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in Engineering Admissions 51
Fresher classes start at 2-2.30 pm because officially 2800 would be 'droppers', 3000 would be the class
morning is 'school timing'. Of course no one attends 12 fresher batch and rest would be class 11 freshers
school, we use that time to do homework of 'DPPs' (3800 or so in number).
(Daily Practice Problems). The toughness of these
Earlier there were 75 students in a batch.Now we
problems rises to maddening heights. Of course now
have 85 to 90 in the topper batches and 120 to 150
that JEE pattern has changed solving these problems
in lower batches. They have 2 buildings in which
is not so important, now many students don't take
classes are held. The new one has classrooms where
them as seriously.
150 students can be seated.
Droppers have no school issue - they study all day.
When I joined 2 years back the fees per year were
Classes start at 8 am, batches are named X, Y and Z
Rs 35,000 p.a.. Then it became Rs 50,000. Now it
(there were 8 batches per series in my time!)
is Rs 60,000. Which means an estimated turnover of
The Teaching Rs 60 crores. Two years ago their official turnover
The main thing is mental toughness and keeping was Rs 18 crores. And I forgot, they have a
yourself motivated. If you fall behind, you fall behind. correspondence course called 'Locus' as well.
You may be lucky and find
Bansal's main centre is
a sympathetic teacher
Kota - that's where close to
but mostly you're on your
1400 of the 1538
own. There are all kinds
selections are from. There
of teachers.
are only two 'branches' -
For example there was Jaipur and Ajmer. Of these
a Physical Chemistry Jaipur is bigger and more
teacher who was a 25 yr preferred (had 154 selec-
old Chem Engineer from tions vs 8 in Ajmer). Jaipur
IIT Bombay. He was and Ajmer branches are
rumoured to earn Rs 1 generally offered to those
lakh a month and they'd who don't make it to Kota.
also given him a Tata Scorpio. Last heard he had left
Incidentally, the 1538 selections includes 60 SC/ ST
Bansals to pursue a course in fashion design having
students as well.
obtained an AIR 2 in a national level entrance exam.
(yeah, ironic isn't it!) Bansal selection break up:
top 100 JEE ranks: 32 students
Also one of the 'maverick' but good teachers, like
top 1000 JEE ranks: 250 students rest rank far lower.
Mr.Narendra Awasthi aka "Sodium" who taught
Physical Chem has left (current whereabouts not My rank was 4800, there were 860 Bansal students
known). Mr Jeevan Jyothi Agrawal aka "JJ Sir",an above me, Of course at 4800 I had no chance of
excellent and extremely committed Maths teacher as admission to an IIT. I eventually joined BITS Goa.
well as a good human being, has left to teach at
The only other JEE coaching class of any repute in
"Allen's", a very famous medical coaching institute at
Kota is Resonance. They take in 10,000 students and
Kota. He was the one from whom I received max
boast of 800 selections but there are hardly any in
guidance during my 3 yr stint.
the top JEE ranks. Also only about 450 of the
So quality of teachers and teaching keeps changing. selections would be through classroom coaching,
Teaching method is quite informal. There is an a/c in rest are people who are in Bansal or other classes
the class but it's never switched on. It's only a but took up one test series from Resonance.
showpiece. Also, the original Mr Bansal only teaches Most students give both Bansal and Resonance
Maths. His brother manages the admin. entrance tests and prefer Bansal if they get both.
A roaring business Resonance tries to lure you by offering scholarships.
When I gave the Bansal exam in 2004, 5000 stu- They have a hostel called 'Lakshya' where they offer
dents took the test. Of which 2000 got in. Now they some of the toppers a free stay, provided they keep
are taking in more students. Currently there would be up their performance. Resonance has hardly any
around 10,000 students in Bansal classes. Of which selections in the top 100 but many in the top 1000
www.bheja.in Engineering Admissions 53
(includes both classroom and test series). There are generally come to know in advance and rush to
also institutes like Career Point and Insight. school, complete the books etc. Another school
called 'IL' was raided and shut down Now the school
There are barely 300 girls at Bansal classes. ie
is derecognised but Bansal has taken over the
around 8-9 per batch. The front row is reserved for
building and holds classes there!
them.
Due to these raids no CBSE school is ready to give
There are a lot of students in Kota from UP and
fraudulent admissions so people are now opting for
Bihar. Mr V K Bansal is not very pleased with the
Rajasthan Board or National Open School.
