The Weight of a 10th Class Marksheet

In India, 10th result day is not result day.
It is national emergency.

 

Whole house atmosphere changes like India lost World Cup final.

 

The mother prayed to every god humanity had ever created, unsure which one might still be available to hear her.

Father walking like finance minister before budget, calculating the donation to be paid if the marks are less.

Relatives charging phone battery fully to call and ask “Kitna percentage aaya beta?”

 

Then comes the famous paper.

The Marksheet.

 

One small paper decides whether child is “future of nation” or “shame of famalies WhatsApp group.”

 

My neighbour’s son Yash got 51.46%.

Bas.

Finished.

 

According to society, boy was now officially useless.

 

Father looked at marksheet like doctor checking a biopsy report.

“51.46???”

 Sharma ji ka beta got 96!

Even your cousin who still counts on fingers scored more than you

 

Poor boy standing quietly.

 

Now reality is Yash was not bad child.

He was respectful.
Helped old people.
Never abused anyone.
Did not roam drunk at midnight.
Fed street dogs.

 

But sadly marksheet has no column for:
“Good human being.”

 

Boy loved soccer.

 

Every evening he played football with full passion. Running, sweating, smiling. 

First time in whole day he looked alive.

 

But in Indian families, if child enjoys something too much, immediately it becomes “career destroyer.”

 

Football? Waste of time.
Music? Waste of time.
Art? Waste of time.
Sleeping? Waste of time.

By that logic, even a child breathing would probably be called a waste of time.

 

Only acceptable hobby in these house is “study more”.

 

After result, parents started behaving like boy committed financial scam.

TV, Mobile, Soccer and Happiness banned 

 

Suddenly every relative became education expert.

“Engineering karao.”
“Science lelo.”
“Commerce has no scope.”
“Arts toh losers lete hai.”

 

Most funny thing:
Half these uncles still cannot open PDF without calling their children.

But advice has unlimited supply.

 

Parents say:
“We are worried about your future.”

Correct. Concern is real.

 

But many times concern quietly becomes ego competition.

 

Marks are not only for child anymore.
It becomes family social status.

 

Parents don’t want percentage.
They want bragging rights in weddings, family parties and society.

“Hamare beta got 96.”

 

Then another uncle enters:
“Our daughter got 97.”

 

Then one aunty comes from nowhere:
“My son studying in Canada.”

 

At this point samosa becomes uncomfortable.

Nobody asks child:
“What do YOU want?”

 

Because Indian parenting sometimes works like government tender:
Lowest emotional understanding wins.

Coz parents think child is project.

 

First they decide career before child even grows moustache.

Doctor. Engineer. IAS. Repeat.

 

If child says:
“I like sports.”

Parents react like child announced:
“I am converting to other religion.”

 

Truth is every child is different.

Some are good in studies.
Some in sports.
Some in business.
Some in creativity.
Some simply learn slowly.

 

But Indian system treats every child like type C charger.

One size fits all.

 

A fish, monkey, elephant, and penguin all standing for same exam.
Then society says:
“See, monkey topped again.”

Wonderful system.

 

Yash’s father later realized something important.

He was not angry because son failed.

He was angry because his own dreams failed years ago.

 

My question to such parents is simple:
How many times did they actually sit down and try to understand their child’s syllabus themselves?

 

How often did they calmly discuss which subject the child was struggling with, what challenges he faced, and how they could help him improve?

 

And many times, even when the child gathers courage to ask doubts, the response is “Go join private tuition.”

 

Some parents outsource teaching, then expect emotional connection, confidence, and excellent results to arrive automatically.

 

Many parents unknowingly put their unfinished dreams on children’s shoulders.

 

Children are not second-hand versions of parents.

They are separate humans.

 

Parenting is not dictatorship.

Parenting means teaching child respect, empathy, discipline, and helping them understand different career options.

 

Guide them. Don’t control them like remote-control car.

Because fear can force child to study.

But only support can help child grow.

 

Years later, Yash might improve in studies too.

Not because of pressure.

 

Because finally someone listened to him instead of comparing him with Sharma ji’s entire bloodline.

 

And honestly, after few years nobody remembers your 10th percentage.

But every child remembers how their parents behaved on result day.