbehindmeonthesofa:threeneatsquaresandoneteddy
bear.AplasticTweetybirdadornedthefrontdooralargecagewithacoupleofrealbirds,yellowandtweetingmanically,sat
onthefloor.OurconversationhadrevolvedaroundtheinsandoutsofhousingastreamofIIThopefuls.Girlsaretoomuch
trouble.Everymonththedrainsgetclogged,youknowwhatImean?andIdonttakenonsense.Boymakestrouble,Igive
himhisbalancerent,tellhimIwanthimoutinfifteenminutesandIdontdoanyadvertising,IjustputaToLetsignoutside
andthatsenoughandIdontsaynoifIthinkaboyisgoingtobetrouble,Ijustquoteareallyhighrentandhegoes
somewhereelse.
HealsospokeoftheupheavalthatAllenoneofthebigfivecausedinTalwandi.Theinstitutewasoriginallyonanearby
lane.Attractingmorestudentseveryyear,itturnedTalwandiintoonehappy,sprawling,studentserving,moneymaking
colony.Untilafewyearsago,whenAllenoutgrewTalwandiandmovedtoanewfacilityafewkilometresaway.Peoplestarted
burninganddying!Sharmasaid,freeandeasywithhischoiceofHindiwords.Theyhadbuiltroomsandhostelsforstudents,
theyhadloans,butnowthestudentsweregoingsomewhereelsetolive.Peoplewereveryangry!SoTalwandisresidents
approachedAllen.Wearedying,howwillwepayourloaninstallments?theyasked.Allenagreedtokeeponesetofstudents
inTalwandiandallwaswellagain,mostly.
Mostly?Butthesedays,Sharmacontinued,theressomuchcorruption.
Corruption?Iasked.YoumeancorruptionlikeAnnaHazareistryingtofight?
No,no!Moralcorruption!Youhavenoideawhatboysandgirlsaredoinghere,thesedays.Sharmarattledoffsomeboy
meetsgirltales,evensomeboymeetsgirlat5amtales,whataretheydoingatthathour?Theresthegirlwhoranawaywith
aboytoBihar(IdonttakeboysfromBihar,theydisturbeveryone)andcalledherparentsfromtheretosayshewasOKand
theyweregoingtogetmarried.ThetimescoupleshavepaidboyshostelguardsR50tolooktheotherwayduringamorning
rendezvous20percentofthegirlshere,Sharmasaid,dontgotoclassinthemorningtheygotoboysroomsinstead.
Thisplace,heconcludedwithasigh,ismorecorruptthanBombayorDelhi.Thisplacehasbecomeanaddaofcorruption.
HowdoesSharmaknowallthis?Hemusthaveseenthequestiononmyface,becauseatthatverymomentherosesuddenly,
roustingmefrommyseatinhislivingroom.Comealongwithmeonmywalk,hesaid.IllshowyouwhatImtalkingabout.

Hebusiedhimselfcollectinghisjacketandkeys,Igatheredmythings,helockedupandwesetoffthroughthestreetsof
Talwandi.
OVERCOFFEEONEDAY,asenioradministratoratoneofthebiginstitutesrecountedthestoryofagirlinoneoftheir
batches.(InKota,youarentinaclass.Youreinabatch.)Aftershedidbadlyonaparticulartest,thegirlturnedupinthe
administratorsofficetodiscussthepaper,suggestingthatperhapstherehadbeensomemistake.Shehadanswered
everythingcorrectly,sohowdidshegetsuchapoorgrade?
Theadministratorwasabletopullupthestudentstestpaperonherscreenandshowthegirlandherfather,whohadcome
withher,exactlyhowshehadgotor,rather,notgothermarks.
Butthegirlsaid,Actually,hesnotmyfather.
Thenwhoareyou?theadministratoraskedtheman.
Hespokeup:Imaconsultantguardian,andhandedoveracard.
Inatownwherecoachinghasboostedallkindsofprofessions,ithasalsocreatedanewone.Consultantguardiansarefolks
who,forafee,standproxyforachildsabsentparents.Whobettertotakealongtohelparguemarksnotawarded,ifyoure
farfromhome,thanaconsultantguardian?Thesenioradministratortoldthegirlshehadnocase,butifshestillwantedto
argueit,sheneededtocomebackwithaparent.Arealparent.
