After result season, 'The Thirteens' restart life in coaching-hub Kota
Go to Kota this time of the year and you will see a rare calm: results of most major competitive exams have been declared and admissions are ongoing, thus classes are on halt. More than others, though, this is a crucial time for 'The Thirteens,' who make up almost as much of the town's student population as the newcomers, if not more.
2018 ends on a high note for Kota's students
The JEE Advanced results, the ultimate test for engineering aspirants, were declared some 10 days ago. Of the around 1.5L students that appear such tests yearly, 7,000 qualified for JEE this time. Another 60,000 made it through to the counseling round of NEET, the primary medical education entrance exam, a drastic jump of 25,000 over the average for the past three years.
80,000 students moving into the coaching hub right now
This is a yearly transition-period for the coaching hub. Photos of last year's toppers have been replaced by this year's. Some 80,000 students are currently moving into the town, like Piyush Singh (Chhattisgarh) and Shubham Jha (Patna). Despite a variety of accommodation options (the average student has to spend Rs. 10,000-15,000 on food and housing), it isn't easy finding the right one, both say.
The Thirteens, meanwhile, prepare for another year-long battle
But another part of the population is the same as last year: those who didn't make it this time and are reappearing the 2019 exams. According to coaching centers, only half of a batch who don't qualify leave each year; the rest, called 'The Thirteens,' stay back. Institutes have separate batches for them, typically called the "leaders' batches." They even get discounts starting 10%!
Despite many suicides, parents and students hope for a chance
One factor that students and parents are worried about this time is the suicide-rate. Coaching centers have taken steps, and it seemed to have worked: suicides fell from 20 (2016) to seven (2017), but 2018 has already seen 12. "We do get scared (about suicides), but it's also true one has a much better chance at competitive exams while in Kota," explains Shubham's father.
Divided by age, united by goals
The newcomers and The Thirteens make Kota what it is. It is easy to differentiate them too: while newcomers would be walking or cycling with umbrellas bearing their institute's name, the other group, older in their 20s, zoom by on motorcycles, with their institute's name on their tee-shirt nearly faded out. But there's one thing that unites all: the desire to make it to medical/engineering.
