HT scholarship Mumbai. Review on Hindustan Times

Hindustan Times is probably the second or third most read English daily in Mumbai and has been trying catch up with the market leader Times of India for quite some time now. I read HT because it is somewhat better than the advertisement jungle of TOI and Hindu has only recently started its Mumbai edition. Besides Hindu is fairly expensive at Rs. 8/- per day and even more, I guess on weekends. Now, to engage readers and also to catch young readers who are likely to stay with it for the next 30-40 years, newspapers try all sorts of things. The Hindustan Times scholarship for students from classes 5 to 9 looks like a similar initiative. It invites applications from such students studying in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai. It involves writing a short 250 word essay by the applicants and mentioning their academic and other achievements in the form.

Like any conscientious parent, I asked my ward to write an essay for the form and filled in his academic achievements, which are quite substantial for his age. Naturally, my ward was not selected, or else I would have been singing hosannas in the praise of Hindustan Times. I later came to know from colleagues that either people get the essays written by professionals, or just fix it up with the guys at HT. Of course, I have nothing to substantiate it, and it would seem like the meaningless rant of a sore parent. But the fact that applicants are not expected to write these essays in a controlled environment, that no results are declared on the website, that everything is done in a kind of hush hush manner, that there is no pre declared objective criteria by which applicants are to be shortlisted points to a shoddy job. While HT is no GoI, and no one expects much honesty from them, a rejection for an extremely bright kid can cause unnecessary self doubt in a child. I hope that while HT must try to ensnare young readers or develop linkages with aspiring parents, it should do so in a way which does not hurt really bright young students. For improving their business prospects, they are wading in to somewhat unethical territory.

My suggestion to parents interested in filling up this application is to(a) hire an expert writer for the short piece and(b) network with the concerned HT guys. Else, do not waste your time and effort in filling up the form. You will just be another number for them, to show how successful their programme is.