WalkingaroundKota,Igotasenseoftherangeofprofessionsandenterprises,beyondconsultantguardians,ancillarytothe
coachingbusiness.
Bikerentals?Check.Tyrepuncturerepairmen?Check.Roadsidestallssellingbreadomlet,chaumeen,maggienoodles
andminusculeplasticcupsoftea?Check.DothesamestallsalsosometimesstockSIMcards?Check.Rickshawswiththese
wordspaintedontheside:DailyUpDownServicetoAllens,Bansals,Resonance,etc?Check.Womencollectingdiscarded
leafletsofftheroads?Check.Otherstallssellingnotebooks,loosepaper,pens,pencils,erasersandformsforeachofBHU,
VIT,AIPVT,KIIT,AMRITA,WARDA,whateverthoseare?Check.
Moreobviously:hostelsandpayingguestplaces?Check.Messes(MonthlyDietRs2500,MiniMealsAvailable),including
AuntyMessandCaliberMess?Check.Textbookstores?Check.
Signmakingisclearlygoodbusinessaswell.ApartfromthegargantuanhoardingsfeaturingMCSirandthelike,
somebodysmakingakillingproducingToLetsigns,liketheoneSharmausestoattractcustomers.EveryoneinKotaorso
youmightthink,givenhowmanysignstherearewantstorentroomstostudents.Theycropupinunexpectedplaces,too.
TherewasoneatSuperiorMRIClinic.OneatKarishmaBeautyParlour.OneatUniversalMart.AtDrRKSharmasclinic.Ona
hugeTalwandimansionwithsemicircularbalustradesandamulticolouredmosaicfacade.AtCityCyberCafe.AtSK
RamchandanisOrthopaedicHospital.Evenoneatthemall.
THEKOTACOACHINGCLASSPHENOMENONtracesitsoriginsto1981,andtoadiningtable.VKBansal(alwaysBansal
Sir),thenanemployeeofJKSyntheticswholivedintheJKhousingcolony,discoveredhewassufferingfrommuscular
dystrophy.Asadegenerativedisease,itwouldeventuallyleavehimunfitforhisjob.Heneededsomethingelsetodo,but
what?
Someonesuggestedteaching,whichstruckanimmediatechord.Bansalbeganhelpingaseventhstandardstudentfromthe
areaanindifferentstudentwithhisschoolwork.AsSachinJhawritesinItAllAddsUp,hisbiographyofBansal,theboyhad
brokenintothestratifiedranksofthetopteninhisfinalexamsthatyear.Thiswasnoordinaryfeat.
Neighboursnoticed.Thenextyear,twomoreboysjoinedBansalsfledglingeffort.Theyearafterthat,therewere15kids.At
thatstage,Bansalwasteachingforfreeandyes,sittingathisdiningtable.Buttheparentspersuadedhimtoacceptfees.
Onethingledtoanother,andbeforelongBansalwasgivingtuitionstoIITaspirants.In1986,thefirstofthesemadeitthrough
theIITJEEandwentontoattendIITKanpur.Thistoowasnoordinaryfeat.TheJEEhasalwaysbeenoneofthemost
competitiveexamsintheworld:in2011,nearly500,000studentstookthetest.Lessthan10,000gotthrough.
Bythemid1990s,Bansalwasteaching150students.DozensweregettingthroughtheJEE,soclearlyhewasdoing
somethingright.In1998,heupgradedfromhisdiningtable,Jhawrites,andstartedtotakehislecturesinpacked
classroomsfirstinhisrefurbishedgarage,andeventuallyintheflashyGauravToweronRoadNo1.
Needlesstosay,competitorshadalsotakennoteofhissuccess.Allenhasitsrootsinsimilarinformaltuitions,startingwith
eightstudentsin1988.CareerPointbegancoachingin1993.Resonancecamealongin2002.Andin2009,sevenofBansals
starteachersbrokeawaytoformVibrant.

AllfourarenowintowerseverybitasflashyasBansals,withmoreontheway.
