A playful approach, need of the hour

Why should anyone give in to the powers of exams? Why not take them lightly?

Why not take exams lightly?

"I watched a movie the day before my exam,” Delhi-based >Arpit Agrawal told The Hindu after he became all-India number one in IIT-JEE in 2012.

Agrawal’s approach which could be termed as unusual, intelligent, radical, and -- more importantly -- playful is relevant not only to those who are aiming to get into top institutes, but also for the civil services aspirants who are going take up prelims exams this Sunday. After all exams have the power to rattle anyone.

Why should anyone give in to the powers of exams? Why not take them lightly? Will anxiety help? Success has its appeal, brings its own fruits, but that shouldn’t at the cost of physical and mental well-being.

Moreover, at this juncture, there is not much the civil services aspirants can do. Gathering knowledge about a new subject may be difficult and even counter-productive now. Reading the same thing again might cause boredom. Then what is one to do?

Here is where Agrawal’s playful attitude can be of help. The form can vary. One may play outdoor or indoor games. Or like our IIT topper watch ‘Hum Aapke Hain Kaun’.

“I was definitely lucky that it was on TV. It was loaded with so many emotions [that all the tension of the exam was driven from my mind],” he had said then.

Hard work, knowledge about current affairs, language skills are essential to crack civil services exams.

But an attitude of playfulness can bring about a miracle of joy.