Individuality is distinct. So when we talk of 55 odd students we mean 55 individuals. Each unique, each different, yet together they are a class. Amidst this difference, exists, some similarity which cements strong association amongst students.
What are these similarities and can we classify them? Such things constantly ponder me and what follows is my humble response.
The group which attracts instant attention is, of the students who sit at the back. Usually this unit comprises of people with gelled hair, funky T-shirts, and drooping eyes deprived of sleep. They are eager to discuss, however their subjects of discussion are counter strike and other things but not books. They disturb all with their chit chat and when objected, they act innocent. They are the first to leave the class and last to come in. Their presence does not make any difference to the class but their absence does. They proudly call themselves as members of the back benchers’ society (mbbs).
Enough of the big brothers. Let’s now step down a few levels to the first row. Next group is of students who sit in the front row. These are the first to come in and last to leave. Their usual attire- heavy specs, bulky bags, thick copies -thicker books and to top it all a set of pens- green, black and of course blue. They keep their eyes fixed at the black board and are quickest in pointing mistakes of the teachers. Their hands rise frequently; sometime to answer and sometimes to enquire. They study, study and only study. Responsible for undue lengthening of the period, at times, they have to face the burnt of the proxy kings.
The third group likes to sit in between the front and the last rows. These people have one thing in common. Each of them has something to hide. Some hide novels, some sudoku sheets, some their empty refills, some empty notebooks. Some hide unfinished poems, some emotions, some their mobiles and some hide their shame. With heads held low and fear in mind they play this hide and seek game with the teacher. At times the teacher too sits in these rows to hide his limited knowledge.
The fourth group is unique as it is comprised by the students who do not form any group. They sit alone in the class and they have a world of their own. They will enter the class in time or late and if in good mood they might even bunk the class. Their limited interaction with others, limits the knowledge about them. They can be found roaming alone in the campus. They too sit in the middle rows and hide themselves and their loneliness.
It will be unfair to the fairer sex if they are not there in the list. Girls of nit hamirpur are not from Venus, they are from PGH. Girls elsewhere are known to be chatter boxes. But here they have opted to be silent bombs. They explode at times but never chat. Jealous is a term synonymous to the girls; however here they can be found cuddled together with their lot. Beauty is to girls as intelligence is to boys. This however is not true in this case. Here it is rare to find both.