Thenumbersinthoseearlyyearsarealmostlaughablewhenyoucomparethemtothepresent.Eightstudents?150
students?Today,eachofthebigfivehasthousandsofstarryeyedkidsontheirrolls.AtVibrant,forexample,directorNitin
Jaintoldmetheirenrollmenthadgoneupfrom2,500whentheystartedto9,000today,lessthanthreeyearslater.Andof
course,thedaysofasingleteacher,likeBansalSir,handlingallhisstudentsarealsolonggone.CareerPoint,forexample,
listsmorethan100teachers(Best&MostExperiencedFacultyTeam)initspublicitymaterial,withthisportentousnoteatthe
end:MoreFacultyMembersarelikelytojoinsoon.
Howeveryoudiceit,coachingisnowbigbusiness.PlentyoffolksinKotadothemathlikeitisontheirfingertips,which
perhapsitis.About100,000studentscometothistowneveryyeartonurturetheirIITandrelateddreams.Eachspendsabout
R80,000oncoursefees,andasimilaramountonroomandboard.Tossinsomecashforincidentals,andwereupto
R200,000perstudentperyear.Multiplythatbythenumberofstudents,andnowweretalkingrealmoney.Realtothetuneof
R20billion.
ImaginethatkindofmoneyfloatingaboutinasmallishRajasthancity.Withapopulationofjustoveramillion,thisintakeislike
anannualwindfallofR20,000foreachresidentofKota.
Facultysalariesareuptheretoo.MsRungtasinstitute,shetoldme,offersexperiencedteachersR2millionayearonlyfor
themtogetpoached,shecomplained,withfatterofferslikeR5millionfromnewerplaceslikeETOOS,aSouthKorean
coachingconglomeratethatstartedoperationsinKotainMay2011.Thesearephenomenalsalariesforyoungmenand
womenjustthreeorfouryearsoutofengineeringcollege,whichdescribesmostofthefacultyintheseinstitutes.
Thescaleofpoachingincoachingisapparentfromthehoardingsandbrochures.AGSirandNASirofETOOS,whofeature
onRoadNo1hoardings,arebothExSrFaculty,Bansals,whiletheadjacentSKSirisExSrFaculty,Allen.Among17
CareerPointfacultymemberswhosephotosgraceonepageintheinstitutespromotionalbooklet,11usedtobeatAllen.
VibrantsbrochurelistsfivestellarformerstudentswhoweretaughtbymembersofVibrantTeaminPreviousInstitute.
Allensleaflethasphotosof84faculty40areExFacultyBansalClasses.
Roundandroundwegogethired,getpoached,makemoremoney,drivefacultysalarieseverhigher,butwearthePrevious
Instituteasabadgeofhonournevertheless.SowhenAllenusesthewordstableinitsbrochuretodescribeitsfacultyteam,
youknowwhy.Youalsowonderhowaccurateitreallycanbe.
NitinJainofVibrantsharesmyengineeringalmamater,BirlaInstituteofTechnology&Science(BITS)Pilani(thoughhewas
severalyearsjuniortome).WhileIspent20yearsinindustryaftergraduating,Jainstoppedaftertwoandstartedteachingat
Bansals.In14years,NinjaashisstudentscalledhimbuiltareputationasoneofBansalsbestphysicsteachers.So
whenheandsixothersleftin2009,itwasabigblowtoBansal.
ChattinginhisofficeonthefirstflooroftheVibranttower,JainspokeatlengthaboutfacultyinKota,explaininginanoblique
waytheconstantfermentamongtheinstitutes.Theteachershere,hesaid,areofoutstandingcalibre.Youcantcompare
themtoschoolteachers.Theyneedtobethatgoodsincetheyareteachingstudentsofthehighestcalibre.Somostofthem
arelikehim,graduatesofthecountrysbestengineeringcolleges,BITSandIITsincluded.
Butitsnotenoughtomerelyhiresuchgraduates.Wealsohavetokeepworkingonnewthings,hesaid.Wehavetobe
innovative.Tothatend,theyfollowmathematicsOlympiads,watchlecturesonlineatgreatuniversitieslikeMIT,andare
alwaysonthehuntfornewproblems.Thisishowtheydifferfromteachersinschoolsthoseguysarenotknowledge
seekerswherethemanagementdoesnotinvestinsuchthings.ButatKotascoachinginstitutes,saidJain,ourhorizonis
notlimitedtojustbooks.Wehavetoperform,orstudentswillgoelsewhere.
