May 24, 2003 01:00 AM
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(Updated May 24, 2003 01:20 AM)
Agrawal Classes..the top most coaching class institution(yes its an institution by itself!)and probably the oldest in Mumbai….why even my father was a student here way back in 1966-67.Known for its top class coaching and living up to its reputation year after year,no doubt that it is still very much sought after today as it was a couple of decades back.The admission process in itself is so tedious,not like other coaching classes existing today(know who I am referring to?) where its just a matter of moolah if you want your ward to have the best coaching for class XII.So what is it that makes “Agrus”(as it is fondly called by the students) so special?
Well,first and foremost,only the cream of students(read top rankers and the likes)are the ones who actually get through with the admissions,which are based on the Maths-Physics-Chemistry marks of Class X.
Admissions begin way too early, immediately after college for class XI commences(actually that’s become a trend nowadays,but you know where it first started),so prospective students should watch out for the admission notifications around July.There is an option of PCM batches or PCMB batches,depending on the branch taken up by the student after class X.There’s a difference of about Rs.4000/- in the fees of the above two mentioned batches.Speaking of which,the fees at Agrawals are pretty nominal in today’s times,which is another plus point.But getting into Agrus is not everybody’s cup of tea,and surviving a whole year out there, all the more difficult.Here’s why.
The lectures are conducted every single day of the summer vacation right from the last day of class XI final exams upto the first day of college in class XII.Also lectures are held in the Diwali and Christmas vacations.Nothing less than grueling.Only exception is Sundays which are reserved for a different type of horror altogether(more about that later)The duration of the class every day is six hours and twenty minutes,i.e 7 am to 1:20 pm for the morning batch students or 1:45 pm to 8:05 pm for the evening batch(students are given a dose of both of these,for a at least a month each).The strength of each division is roughly around 80-90 students,and there are about 6 such divisions.
The professors who teach at Agrawal Classes are the best lot in the city,from Prof. Dheer Singh for Physics to Prof. Vengsarkar for Mathematics to Prof. Kadali for Chemistry.Each professor is highly qualified,highly experienced in the field of teaching and not to forget the in-depth knowledge that every one has about their subject,these are killing combinations!!Discipline is of utmost importance here,what with regular checking of the home assignments given daily,students are kept on their toes throughout the year.This might seem very much taxing and rigid and heartless to students initially,evidently there is a dawn of realization how much good it is doing to the students.By the end of each topic,the profs make sure that students are more or less thorough with the topic.This is made sure by the weekly tests conducted at IES school in Hindu Colony Dadar,every Sunday morning.These tests are nothing like others faced by students elsewhere,the questions are totally high-level and outright difficult for students,but that’s the beauty of it. The totally fundamental based questions are set such that students actually have a go at racking their brains and not just vomiting out answers learnt by memory.(Such papers are actually what students would face in professional exams for engineering courses etc)
Sure,they demoralize the students somewhat,but also motivate them to work harder for the next test.The list of the top scorers(with their respective marks) in these tests is prepared and printed and a copy of the same is sent to the parents of each student.This helps parents to keep track of their ward’s performance or atleast they are encouraged to take active interest in the same.A very good tactic.
Even though the test papers are a bit off syllabus,the students are for sure taught properly how to crack the Boards,with little hints here and there given often by the professors on how to write the exam papers.Due importance is given to presentation in answer booklets and students are taught all of this by the time the year comes to an end.It is at this time that the students realize the benefits of Agrawals(did I mention,the notes for every subject provided by these guys are just fantabulous)Such thorough coaching and preparation is a trademark of Agrawal Classes,that’s the reason why they are what they are today,churning out toppers year after year,by the ton.
Another very good thing about the classes is the prime location, Dadar TT. This part of Mumbai is an ideal location,since it becomes easily accessible to students from both Eastern and Western suburbs.And no student can ever think of Agrawal Classes without Damodar’s Samosas coming to the mind..truly, a part of every Agru student’s diet,for a year at least.
Its been four years since I passed out from Agrus(am a happy electronics & telecomm engg student now),but the memories are absolutely intact.There has been a progressive hike in the fees every year since then,but then it is a necessary thing to do to survive,so it is totally natural.
All in all,Agrawal Classes still remain the pioneers of coaching class education, hats off to them for their years of consistency and quality education.Really proud of u,Agrus!!
