Science, Commerce or Arts

I might as well forego the 'Commerce or Arts', because the cardinal rule sweeping Mumbai and lashing so badly says that Science is what you need to succeed, and all the smart uns 'take' science, the not-so-smart ones take commerce, and the not-at-all-smart uns take arts. Everytime someone sees my eligibility form, or any form, where my choice 'Commerce' is ticked, they yap, "YOU are taking commerce? Why? I thought you wanted to take science.' Yea, I smile, I nod, and say, 'You're the thousandth person saying this.' What's worse? People asking you if you are sure of your choice. I mean, after a lot many years, has this 'Science Bug' bitten us. Way back into the 1930s, people generally opted for arts, either to major in law, economics or civil services. Might be techno boom which has hit us, makes people realize 'IT' is the 'It' thing. Everyone literally chants the names of engineering colleges, and of the merits of the greatest of great IT sector. Medicine too takes a backseat (again, people's mouths twitch: why 'waste' five-six years?). No one, yes, no one realizes that our Honourable Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is an economics graduate from the prestigious London School of Economics. All people care is that 'laaj' ke liye, and in accordance to your oh-so-wonderful marks, you have to take science. Forget the biggies, even people, aged 14, 15 and 16 comment on the various merits of science. Surprisingly they never come up with a demerit for commerce. 90% of the 'smart science clique' wish to do their masters from the very well known IIT, or the land of honey USA. All the Ivy League Universities and Engineering Colleges are known by heart in India, and every Indian, mostly knows their rankings and discuss about their merits. I don't think the Americans know about our 'awesome' universities, which are not on the great lips of great people, like Benares Hindu University (IT-BHU) etc. Even people taking commerce and arts ask, 'Why are you opting for commerce? Even I'm doing it!' Parents coax children to take science, even if they loathe it. So many students positively hate refraction, chemical bonding, organic chem, electromagnetism, half-life and so many more things. Even if you 'rock' at geography, know where the remotest place is located, even if you 'rock' at history, knowing the whole lineage of Babar, if you fail to know what the hell sin i upon sin r is, you are 'dumb'. Why is the parameter for judging smartness 'science'? Can we exist in a world without literature, art, theatre, drama, economics, chartered accountants, lawyers, accountants and financiers? Duh, no. Then why treat them as 'second class'? The prejudice towards science, justified as the 'right choice' is really unfair. Unfair to those of us who wish to pursue what we want. Half the students drop out of science classes, stating that they are 'rigorous'. Is it because of that, or because they loathe science? Even the commerce stream is equally rigorous. It is just that it is not brought to light. I really, really hate the 'Science' word coming from everybody. If you get above 94%, you 'have' to 'take' science. No options. Some dearies always ask, 'Ruparel, Ruia or Swami?' If I say Podar, they will yip-yap, 'Commerce? Arre, take science. Bahut scope hein.' People don't realise that we can create scope.
Guys, gals, everyone....let us really be fair and opt for the streams which we really want, and not be 'automatons' following the 'Science' crowd. It really doesn't help if we live in a world full of engineers. We need them, no doubt, but other professions are important. I hope some parents don't coax their children into taking science. It really is 'In Pursuit for Sadness' for them. If 'doing well in life' is the criterion, I guess Dr. Manmohan Singh, P. Chidambaram and some others have carved a niche for themselves. When are people going to realize that whatever you do, really doesn't matter, as long as you do it well? Please, do respect other streams. We aren't doing wasteful courses. It is the insecurity of the people which wish to stick the 'majority' ka stream. I'm glad, atleast some of us, have our parents' support. That surely can help us go a long way.
Cheerios!!:-D