We Are Monkeys.

This is something that I wrote a couple of months ago and came across again today when I was looking for another file.

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We are monkeys.

This is not a reference to the apes of the evolutionary theory. This is a reference to the monkeys from the story of the cap-seller. This is the tragedy of mankind’s Monkey See Monkey Do nature.

We are monkeys.

All around me is a jungle. Not of trees or concrete – of students hustling about. In every lecture, every direction, as far as the eye can see are students scratching on paper and ticking their books. Which books? Related to the ongoing lecture? Of course not! That would be crazy. Aptitude is the new mantra for all final year students. For GRE, CAT and of course, placements.

“What are you preparing for?” I ask.

“For everything!” One girl replies.

We are monkeys.

One person picks up an aptitude book and everyone follows. It makes sense though, we all want to do well and aptitude is a large part of the criteria. But do we really know what we are doing?

“What plans after you get your degree?”

“I don’t know. Either a job or masters.”

“Well of course, what else could there be.”

What else could there be? Surely there must be something. A third choice, a hidden door. Placements have started, postgrad deadlines are soon and we are still hustling about, directionless, knocking on all the doors – hoping to find a way out.