A Piece Of Paper - By Haseeb Mukadam

Written By: Haseeb Mukadam

Category: Essay

Competition: Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In his thought-provoking essay "A Piece Of Paper," Haseeb Mukadam delves into the complex interplay between education and societal pressures. Submitted for the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar, this essay highlights the challenges faced by today's youth in a rapidly evolving world. Mukadam explores the profound impact of a single piece of paper - a metaphor for academic assessments - and its implications on future prospects, urging a reevaluation of current educational paradigms.

About the Work

Mukadam's essay paints a vivid picture of the shifting landscape of education and employment in India. Through a critical lens, he examines the societal fixation on traditional career paths and the resultant pressures on students. The narrative is rich with insights into the oversaturation of certain fields, the diminishing value of academic accolades, and the dire need for educational reform. Mukadam's work is a call to action, advocating for a balanced approach that values skill development alongside academic success.

Essay

Original Submission by Haseeb Mukadam

A Piece Of Paper

“A single piece of paper can't decide a future,” is in contention for the most popular quote amongst the youth in uniforms; and for good reason, serving as both a source of hope and a stress reliever. Ironically though, the same youth turn into adults and find this quote to be their sole nemesis, regardless of how well or terribly they wrote THE piece of paper. The epiphany remains concealed for just enough time though, forming the breeding grounds of delusions stemming from obliviousness in the future of humanity.

The simple answer to the inevitable “why” would be the immense competition. But the “why” behind that is a bit deeper than one would expect. In the early 2000s, India's rapidly growing economy, coupled with epochal breakthroughs in technology and engineering, created an unprecedented demand for skilled professionals. Suddenly, engineering and other technical degrees became synonymous with prosperity and success. This gradually led to the engineering and technological fields being associated with wealth and affluence. However, like all good things, the golden days of these fields succumbed to time. The employment rates had started to dwindle precisely because everyone seemed to have the cheat code to leading a luxury life, leading to a surplus of hands on the same table. As more and more students pursued the same career paths, the number of graduates began to outpace the availability of quality jobs. Our society however, failed to acknowledge this change, pushing the youth towards a promised heaven- the same one that would go onto becoming a student hell. This hyper fixation on select fields has proved to be deadly for the youth, both metaphorically and sadly even literally. The immense competition for limited seats in prestigious institutions and later for quality jobs has turned our education system into a rat race. To make matters worse, said competition has proved significant in reducing the impact of marks and textbook knowledge as a whole on the merit of students. Skills, internships, projects and other notable non-academic achievements have taken the centre stage, further adding to the woes of students. The nerds of their times can sometimes be seen selling tea and driving cabs!

The cherry on top is the declining mental health of students, which, unsurprisingly, joins the club for those overlooked by our society. Thus, there is an urgent need for reform within the educational system as well as the average Indian mindset. This can be accomplished by actively encouraging students to explore new and evolving fields with the aim of abolishing stereotypes, focussing on the development of said fields in both economic and social spectrums and also laying more emphasis on integrating skill development alongside academic success. The future of the nation might just be jeopardised if little to no change occurs in the near future.

About the Competition

The Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious platform celebrating diverse voices in literature. It offers writers an opportunity to share their unique perspectives on contemporary issues, fostering a community of creativity and dialogue. Participants contribute to a vibrant tapestry of poetic and narrative expression, with no promise of awards but the reward of shared ideas and artistic growth.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Haseeb Mukadam for his insightful contribution to the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. His essay, "A Piece Of Paper," offers a compelling critique of current educational practices and societal expectations. We appreciate his thoughtful engagement with these pressing issues and look forward to seeing his continued contributions to the discourse on education and youth empowerment.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.