Bihar students. A couple of years ago they burst
a rassi bomb in one of the toilets, But it must be said Perseverance is most important. Living in Kota on
Biharis are generally intelligent, good in Maths. your own, many deviate from studies also. There are
Life in Kota lots of net cafes, pool and gaming parlours. The non
serious types spend 2 years doing masti, roaming on
Bansal does not have any hostel facility. This means
their bikes and bunking classes.
booming business for private hostels and PGs. A
room close to Bansal can cost Rs 4000 p.m. And this Other Coaching Classes
is a tiny room converted from a kitchen. You can get In Hyderabad Ramaiah is the most sought after class.
a better room in Vigyan nagar for Rs 2000-2500 They take 150 students, of which 130 students clear
p.m. and Talwandi for Rs 1500 p.m. But living in JEE. They have stringent rules, including studies from
Talwandi wastes time as you have to cross a highway 4 am! Classes like FIIT JEE and Brilliant’s are known
and the signal does not work there. more for correspondence material than classroom
Yeah, every minute counts! now. Even Bansal students join so names overlap in
the list published by different classes.
Hostels are more or less the same. They charge
Rs 6000 p.m. for lodging, food, washing clothes. Mention must also be made of Vidyamandir Classes
Food starts out ok then deteriorates.Many survive based in Delhi. It is run by three brothers and takes
on Maggi - they keep a gas in the room. There is in the creme-la-creme of students in Delhi and
a hot water problem in winter. Often the solar adjoining areasn.The focus is mostly on self study
panels don't work. Then people skip baths or heat and classes are held only twice a week for which
water with a rod. students come from as far as Faridabad.
On Sundays the mess has a holiday. The only decent The entrance test is the toughest of any JEE coaching
restaurant close by is Eatos. Many prefer to eat at institute in India as they want students who can do
thelawalas or then at places like Saat Handi, everything on their own. 140 out of 160 VMC
Maheshwari etc further away. There is a new trend students clear JEE every year. For those who don't
where sometimes mothers come and stay with the make it, their study material is freely available in the
kids to ensure they have no 'food problems' and can market for couple of 1000 bucks.
concentrate on studies!. But obviously with all these classes it's more about
Bicycle theft (from landlord's homes, hostels and PRE-selecting students who are likely to succeed.
even parking lots of coaching institutes with security And here's a newsflash: At the end of the day IITs call
guards is a very common phenomenon). Students upto JEE rank 7200 for counselling and classes can
are therefore advised to buy second hand bicycles claim all of these as 'selected' candidates. The last
only which are readily available everywhere. decent course ends around rank 3500. Therefore the
Then there is the issue of attending 'school' . Most numbers claimed as 'successful candidates' by class-
people join DAV public school - they actually ask for es is far higher than those who actually get IIT seats.
your Bansal admit card at the time of admission. Of Another point to note: One disadvantage of studying
their 400 class 12 students, 350 are from Bansal. Of at Bansal is you can't compete for your home state
course they are phantom students and they populate colleges. Your 'home state' becomes Rajasthan as
imaginary divisions. We only go for practicals once that is where you gave your board exam. So getting
in a while. You wake up in 12th class around into a good college through AIEEE score (where state
Jan-Feb and cram for exams. rank is considered) is next to impossible.
Occassionally there are CBSE 'raids'. But you Lastly, in the last one year Bansal's has increased the
www.bheja.in Engineering Admissions 54
intake substantially. The toppers come there card, 12th marksheet, 10th marksheet... then we'll
anyways, there's no harm in admitting more and think about admitting you". And all this while I was
letting them live the dream. Why give other coaching thinking that I was the customer here. I lost my
classes any business? temper, and joined Resonance out of spite. At least
This article is based on the personal experience they were polite.
of a student who spent 3 years at Bansal classes But even there I couldn't take it for more than a
(2004-7). month. Bad food, no sleep, depressing environment,
Here’s the perspective of another aspirant: no friends (everyone crams 15-16 hours a day).
“I travelled all the way from Guwahati to Kota with I quit and came back home. And I'm glad I did that.
just Rs. 2,000/- in my pocket and a cheque for I studied on my own. Didn't make to an IIT but got
18,000/- in the name of Bansal classes. I had 20th rank in my state and made it to a good NIT. At
cleared the screening with rank 4300, and least I'm a normal human being today. I can't
expected them to welcome me with arms wide open. imagine why parents let their children go through
Instead, I was asked: "How dare you ask about so muchpain at such a young age. I'll never do this
accomodation assistance? First show your screening to my kids”