Unlike today’s school education, 10+2+3 years, during our days the S. S. C. examination meant 11 years of study in school. In those days emphasis was on whether the students understood the subject and if they could express/explain it in their own words, today students are expected to almost remember everything like a parrot.

            Any way when I passed my S. S. C. exam in 1967 with II class I was somewhat disheartened as I had missed my first class by only a few marks. Since I wanted to become an engineer, I took admission in F. Y. Sc. but afterwards switched over to direct Diploma after S. S. C. Later, I got employed in Bush Radio Company as a  senior Inspector in their quality control department.

            One day during the above-mentioned period after completing my S. S. C. and before appearing for the Diploma exams, I had a dream. A dream in which I found myself appearing for the S. S. C. exam again,  after much arguing with my teachers and parents. This time I cleared the exam securing first class (of course  in the dream). I have never before talked about my dream to any one but have always wondered if such a thing is possible i.e. if any student can reappear for an exam to improve one’s grades. I never tried to get the answer to this question also for the fear of others laughing at me.

            Recently in the year 1999, Dr. Baldev Matlani, then Head of the Department of Sindhi in the Mumbai University introduced a Certificate Course in Sindhi language not only to promote the Sindhi language but also to bring it on par with other Indian languages in the Mumbai University as the University has been conducting Certificate Courses in other languages for the past many years.

            I came to know about this in a Get- together meeting of Bharatiya Sindhu Sabha held at A. M. K. Premier High School. After the All India president of BSS briefed us about the course, Shri Vasudev `NIRMAL'  addressed the audience about the Certificate Course in Sindhi with a detail explanation. After the meet, during Lunch, I bumped onto `Nirmal' saheb and asked him whether I could take up the certificate course being offered by the university. " Since you have passed S. S. C. in Sindhi medium, this course will hardly be of any use or benefit to you" he explained. I remained tight-lipped.

            Again in the year 2000, Dr. Matlani introduced Diploma Course in Sindhi. I promptly expressed my desire to join the Diploma Course in Sindhi. This time I was welcome to join the course but there was a minor problem, "According to the University rules, an interested candidate for the Diploma course must clear the Certificate Course, even though you have passed your S. S. C. exam in Sindhi medium" explained Dr. Matlani. I was taken aback for a moment and felt sad and sorry for I had wasted an entire year which I could not afford to do at the age of fifty. But I gathered my wits and filled up the form to join the Certificate Course immediately without wasting any more time.

            The classes were being conducted in the premises of V. E. S. Degree College. When I went to attend my first lecture, upon entering the classroom I found students of all age groups sitting there. From junior and engineering college students to the teaching staff of  V. E. S. and  couple of parents were present in the class, but I was the youngest among all of them, I mean  in the reverse order. Shri Vasudev `Nirmal' himself had undertaken to teach us Sindhi. After the initial classes, Smt. Kajal Ramrakhyani, who is younger to me in the real sense, continued with the teaching of Sindhi in the class.

            Days passed by. When the examination came closer I got worried and anxious as to what will I do in the exam, will I be able to clear it with good results? Finally the day arrived and I got ready to go to Kalina Campus of Mumbai University. Reshma, my daughter insisted upon accompanying me to the examination centre. I told her not to bother as I am a grown up man and can take good care of myself. "Papa, did you not accompany me to the exam hall during my  exams? Then why should I not come with you to the exam hall today?" pat came the reply from Reshma which left me spell bound. Realizing how much my little darling loved and cared for me, I gave in and she accompanied me to University Campus at Kalina. Even after wishing me good luck when I went inside the exam hall, she waited for me downstairs till I came out of the hall after completing my paper.

            When the results of the exam were declared I found my name at the top of the List securing 149 marks out of 150. So my dream, described in the beginning of the article , seems to have come true, the only difference being S. S. C. certificate was for all the subjects including Sindhi where as this Certificate is exclusively for Sindhi language that too from Mumbai University and I am proud of it. I have since taken admission in Diploma Course in Sindhi.

I hope, readers could take a cue from my experience of learning the Sindhi language, and not hesitate, even if they feel they are well past their days of appearing for examinations. When you love your community and its culture, you shall overcome all barriers.