ElsewhereinKota,ofcourse.Whichisinitselfacommentonthephenomenalgrowthofthecoachingindustryhere.Untilthe
late1980s,Kotahadchemicalfactories,Kotastone,textilesandthatwasaboutit.Nottrivial,butperhapswithouttoomuch
growthpotentialandinanycase,someofitwasdying.ThenBansalSirbegancoachingaroundhislegendarydiningtable,
andanindustrywasborn.Asithascomeofageovertwodecades,atownhasbeentransformed.Kotaseconomyisnow
fueledprimarilybycoachingclasses.Otherthingsdohappenhereforexample,thegovernmentfirmInstrumentationLimited
hasalargepresence,andtherearetwofertilizerfactories.Butaboveallelse,thisisthecoachingcapitalofthecountry.
Notthatcoachingdoesnthappenelsewhere.Bynow,classeslikethesearethegreatenginesofeducationthroughoutIndia.
IfKotasinstitutionsprepareyouforengineeringandmedicalentrancetests,elsewherekidsgetcoachedasearlyasprimary
schoolandthegreatdemandfortuitionsprovidesanexcellentlivingforagrowingclassofteachersforhire.Mybanks
relationshipmanager,forexample,asmilingyoungMBAgraduatetaskedwithlookingafterthebankingneedsofPreferred
Customerslikeme,recentlyresignedfromhisjobtostartcoachingmiddleschoolkidsinmathematics.Why,Iasked?The
moneysbetter,hesaid,simply.AnestablishmentcalledChatesClassesusedtoblanketMumbaiwithfullpageadsfeaturing

theirvariousschoolleavingexamtoppersovertheyears,alwayswithanexhortatoryparablefromthebigman,Prof
MacchindraChate.Heresasample:
InRavindranathTagorespoem,AliceinWonderland:Alicesoaksbeautyofthenaturewhilemerrilywandering.She
abruptlystopsatsomedistance,sincetherearetwopathwaysintwodifferentdirections.Sheisconfusedtochoosethe
correctpath.Suddenlyacatarrives.Sheasksthecatthequeryshehas.Whichwayyouwanttolead?thecatasks.Alice
says,Ihaventyetdecided.ThecatreplysThenfollowanyway,itdoesntmakeanydifference.Sameisthecasewith
manystudents.
Peculiarstuff?Undoubtedly.ButtheveryfactthatChatecouldaffordtoshowcasehisheadscratchingkoansinenormous
newspaperadvertisementssuggestshowmuchmoneythereisincoaching.Kotasbreakthroughwastoconcentratemuchof
thisbusinessinonetown.
WHATISITLIKETOSPENDTWOYEARSormoreinthiscity?AtBonAppetit,acafeintheBansalsbuilding(asign
proclaims:WhenSheSaysDutch,SheMeansYoureCheap),ImetAniketandRomil,youngmeneatingamidmorning
snackoffpartitionedthalis.Theyweredoingtheir13thaKotainnovationthatallowsstudentswhodontpasstheIIT
entranceexamaftertheir12thtospendanextrayearinKotaandtryagain.
Classesgofromeighttotwoeveryday,saidAniket.Asacafeattendantspoonedapileofricewithpeasontohisplate,
Romilpipedupwithbutwegetsixtosevenhoursofhomeworkeverydaytoo.ThehomeworkisthefamousBansalSir
innovation,DailyPracticeProblems(DPP)sheetsineachsubject:some1020problemstobesolvedforthenextday.Aniket
showedmethepreviousdaysmathematicsDPPsheet,whichcoveredsomethingcalledMonotonicity.Tryingtosolveit,he
hadbeenuptillpastmidnight.
Itsmentaltorture,Romilwenton,andasifthiswasadoubleact,Aniketpipedupwith:Wedontevengetanytimefor
sports!Asifoncue,theyroseandexcusedthemselves.Class!saidRomil,smilingapologeticallyastheyrushedoff.Hehad
notfinishedhisrice.
