Letter to THE EDITOR: Exams and mental health

Exams and mental health

Today, students are subjected to extreme peer pressure when it comes to scoring and performing well in the examinations or tests. Low scores are treated as a disappointment. With developing rivalry, the focus of the guardians and society is additionally on publicity.

Kids in this new age are defenseless to monstrous measures of parental and peer pressure. As the top grades by the students are getting higher continuously, the interest for the students is likewise expanding definitely. The significance is currently simply given to an ideal score, and personality development is overlooked. Such an attitude has prompted a decay of the emotional wellness. In Asian countries like India, China, etc., the problem is even more severe. With an enormous population, the competition level in such countries is exceptional and implausible. Demand is way higher than the supply, so even a low-skilled job encounters vast amounts of applications. Suicide rates in such countries are high, and, therefore, there is a need for a more productive and helpful system. Circumstances have become so extreme that even exceptionally talented students are getting nowhere in India. Today a stunning rate, around 80-90%, of the populace in India, is impacted by some type of a psychological well-being issue. This issue is not perceived as a serious worry in the country. Indeed, even in the World Happiness Index, India is placed among the least happy countries at 141st place. Cases of depression and other mental health issues have mushroomed among the students. The students experience tremendous pressure from their parents, schools, relatives, and even society to perform well in the examinations.

They may indulge in some nefarious acts to keep up with societal expectations. They may cheat or may practice some other illegal actions to secure good marks.

In extreme cases, students may also resort to self-harm. Failures affect them very negatively, and they might lose hope in everything around them. They may also experience a loss of appetite, leading to many physical health complications and issues.

Chandini Bharadwaj,

Guwahati.

Such audacity!

We, the sons of the soil, witnessed with bated breath the recently-concluded, high-on-suspense Rajya Sabha poll, which should teach us about the impending dangers we are likely to face in near future. There may be yet another movie based on harsh reality, named Assam Files as evidenced by the utterances made by one Sirajjudin Azmal, an AIUDF MLA from Jamunamukh constituency. The said MLA brazenly told before the media that he does not know Assamese language and questioned the media about the number of people speaking Assamese language in Assam. Without any hesitation he stated that he is an international figure and his political party is also an international one, even though he is a member of the Assam Assembly representing Jamunamukh. Sirajuddin Ajmal lives in Dubai, looking after his brother's business and he hardly visits his constituency. This is the price Ripun Bora and company had to pay for aligning with thye AIUDF in the last elections, dreaming to be the Chief Minister of Assam. The audacity shown by Sirajuddin Ajmal by refusing to speak in Axomiya should make all genuine sons of the soil hang their heads in shame. The likes of Ripun Bora, Bhupen Bora, Gaurav Gogoi, Pradyut Bordoloi, Debabrata Saikia are modern-day Badan Borphukans of Assam and they deserve a round of brickbats for their treachery to the State as well to the nation. They are simply outcasts.

Dr Ashim Chowdhury,

Guwahati.