Modern Gurukul-IIT Coaching!
Modern Gurukul !
A Gurukul is a type of ancient Hindu school in India that is residential in nature with the shishyas or students and the guru or teacher living in proximity, many a time within the same house. The guru-shishya parampara is a hallowed tradition in Hinduism.
We have seen in the past, a Gurukul system where the aspiring musicians will join the masters and serve them at their home to acquire the knowledge and skills. The Guru will not easily transfer the techniques and it used to take years before the disciples learn the essence and the style of the guru. Not all the students would be successful after all these ordeals and some may end up marrying the guru’s daughter out of liking or because of obligation! This is a favorite Tollywood subject mastered over the years!
When I visited Hyderabad this time I saw a modern Gurukul existing in a different way. It is in the field of academics with respect to IIT Competitive exam.
IIT Facts: All the 7 IITs together have about 5000 Seats for which 3.6 lacs candidates appear . Less than 3% of students got admission placing it higher than Ivy League colleges in US. Ivy League colleges like Harvard and Stanford have success rate of 10 to 16%. Out of 5000 Students selected from IIT from all over the whole country, about 3500 Students are from AP only. Success rate from AP is higher at 10% from all those who take the exam against 3% for the rest of the country. The biggest achievement of the state is that Andhra Pradesh alone has a share of 70% of total seats of all IITs together! What an enviable record for this state!
The above facts are in line with my observations in the past. Whenever I see the selected lists of IIT students the majority will be Telugu speaking from AP .They usually have really long names sometimes as long as Tirumala. I used to wonder whether IIT should be why rechristened AIT (A for Andhra!). What makes the youth of Andhra different? Are they super intelligent? What makes them so successful and different from the rest of the country?
I found the answer this time in Hyderabad. A few entrepreneurs like Chukka Ramaiah have created history here. Ramaiah a mathematician retired as a principal from an Andhra college started Ramiah Institute with his academic colleagues way back in 1990s. They mastered the technique of coaching the students for the IIT Entrance Exam over the years. In a country where in All India only about 2% get selected at IIT, look at track record of Ramaiah Institute which is amazing. 145 out of 150 students are admitted to IIT. Success rate is 96% against the rest of the country success rate of 2%. This is consistent every year. Their record is worth entering to Guinness.
Getting into this Institute is not easy. ! They conduct competitive exam in line with SAT almost 3 years before the actual IIT entrance. There may be more people writing the entrance for Ramiah Institute than for the actual IIT Exam! Once they select a student the parents has to drop them at the institute at 4am every day and the Gurukul continues till late in the evening. This is all through the week. The students had to forgo all other things like sports/extra curricular activities during this period.
A Gurukul is a type of ancient Hindu school in India that is residential in nature with the shishyas or students and the guru or teacher living in proximity, many a time within the same house. The guru-shishya parampara is a hallowed tradition in Hinduism.
We have seen in the past, a Gurukul system where the aspiring musicians will join the masters and serve them at their home to acquire the knowledge and skills. The Guru will not easily transfer the techniques and it used to take years before the disciples learn the essence and the style of the guru. Not all the students would be successful after all these ordeals and some may end up marrying the guru’s daughter out of liking or because of obligation! This is a favorite Tollywood subject mastered over the years!
When I visited Hyderabad this time I saw a modern Gurukul existing in a different way. It is in the field of academics with respect to IIT Competitive exam.
IIT Facts: All the 7 IITs together have about 5000 Seats for which 3.6 lacs candidates appear . Less than 3% of students got admission placing it higher than Ivy League colleges in US. Ivy League colleges like Harvard and Stanford have success rate of 10 to 16%. Out of 5000 Students selected from IIT from all over the whole country, about 3500 Students are from AP only. Success rate from AP is higher at 10% from all those who take the exam against 3% for the rest of the country. The biggest achievement of the state is that Andhra Pradesh alone has a share of 70% of total seats of all IITs together! What an enviable record for this state!
The above facts are in line with my observations in the past. Whenever I see the selected lists of IIT students the majority will be Telugu speaking from AP .They usually have really long names sometimes as long as Tirumala. I used to wonder whether IIT should be why rechristened AIT (A for Andhra!). What makes the youth of Andhra different? Are they super intelligent? What makes them so successful and different from the rest of the country?
I found the answer this time in Hyderabad. A few entrepreneurs like Chukka Ramaiah have created history here. Ramaiah a mathematician retired as a principal from an Andhra college started Ramiah Institute with his academic colleagues way back in 1990s. They mastered the technique of coaching the students for the IIT Entrance Exam over the years. In a country where in All India only about 2% get selected at IIT, look at track record of Ramaiah Institute which is amazing. 145 out of 150 students are admitted to IIT. Success rate is 96% against the rest of the country success rate of 2%. This is consistent every year. Their record is worth entering to Guinness.