Thatnight,afriendarrangedformetomeetthreefemalestudentsattheirnearbyhostel.Sixteenyearsoldandinthe11that
Vibrant,allthreewerebusyworkingonthatdaysphysicsDPPsheet,involvingwaves,whenIinterrupted.Theloadissuch
thatwehavetoworkmostofthedayonourproblems,saidSonali,themosttalkativeofthethree,whowaswearingpink
pajamas.ButitsOK,becauseweknowwhatwereherefor.
WhyhadtheychosenVibrantandnot,say,Bansals?TheythoughtthatoverforafewsecondsandRushikaanswered:As
youknow,sixtosevengoodBansalsfacultylefttostartVibranttheothersnoddedshemeantNitinJainandhiscolleagues
andmybrothertoldmeVibrantisbetter.ButSonalihadapertinentobservation:IveseenBansalsproblemsheets,they
aremucheasierthanours.Itsbetterthatthesheetsarehard.
Butnottoohard!saidRushika.Ihavetwoorthreefriendswhofounditsohardhere,theygotdepressedandwenthome.
Asyouknow,RushikahadawayofassumingIknewthingswearesofarfromhomeandwemissourfamilies.
Thethirdgirl,Isha,interjected:Wehavenotimetomissourfamilies,wearesobusywithwork!
Rushikasaid:ButImissmyfamily!
Afewdayslater,ImetPrathamesh,whohadjustleftKota.WhenhejoinedBansals,hewasassigned,basedonhowhehad
performedintheirentrancetest,toabatchlabelledK6.Accordingtohim,thisallotmentreflectedBansalsassessmentof
howhewoulddointheIITJEE.HissetofenteringBansaliteswassplitintobatcheslabelledfromJ1(thehighestrankers)to
J10,thenK1toK10(thelowest),withabout60studentsineachbatch.K6,thus,wasnotfaroffthebottom.Basedonyour
performanceonmonthlyreviewtests,youshuffleupordowntheline.Bytheendofhis11thstandard,Prathameshhaddone
wellenoughtorisetoK1.
The12thbroughtnewstudents,newbatches,newlabels:descendingfromA1toA10,andthenallthewaytoD10.Igotupto
B5,saidPrathamesh,blinkingmodestly,andthatwasprettydecentbymystandards.Still,atsomepointinthatsecond
year,herealisedtheIITswerenotforhim.HelefttostudyeconomicsinMumbai.
Plus,hesaid,Icannowpursuemyrealpassiontheatre.
Butwhythesebatches?Theyservetofocusthebestcoachingonthebestprospects.Theteacherswiththemostexperience
andthefinestreputationsthestars,Prathameshcalledthem,probablytheonesonthehoardingsteachthehigher
rankedbatches.Ifyoureanambitioussortandyoureslottedinoneofthelowerbatches,thereviewtestsofferyouarouteto
betterteaching.Butsinceyourscoresarecumulative,asthemonthsandtestsgoby,itbecomesprogressivelyharderto
moveupthescale.

Later,IspoketoHardik,whowasatthetimestudyingforanMAinliteratureinDelhi.In2006,hehadspentseveralmonthsat
BansalsatatimewhenthebatcheswentP1toP5andQ1toQ5hewasaQ5student.(Foranothertakeonhowcoaching
hasgrown,compare10batchesin2006toPrathameshsmentionof20and40.)Heneverperformedwellenoughinthe
reviewteststorisefromthatnadir.Thebatchsystemmadeusfeelterribleaboutourselves,hesaid.Someteacherswould
say:Q5hotokisikaarankeliyeho(IfyoureinQ5,theresareasonforit),andIITharkisikibaskanahinhai(Not
everyoneisfittobeatIIT).
ThesenioradministratoratoneofthebiginstituteswhoIspoketohintedatsomeofallthisaswell.Kotaisforkidswholike
competition,shesaid.Thesebigcitykids?Theyarespoiled.ThatswhytheyliketocomeheretoprepareforIIT.
