The countdown8217;s finally over

Perhaps tying a sacred thread or wearing a locket or a ring with religious or astrological significance or praying to the Almighty, promising to give a donation at the temple near their house.

Aparna, a student of the science stream, was very tensed. She was literally sweating and trembling. 8220;I8217;ve got the jitters. Just don8217;t ask me anything! I8217;m just hoping to pass. Oh, this suspense is tearing me apart!8221; She wants to go in for MBBS she says so I ask her again how much she8217;s expecting. She hopes to get at least 80 per cent but she8217;s reluctant to talk anymore. She does not believe in God and in any superstitions either.

Another science student, Amit Kale, is quite cool. He believes that whatever hard work he8217;s done will bring its rewards. 8220;I expect above 70 per cent and I8217;m sure I8217;ll achieve that much. I don8217;t believe in going to temples and tying sacred threads on my wrist. Whatever is to happen will happen. And that8217;ll be the reward of my work for me.8221;

Amit8217;s friend, Milind Kelkar, is another of the cool types. 8220;I want to go in for hotel management so I8217;ve put in my best. I think I8217;ll get above 70 per cent.8221; But he differs from his friend in that he believes in God. 8220;Of course, I prayed to God. But that was side by side, next to my studies. I8217;m not the one who thinks that God alone can do it for you. You have to help yourself. God helps those who help themselves.8221;

Priya Shah is very confident. She expects a good result. 8220;I think I should get above 95 per cent. I want to be an engineer, and I think I will.8221; Did she do anything special besides studying 8211; like performing pujas? She replies that she did pray and that8217;s all. Then what about the locket she8217;s wearing? I ask her. 8220;Oh, that,8221; she laughs, 8220;That8217;s been in my neck since childhood. It8217;s not a sign of any superstitious belief!8221;

Akash, a commerce student, is an MBA aspirant. He too denies any belief in superstitions or doing anything religious to get good results. He expects to get a first class.

Sanjukta, on the other hand, who is an arts student, says she believes that everything is in God8217;s hands. She8217;s been praying fervently, she says, especially for the past few days. Has she no confidence in her own abilities? Or is she finding an excuse for not studying hard? 8211; I prod her. 8220;Oh, no! I8217;ve never turned my back on studies. And you can8217;t do that when you8217;re in class XII! But its so natural to pray too. After all, whatever you do, it all depends on Him and His will.8221; She says she8217;ll surely offer a coconut and flowers at the Dashabhuja temple, if she gets a good result.

Sonia Sharma, studying in the commerce stream, was tense too. She couldn8217;t predict her results even very broadly. 8220;How can I say anything? It8217;s all 50-50! The syllabus was new and God knows how they8217;ll examine the papers. After all, it all depends on the examiners, ultimately!8221; So she does believe in God, then? She agrees but says she hasn8217;t done anything special to appease Him for a good result.

Another arts student, Pankaj is anxious. 8220;I don8217;t usually pray, but at such times you can8217;t help remembering Him. But I don8217;t believe in tying any sacred threads or doing any pujas. I want to be an IAS officer. I only hope my efforts bear fruit. It8217;s like a gamble after all. You can only do your bit.8221;

With the advancement in life, superstitions are being dumped to the background but somewhere a strong belief in God still prevails in the mind. One can8217;t help turning to Him at such times at least. But the new generation seems to be more level-headed, thinks more clearly, they have more confidence in their own abilities and more coolness in accepting the results of their efforts, whatever they might be.