Getting into this Institute is not easy. ! They conduct competitive exam in line with SAT almost 3 years before the actual IIT entrance. There may be more people writing the entrance for Ramiah Institute than for the actual IIT Exam! Once they select a student the parents has to drop them at the institute at 4am every day and the Gurukul continues till late in the evening. This is all through the week. The students had to forgo all other things like sports/extra curricular activities during this period.
Since the IIT Entrance uses problem approach to test the scientific concepts, students are grilled in mastering the past entrance exam problems during this coaching. The IIT pattern is repeatedly tested and the students are taken to a level where they don’t have to think! If they fail in the interim tests, parents will be called for counseling and may be asked to drop for longer duration to catch up, or if they are not satisfied the candidate is dropped. Mostly to meet the demands of the curriculum the parents have no choice but to shift near the institute.
The parents can only sing
……Ramayya Vastavayya…Ramayya Vastavayya …...Maine Bete Tujko Diya !!
So if you are looking for a good return buy any property near Ramiah Institute in Hyderabad! It will be in high demand always!
The dilemma normally all the students as well as parents face is that if you focus on IIT then you lose focus in the normal +2 Course .The consequence of failure in IIT is that you fail to get into the state colleges too. Due to this normally children primarily focus on state exam and IIT is a wildcard entry. These Institutes have found an innovative solution for this common problem faced by all other students. They have their own or affiliated pre degree colleges. The students joining the coaching will be joining their own institution with +12 Curriculum. This college is lenient for these focused IIT students and they don’t have to prepare hard for the regular course. The timings are flexible too for these students and as a result, they don’t have to spend much time on the regular course. Thus these students have an edge over other students who have to struggle between 2 different types of curriculum. This Gurukulam approach solves the Curriculum approach!!
……Ramayya Vastavayya…Ramayya Vastavayya …...Maine Bete Tujko Diya !!
So if you are looking for a good return buy any property near Ramiah Institute in Hyderabad! It will be in high demand always!
The dilemma normally all the students as well as parents face is that if you focus on IIT then you lose focus in the normal +2 Course .The consequence of failure in IIT is that you fail to get into the state colleges too. Due to this normally children primarily focus on state exam and IIT is a wildcard entry. These Institutes have found an innovative solution for this common problem faced by all other students. They have their own or affiliated pre degree colleges. The students joining the coaching will be joining their own institution with +12 Curriculum. This college is lenient for these focused IIT students and they don’t have to prepare hard for the regular course. The timings are flexible too for these students and as a result, they don’t have to spend much time on the regular course. Thus these students have an edge over other students who have to struggle between 2 different types of curriculum. This Gurukulam approach solves the Curriculum approach!!
Competition is there in everything. Seeing the success of Ramaiah other institutes like Narayana ,Chaitanya and others started in Hyderabad itself and they also follow the same success formula. 1800 Students were successful from another Institute claims 754 out of 1457 cleared the test (51% Success rate). Seeing the rush for these Institutes new Institutes were started for pre-coaching to enter Ramaiah or Narayana. Narayana group is introducing a 7-year integrated IIT-Olympiad programme for students in the city from class VI for better success rate in the IIT entrance tests. So the Mantra for success in IIT is Ramiah, Narayana ,Chaitanya what a divine names !
This pre-coaching starts from as early as 6th grade for passing the SAT type of tests of Ramaiah .The successful children from these pre coaching Institutes had to go through all the ordeals till they achieve the goal - Mission IIT.
As per IIT Academicians, the selected candidates from these Institutes unfortunately are not performing well in the Engineering. They just get fused after joining IIT and struggle during the regular curriculum .They have been tutored to qualify but they don’t possess the natural abilities Who cares about this once they become IITian? IIT tried hard to change the pattern of evaluation by introducing theory also along with the problem approach. Whatever changes they do make these Institutes are ahead and they adapt to the changes and fine tune the tutoring. As a result in spite of changes in pattern of IIT competitive exam, students from these institutes are always successful till now. Is this not like Biotech genes cloning technique?
Irrespective of all the coaching what matters is the performance on the D-day of the Entrance Exam. If these Institution students fail to gain admission what happens? After so much of ordeals it becomes a big disappointment to the parents and the children who sacrificed everything for this. These students who fail , become Harilal roaming the streets telling everyone my dear father Naidu!