Thecompetition,therelentlesshours,thetaunts,thehomework,thepressure,nottoforgetthevenerationlavishedonthefew
whopasstheIITexam:allthishangsintheair,perceptibleeventoavisitorwanderingaroundKota.Thesettingshapesso
manylivestosuchagreatextentthattwoKotastudents,HarshAgarwalandNitishRajpurohit,wroteanovelabouttheir
experiencethatiswidelyavailableinthecity.LifeinaNutshell,letmebefrank,isnoHemingwayorSeth.Thewritingistruly
execrable.ItsportsthefamiliarISBNbarcodeonitsbackcover,butoncloserlookyourealisethenumberprintedbelowisnot
anISBNcodebutacellphonenumber.(Idialleditandhadanicechatwithafriendoftheauthors.)
Thebookissobizarre,sobad,thatitisactuallyverygood.
Moreimportant,itfillsintheoutlinesofstudentlifeinKotathatPrathamesh,Rushikaandmyotherinterlocutorssketched.Init
aretheDPPsheets,thebatches,thereviewtests,thelonghours,thehomework,thepressures.And,also,theoccasional
phraseorpassagethatservesasatellingexclamationmark.
TheKotainstitutes,protagonistKshitijobserves,arerankfactories.WhatKotaitselfoffers,aboveall,areproblems.Ofa
friendinhis13thwhoisaddictedtocomputergames,anotherfriendobserves:Hisparentsforciblysend[sic]himbecause
theyhadalotofexpectationfromhim.Whatwearewatchingnowishisrebelliousself.AndsoKshitijnotes:Anewfaceof
Kotawasunveiledtomehowparentssendtheirunwillingchildrenintheirexpectationsandtheirlivesbecomehollowfrom
inside.
Yettherearehighs:Ifeltrealloveforstudiesthemomentmyresultsweregoodenough.Itslikeachainreaction.Youstudy
hard,yougetgoodrewards,yougetmotivatedbythesuccessandfeelconfident,youagainfeellikerealhardworkandthe
captivatingseriesgoeson...Iwasliterallyoncloudnine.
ASWESTROLLEDthroughthegatheringdusk,MrSharmapointeddiscreetlytosmallclustersofmostlymalestudents.Look
atthem!Whatdoyouthinktheyaredoing?Tome,theylookedlikesomanyotheryoungmen,shootingthebreezeonacrisp
Januaryevening.No,no!Theyarewaiting!Itsallcorruption!
Butwaitingforwhat?
Girls!Sharmaexclaimed.Ifyouwaitjusthalfanhour,youllseethem.Theycometomeettheseboys.
Wedidntwait.Walkingon,Sharmapointedoutahostel,hisvoicesolowthatIhadtoleanclosertohearhim.Thatswhere
thegirlcamefrom,andshewalkedovertherealowhousewithaToLetsignandfromthere,sheandtheboywentto
Bihar.Anothergirlshostel:Standhereanymorningatfive,youllseerickshawsstoppingandboysgettingoutandgoingin.
Elsewhere,itsthegirlswhogetoutandgointoboyshostels.SosaidMrSharma.
Atthetemplewhereourwanderingeventuallytookus,Sharmasaidmournfully:Theycomeheretoo.Afterall,whatdoesit
take?GivethecaretakerR50,andevenareligiousplacelikethisbecomesanaddaforcorruption.
Ididntknowaboutthat.Butitwasapeaceful,cleanandcolourfultemple,withseveralstudentsboysandgirlssitting
aroundandtalkingquietly.Itookoffmyshoesandenteredanarrowcorridortodoashortparikrama,awalkaroundtheidol.
Whatwasinthestretchofcorridorbehindtheidolcameasacompletelyunexpectedeyeopener.
Thewalls,onbothsides,werecoveredwithgraffiti.InTelugu,Marathi,Hindi,Gujarati,Englishandseveralothertongues,
thesewerestudentappealstodivinehelp.Asample:
*JustwantIITIlovemyDadandMom.
*Help!MeNikhilRaj.
*OhGodIknowthatIhavealltheabilitiestoclearIITJEEw/bestpossiblerank.AllIneedisyourblessings.
*Plzhelpme,Ijustwantmyparentsforhappy[sic]byGettingSelectedinIIT.

