There is almost an inevitable relationship between Higher Secondary results and its impact on the performance shown by the students of Cotton University. Each year the HS results are declared, an awaited controversial question arises "Has Cotton lost its former glory?" Yes, we have to agree that nowadays, our students don't secure positions like before. But how can it be interpreted as our downfall, when statistically, our students have been showing one of the best overall performances in entire Assam. But alas! We are still subjected to criticism just because of less number of rank holders. It seems like everyone waits in queue for the HS results in order to bash Cottonians with interrogations.
The deeming criticism is eventually followed up by a comparison built up between private institutions and Cotton College. But notably, how can we ever compare an orange to an apple. Private institutes facilitate learning in a small campus, far away from outward influence, whereas CU is highly spacious and has multiple campuses, due to which some students are likely to get distracted in the course of the walk they have to take to move from one department to the other. Again, the large ratio of students per teacher imposes a huge responsibility on the shoulders of the teachers. As such in my opinion, it is the need of the hour that more teachers are recruited as to cater the requirements of the students. This will prevent the teachers from being overburdened with the responsibility of handling students from PG to HS level.
It further needs to be highlighted that Cottonians are also actively involved in different fields of social activities keeping pace with their studies. Whereas, other institutions solely focuses on studies. Cotton is an ocean of knowledge. On the day Cotton stops engaging in humanitarian works and raising its voice against injustice, we can quote it as its "downfall" in the true sense of the term.
If we look back, over the years, Cotton's performance history eventually highlights that Cottonians have done remarkable works in every aspect. Whether it be literature, cultural fame or the field of politics. Cottonians never stay back from showing their potential. Today, many alumni have established themselves as well known successful personalities in the society. "And yet they were not rank holders"
The number of rank holders of an institution can never be the parameter for measuring its excellence. The one who claims that "Cotton has lost its glory" just by looking at the number of rank holders obviously doesn't know enough about Cotton. The status of Cotton is too high to be determined on the basis of a bird's eye view.
Reshma Begum,
Cotton University