The perks of being a first bencher

 

On the first day of school, sometimes even on the first day of college, our parents teach us about the perks of being a first bencher. They tell us that first bencher is the first step towards becoming a topper. In college however, the attitude changes and the middle and last benches tend to fill up faster than the front benches which mostly remain empty. This trend continues till third year. In final however the picture changes entirely. One finds a long line of students standing outside the doors of seminar rooms waiting to run to the coveted front row as soon as the door opens. Sitting in the class feels like a musical chair contest, where chairs are literally snatched away even before one can blink.

This scenario continues in most classes throughout the year until exam comes up. Then one finds most of the confident first benchers rushing back to occupy the back benches because, the saying goes: “Desperate times call for desperate measures.” If you are late to the exam hall or attract too much attention to yourself, the invigilator might invite you to occupy the ceremonious “First bench”. While most examiners prefer to bring the back benchers to the front bench, there are certain masked men who prefer to bring the already doomed first bencher further forward, that is, when two front rows are empty, they call the poor third benchers (technically first benchers) to fill the front row. If you had this sort of an experience during semesters and thought that it could not get any worse, well this author then has to tell you that it can.

Photo courtesy: Dibya Adhikari

Sitting on the front bench during final MB right in front of the CCTV and the observer’s desk is a different game altogether. The Dean of Student Affairs asks the poor first bencher everyday, “How’s the paper?” Probably she expects an answer different from, “Its terrible.” But one doesn’t always get what they expect in life. One doesn’t get to turn, has to talk in sign language if at all. At any point of time, one finds at least one among the many invigilators staring her down. As the observers munch on tasty patties, the poor first benchers are distracted by the smell, and find their stomachs groaning as exam time breakfast tends to be light for most people. The torture doesn’t end there. One gets to be within earshot to hear departmental gossip, family issues of the invigilators and how they believe that this generation is doomed.

While some invigilators are kind enough to provide some MCQ answers even without asking, most others are not so. Some of them make up ridiculous rules like: “No extra sheet can be given in the last 30 minutes.” Some others like to take away students’ answer sheets in the middle of exams and another third group, shout so much and so suddenly that students tend to drop their pens as a startle response or forget answers they were about to write. As someone once said, these strange people, as soon as they catch someone cheating, react in such a way as if they have caught an entire gang of drug dealers.

To add to the students’ woes come a bunch of perverted bouncers who take the opportunity of frisking to touch the poor students in inappropriate ways. One wants to scream, “Why are they getting money for doing this, while I have to toil through this month-long torture just for a meagre internship salary?”

But dear reader, if at any point of time in the exam hall, you feel helpless, do remember to look at your first bencher friend who sits infront of a bunch of observers, and try to imagine yourself in their place, you will probably end up feeling better. Do not tell yourself that the person is writing so much, and probably does not need help, because you never know exactly what a person is writing, and how much related it is to the question asked. So, take a chill pill and thank your lucky stars that you are not having to listen to the chatter of your irritating invigilators.

Photo courtesy: Unknown