Is there any way other states can catch up with Andhra? No way. Maybe IIT can introduce quota system like in cricket! Each zonal selector keeps their representation intact in the national team. Other way is in increasing the seats of IIT as being planned. Even if the seats are increased, more such Institutes will spring up in Hyderabad!
This pre-coaching starts from as early as 6th grade for passing the SAT type of tests of Ramaiah .The successful children from these pre coaching Institutes had to go through all the ordeals till they achieve the goal - Mission IIT.
As per IIT Academicians, the selected candidates from these Institutes unfortunately are not performing well in the Engineering. They just get fused after joining IIT and struggle during the regular curriculum .They have been tutored to qualify but they don’t possess the natural abilities Who cares about this once they become IITian? IIT tried hard to change the pattern of evaluation by introducing theory also along with the problem approach. Whatever changes they do make these Institutes are ahead and they adapt to the changes and fine tune the tutoring. As a result in spite of changes in pattern of IIT competitive exam, students from these institutes are always successful till now. Is this not like Biotech genes cloning technique?
Irrespective of all the coaching what matters is the performance on the D-day of the Entrance Exam. If these Institution students fail to gain admission what happens? After so much of ordeals it becomes a big disappointment to the parents and the children who sacrificed everything for this. These students who fail , become Harilal roaming the streets telling everyone my dear father Naidu!
Is there any way other states can catch up with Andhra? No way. Maybe IIT can introduce quota system like in cricket! Each zonal selector keeps their representation intact in the national team. Other way is in increasing the seats of IIT as being planned. Even if the seats are increased, more such Institutes will spring up in Hyderabad!
Hyderabad is famous not only for IIT but also for other competitive exams like MBA Admissions. The technique is same. This is the only proven formula for success. Until there is an alternative these Institute will continue to be jewels of the Andhra crown!
I feel so sorry for the Indian children who have to struggle due to such a high competition.
What about the old Tollywood subject? Well the modern Gurukul students have more choice now and can continue the love story after joining IIT.
I feel so sorry for the Indian children who have to struggle due to such a high competition.
What about the old Tollywood subject? Well the modern Gurukul students have more choice now and can continue the love story after joining IIT.
US Scenario
How is the situation in US? It is different.
In US irrespective of whether it is Harward or MIT the students are selected on the basis of overall proficiency and not based on any one competitive exam score. There is no such thing like the days performance on the competitive exam determining the fate for the rest of the life. SAT can be taken any number of times between 10th to 12th grade.This relieves pressure from the students as well as parents that their fate is determined on the performance that D-day.After taking the exam you can find out your individual scores in sections like maths or English, You can figure out what segment you scored well and what is your weakness area. Next time you take the exam you can improve on the weakness and improve the overall score. So normally students take minimum 2 to 3 times until they get the best score. The best SAT score is taken for consideration by the colleges.
MIT Facts
Let us compare the selection criteria in MIT which is equivalent to IIT.
Out of 12500 Applications 1500 are chosen (12%).
Besides SAT score for admission there are so many other factors considered. There are instances where candidates have scored a perfect score (who gets triple 800s on SAT) but still not selected! Surprising isn’t it? MIT doesn’t believe in clones and does not look for a batch of identical perfect climbers. It looks for a richly varied team of capable people who will support, surprise and inspire each other. So besides SAT the other things considered are high school academic performance and extra curricular activities. Here also MIT does not define the extra curricular activities.
The student is expected to choose the activities because they really delight, intrigue and challenge them. MIT expects students to go out of their way to find projects, activities and experiences that stimulate their creativity and leadership, that connect them with peers and adults who bring out your best that please them so much they don't mind the work involved.
After determining that they are academically qualified, other considerations are,
1) The essays they are expected to write in their applications are evaluated by the panel.
2) Subjects they have taken in academics are stimulating
3) Applicants who have clearly demonstrated that they want to make a difference and help others
4) Hands-on, technical types, people who like to invent and create
5) Those who demonstrate unusual curiosity or expertise in a certain area
6) Participation and in Science Maths Olympiad etc
7) Good citizenship activities like voluntary service.
The admissions committee is trying to get the best overall picture of a candidate, keeping his/her unique circumstances in mind.
So on the whole the admission criteria is broad based and not focused on one criteria as in India. NRIs who are used to the Indian context put all sorts of pressures in US to get their children fulfill every one of the criteria and create unnecessary pressure on their children.
In a nutshell our traditional Gurukul concept if applied rigorously as in Hyderabad by the coaching institututions , is relevant even today!
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