Delhi's Hunger Games: Nursery Admissions

"It's crazy, this is the 5th school I'm applying to"

"Pfft, that's nothing, I've applied to 16"

"You people are such novices, for my first-bor, I applied to 31 schools, and he didn't make it to the cut-off list of a single one."

Yes, it's that time of the year again. Forget name-dropping, Delhi parents of 3-year-olds have turned into number droppers. How many schools did you apply to? How many you were rejected by?
Terrifying admission stories and experiences are shared in hushed tones and nervous Whatsapp exchanges.

So there I was whining,about applying to five schools until Mr. 31-Schools brought my world crashing down. Was I seriously denying my child the chance to be a part of our hallowed education system for the next 15 years of his life? What if he never got the chance to fulfill every Indian parent's dream and become a doctor or engineer? Would the world be losing out on a future Nobel Prize winner?

All because his lazy mother had only applied to five schools in Nursery!

Ok, there had to be a drastic change in plan.

I quickly went and added 11 more schools to my original list. There. 16 was a nice, balanced number. Not so low that I look reckless, and not too high to come across as needy. I was finally ready to begin my 2016 fitness challenge - The Race for Admissions!

Challenge 1: Following Due Procedure

Ok then, 16 schools shortlisted and 16 forms to fill out. Welcome to the first challenge - the procedure!

To ensure that there's never a dull moment in the great admission challenge, each school has come up with different rules. While the application process for one was completely online, another wanted me to fill the form online, get a printout and submit that to the school. A thirdwanted me to pick up the forms from school as well.

Another actually wanted me to go to their campus and get a token number that would unlock their online admission process, after which I needed to go back to their school with a printout.

One school wanted a vaccination card, while another wanted a ration card. All. So. Confusing

Challenge 2: Creative Writing

Since schools are not allowed to interview children anymore, they have come up with another creative way to whet their applicants. The admission form!

"In 250 words, tell us how your beliefs match those of the school"
- Erm, I believe my child should spend a few hours of his day in your school?

"How important do you think the school will be in shaping the future of your child?"
- That's definitely a trick question. Just give us admission already. Please.

I knew we were reaching breaking point when my husband almost listed "School Bus Monitor" as one of his "notable achievements" at his alma mater.

Challenge 3: To The Court And Back

"Oh don't think it's that simple. No Delhi admission season is complete without court cases and delays"

Ominous and prescient words from my sister-in-law who belonged to that other sub-group of Delhi parents - the "Been There, Done Thats."

So just as I had finished submitting my last application, the state government decided to join in the school admission extravaganza. They issued an order by which no school was allowed to have any quotas except the government-mandated seats for economically-weaker-sections. All other seats were to be open to all students under the General Category.

The schools were having none of this. Off they marched to the Delhi High Court to appeal against this order.

Parents' WhatsApp groups were abuzz. What would we have to do now? Would we have to re-apply? Would this mean a more level playing field for those of us with no connections? Would our children ever go to school?

The schools for their part went into shutdown mode. Those that had called us for document submissions and verification postponed it indefinitely. It seemed like a stalemate.
Last week, the High Court finally decided to put us out of our misery and delivered a verdict. Luck, and the Court, favoured the schools. Management and other quotas were back.

What next? Would the government appeal against this appeal?
Before any of that could happen the schools threw us a carrot and quickly put out lists. Wow, finally something new on those websites I've been stalking all January. And even though it's just a general list of every student who has applied, it felt lovely to finally see my son's name on some list.

So what if he is just one of 3,673 students competing for just 100 seats in that school?

For now, I'm just going to log on to those websites everyday just to make sure his name is still there. Until the 15th of February.

That is when the cookie will actually crumble.

(A journalist in India and the Middle East for the last ten years, Priyanka Bhattacharya Dutt has quit the world of TV news and is busy setting up her own start-up while bringing up a feisty three year old.)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.