Reality shows are entertaining, especially if you are not taking part in one. There is a curious kind of satisfaction in watching a desperate group of unknown people thrown together and to have them fight it out for the ultimate prize. These have always been popular right from gladiator matches in ancient Rome to Roadies on MTV today. The only noticeable change being the cut-throat competition has become less literal and more symbolic(
thankfully). There is another reality show genre that takes place every year with lakhs competing but it has not been televised (
yet), maybe because of the extreme nature of the content (
someone pitch this to MTV now). I am talking of course of the admission process for the higher education in India.
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| CAT should have a proper logo and theme song. Here is my suggestion for the logo, cool right? |
The prize at stake is the rest of the applicant's life. With each person strategizing to win, the pressure-cooker atmosphere gets the players true character rise to the surface. Like most of the popular shows, there is the concept of wildcards here as well (
to be honest, it is more like 'immunity' but well, similar concept different application). The differentiating factor in here is that the wildcards can be used at all levels, without any cap on their usage. Yes, these wildcards sometimes bring in a few deserving candidates into the race but a far greater number of the times it does not get the worthy person the spot that should be his. It isn't always fair, but that's what life is as well, not always fair. You have to work with what you are dealt. If you are not the one with the immunity now, better luck next life.
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| Self Explanatory! |
So, here is how a typical admission 'season' usually pans out:
Round 1: Auditions (CAT/XAT/GATE etc.) - Lakhs of aspirants register with the hopes of changing their lives for the better. Not all of them are serious, some are there just for fun. There are deserving people who have a bad day and have to wait another year or another 'audition' to start from zero again. Years of preparation has to be demonstrated within 2 or sometimes 3 hours. And as a wise man once said, "Ye zindagi ke sabse zaroori minute honge jo hamesha yaad rahenge. Khuda bhi ye samay tumse nai cheen sakta" (paraphrased). Everyone tries their best to make these hours count; few succeed.
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| Image for representative purpose of the crowd in exams (minus the host, cameras, and excitement in participants) |
Round 2: The rest of the season (GD/PI/WAT) - The remaining part of the 'show' consists of the shortlisted candidates fighting it out for those very few coveted spots and actually achieving their aim. One notable difference here is that there are no vote outs at each step; but finals selections, just like elections (
unintentional rhyme). Elections in the way that everyone is on a level playing field here and get the same shot to convert. Whoever can justify their candidature to the judges (
the panelist in the interviews for selection, the voters in election) get to live their dream
Now during the course of this season, you see contestants not giving up even after having a challenging time with multiple upsets. This is what brings the reality shows closer to reality. It is these competitors with the never say die attitude who make it BIG in life (
Arijit Singh the living example of it). The shows are filled with inspirational stories. Same with the aspirants to the exams. They are like how the heroes in Bollywood are, always winning after the hardships. After all rising higher after falling down is what makes us heroes and our tales worth re-telling.
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