Thelongestofthesewasinlargeblackletters,startingateyelevelandreachingtheground:
DearGod!Pragyahere.Iwdjuzlyktorequestyoutobewidmenowandforever.IcametoKotaasanIITaspirantbut
now,Isumhowfeeldatimlosingmypast,IwudjuzlykyoutoshowmelightalongthewaythruIIT.Myparentsandfriends
andrelativeshopesformeareneverendingandIcannotdisappointthematanycost.Plzhelpmeconcentrateonmy
studies.ThzthepeaktimeIFNOTNOWTHENNEVER.Ineedtofaregudinboardstoo.Plzguidemeandmyfriendsin
ourrespectiveaims.Plzkeepmeandmyfamilyandfriendsandrelativeshappy.Takecareofthestrangerstoo.Thanking
youforwhateveryougiveme,Iwudnthavebeenbetternyways.Seekingyourblessing.
Outside,MrSharmagreetedmewithasmileandresumedhistalesofstudenttenantsandcorruption.Iwasdistracted,
though,bythementalimageofayoungladysquattingtoscribblesmsstyleonawall:Isumhowfeeldatimlosingmypast.
THISISAPLACEFORNAMESforthedifferentcoursesatthevariouscoachingestablishments:BullsEye,Acme,Nucleus,
Sterling.Nurture,Enthusiast,Leader,Achiever.Micro,Nano,Mega,Googol.Vikaas,Vipul,Vijeta,Vishwaas,Vishesh,Vijay.
Foundation,Fresher,Target.
Thisisaplaceforslogans:WhereEducationMouldsPersonalityandEducationisaCultureWhereCreativeMindsShape
TheirDreamsAGuidanceForYourBrightFutureWhereFaithCountstheSuccessClassWithaRewindButton
ProvidingaSolidFoundationBringingtheSmilesoftheFutureNowAnyDreamCanBecomeaRealityWithUsThe
Passward[sic]forCRACKINGIITJEEThinkingMindsinAction.
ThatlastbelongstowhatIsuspectisyetanothercoachingspinoff:aParentingConsultantenterprisenamediBigWonder,
completewithitsApplestyleprefix.
Thentheresthefeaturethat,alongwithattractionslikeBestFacultyandOpenSessionsandDoctorinCampus,both
CareerPointandAllenclaimforthemselves:IndiscriminateTeaching.
Thisisaplaceforendlesssheafsofnotesandbooksthatmakehayoffthecoachingjuggernaut.IcameawaywithBansals
last12entrancetestsbundledintoabook.WithErVVJoglekars(manoftheabovementionedpassward)enticinglynamed
MagicalShortTricksonTrigonometrywhodoesntwantshorttricks?whichturnsouttobeonemorelargecollectionof
solvedproblems.WithnotesfromBansaltitledSolutionofTriangle,PermutationsandCombinationsandProbability.
Thatlastonefeaturesanearlyfewlinesthat,tome,signalthepitfallsofeducationthatfocusesrelentlesslyonsolving
problems,ratherthanonconceptsandencouragingthinking.Iftheprobabilityofacertaineventisone,itsays,itdoesnt
meanthateventisgoingtohappenwithcertainty!Andtogowiththat:Similarlyiftheprobabilityofcertaineventiszero,it
doesntmeanthattheeventcanneveroccur.
Asanyonewithabasicconceptofprobabilitywillconfirm,thisisabsurd.Inprobability,onemeanscertainty,zeromeansno
chanceperiod.Thisisfundamentaltoanyunderstandingofthesubject,andtomoreadvancedmathematicsthatbuildson
thesefoundations(andthenexploresexceptions).Forittobesoeffectivelyunderminedisliketeachingastudentthatthesun
doesntnecessarilysetinthewestorriseintheeast.
Thisisaplaceforclaimsmadeonpublicitybrochures.Vibrantgot672studentsintoIITin2010,822in2011.Allenhad276in
2010,218in2011.Resonance:1,652in2010,1,816in2011.Bansals,perhapsbefittingthepioneerinthefield,makesno
claimsonitshandout.
