As in ‘3 Idiots’, Marks Don’t Matter, Competence Leads to Success

Follow your passion, love what you do, and seek knowledge. 

(Photo: Erum Gour/The Quint)

What is more important: marks or knowledge? I say both.

This examination season, I urge parents to stop comparing their child with any Sharma ji ka ladka. Some parents think marks matters the most, but we live in an era where having a career in sports is more plausible than one in engineering.

Moreover, grace marking is well reported in news, taking off the mask from transparency in scoring. Spiking allows students to score high in the subject that is otherwise hard to score in. In the last three-four years, the number of students who have scored 95 has increased dramatically. So, marks indicate nothing about one’s intelligence.

Comparison is the most dangerous word in a student’s dictionary. The word causes immense pressure in students. Every parent wants their child to succeed in life, but pressure has a negative effect on a student. Rather than securing marks, a student must pursue knowledge. Of course, this doesn’t mean that studying is worthless. Marks are essential for a student’s future.

I also feel that passion is something which is not appreciated by Indian society. Hard work is key, and there shouldn’t be any pressure to get marks. For example, take the movie based on cricketer MS Dhoni’s life. Would we have had such a captain for the Indian team if his parents forced him to focus solely on marks?

The lesson is to follow your passion, to love what you do, and seek knowledge. I would conclude with a famous quote from the movie ‘3 Idiots’ – “Kabil bano, kamyaabi jhak maar ke peeche aayegi (Be capable/competent, success will automatically follow).”