In India, no arena is as fiercely competitive as academics. While cricket teams battle on the field and hockey players race for goals, millions of students spend hours in school and tuition, training themselves to overcome every obstacle. Recently, an American tech founder based in Bengaluru highlighted the intensity of this academic playground.
Viral Video Sparks Debate
Tony Klor, founder of 'Bandit Network,' took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his astonishment at India's academic competition. In a video, he panned the camera to a roadside result board and said, "This is why I could have never freaking made it as a student in India." He pointed at the scores: "Tanishka, 99.3%... Leave a little bit for the homies!" He continued, "Ruchi got a straight 99 flat. These hudugis are always on top. Madhu 98.3, Madakari 97.5." Shocked, he added, "These are like radio stations. Shankraya Gurumath—obviously he's a guru at math, physics, 98."
The video, captioned "These kids in India are too locked in," quickly gained traction on X.
Mixed Reactions Online
Viewers found the video both apt and humorous, but it also drew criticism. Some blamed the system, while others noted that even top scorers struggle to find jobs. One user wrote, "Sadly, even after studying this hard, so many students struggle to secure a high-paying job." Another commented, "You can't imagine how competitive India is. Even candidates who score 99% don't have a guarantee of getting into a tier 1 college."
Others appreciated the humor: "Radio station joke is 99.9% good," quipped one. Another added, "We all need to be as locked in as Tanishka was." A viewer shared a personal story: "I remember I got 96.4% in 10th, but my school only put photos of those with 96.8% and above on the website. I was so heartbroken." Finally, one joked, "Me watching this with 87% scores."
