( 23 ) M A English IInd Year
"Grandfather died at this crucial moment - otherwise he would have helped me in building a toilet ", my thoughts were like this. However, my IInd Year M A Course had started and our classroom was in the ground floor. The staffroom of our Lecturers and Professors situated almost near our classroom. Next to the staffroom, there was a hall in which those who were doing M.Phil & Ph.D were sitting, immersed in their studies. On the two sides of the hall, various types of reference texts were placed in open almirahs. From the hall, through a door, we could enter a small room in which our Professor Dr K Balagopalan was sitting and giving instructions to those who were doing M.Phil & Ph.D. He had given us permission to refer the textbooks in that hall. So, besides the books in the library, we often went to that hall also. Seeing those persons who did M.Phil & Ph.D, I was really astonished.
When I was in IInd Year M A class, though I had a fear about my performance in the examination, I have obtained a lot of good experiences also. One of my friends, Priya told us that she & her mother would rise up early in the morning, at 05. 00 a.m. and they together would complete the household works before 07. 30 a.m. Then she would start her journey to a Typewriting Institute at a certain place and practise typewriting from 08.00 a.m to 09.00 a.m. After that, she would come to college. Her father would also get up early morning, go to his agricultural land, about two acres. After breakfast, her mother would also join with him in the farmwork.
Priya's story was amazing. From her conversations, I understood that her parents were working hard for their children, that means for her and her elder brother. As her mother was a loving person, Priya was ready to help her in any circumstances. When I heard such stories of my classmates, I would remember my plight but wouldn't tell them anything. At that time, I didn't have the courage to reveal the situation in my house. I was ready to help my parents in household works as well as in the process of making latex, thereby reducing our financial problems - but they were not ready to accept my opinions and I couldn't do anything.
When the result of the 1st Year M A course was published, I failed - I didn't get one Paper. I don't know how to explain it. However, there was an option - 'improvement examination '. We could appear for the 1st & IInd Year examination together. Though hopeless, I was able to overcome from my despair, with the help of my friends.