ThentheresShubhamMehta,aKotastudentwhorankedsecondinthecountry(AIR2,forAllIndiaRank)inthe2011IIT
JEE.Coachingclassesare,naturally,quicktoadvertisetheirsuccesses.SoyouwillfindaphotographofOurAmbassadorsof
IITJEE2011intheAllenbuilding,amongwhomisShubham.ButyouwillalsofindalargeVictory2011photographof
studentsonawallintheResonancebuilding,amongwhomistheverysameShubham.
Thisisaplaceforschools.WhenstudentscometoKotatoworktowardstheIITexam,theystillhavetositfortheir12th
Standardboardexams.Forthat,youcanenrollinaschoolathome,orinoneofseveralKotaschools.Rushika,forexample,
wasofficiallyastudentatAsSaintStewardMorrisConventSchoolinherhometown,Bhilwara.Hertwofriendswereenrolled
intwoKotaschools,butneithercouldtellmetheirnames.
PuzzledbythisstuffthatRushikawasenrolledinaschoolhundredsofmilesaway,thatherpalscouldnotremembertheir
schoolsnamesIwalkedonemorningintoonesuchschool,inTalwandi.Amanusheredmestraightintotheprincipals
narrowoffice.Frombehindadeskthatseemedtofilltheroom,hetoldmeallIneededtoknow:annualfeesR35,000,
admissionguaranteedaslongasyouareadmittedtooneofthecoachinginstitutes,attendancerequiredonceaweek.
Onceaweek?Iasked.ButevenonceintwoweeksisOKwithus,hereplied(chalegawasthewordheused).

Dummyschools,ofcourse:everyoneinKotaknowsaboutthem.Kidsenrollnottoattend,butonlysotheycantaketheir
boardexam.Atdinneroneevening,afriendtoldmethattheTalwandischoolIhadvisitedhas40or50studentsperclass
untilthe10th.Inthe11th,enrollmentsuddenlyswellsto500perclass.Dummystudents,too.
Thisisaplaceforacertainconfidence,anawarenessoftheplacecoachinghasoccupiedinmodernIndia.Coachinghas
comeaboutbecausetherewasademandforit,NitinJaintoldmeinhisVibrantoffice,andhesonlyoneofseveralinKota
whospeakthisway.Ifpeopleseeitasaburdenonstudents,theresonlyonewaytogetridofthatburden.
Andwhatisthat?
Thereneedtobeequallyattractivealternativecareeroptions.Alternatives,thatis,toengineeringandmedicine.
AndwhathappenswhentheformatoftheIITJEEexamchanges,asitwillprobablydoin2013?
Noproblem,really.Thephilosophyishere.Theinfrastructureishere.Adaptingtoanyotherexamisnotanissue.
BUTFINALLY,THISISAPLACEastheprotagonist,Kshitij,observesinLifeinaNutshellforproblems.(Thethingwhich
thecityhadmosttoofferPROBLEMS.)
AtVibrant,forexample,severalglassfrontedcasesdisplayedthesolutionsofrecentlyheldreviewtests.Thusithappened
thatIpuzzledoverthisproblemchosenatrandom:IfPandTaresecondperiodPblockelements,thenwhichofthe
followinggraphsshowcorrectrelationbetweenvalenceelectronsinP2toT2(correspondingmolecules)andtheirbond
order?
Andthisanswer,alsochosenatrandom:Theyresolvetheircentreofmasswithsametimeperiodinsamesenseofrotation
(CWorACW)sothatCoMremainsstationary.
Andanotherquestionthatinvolvedinitialmillimolesandfinalmillimoles.
Noneofthesemademorethanminimalsensetome.Buttheseandthousandsmoreproblemsaregeneratedeveryday,in
everyoneofthesecoachinginstitutes,inseveraldifferentsubjects,foramyriadofclassesandbooksandnotesand
discussionsandtestpapersandsampletestpapersandDPPsheetsandeventheobverseofGJoshiSirsbluegrayleaflets
thatgatherdustonthesideofRoadNo1inKota.
Howdoesthishappen?Whothinksuptheseproblems?Whoworksoutthesolutions?Doessolvingatwoyearlong
(sometimesthreeyearlong)streamofproblemsconstitutelearning?
Doesitevenmatter,ifyougetintoIIT?