India, March 23 -- It's that time of the year when children across the country are taking their board exams, and life seems to have come to a standstill for everyone around them.

Parents are juggling work commitments to fit the exam schedule. Those who can manage it are taking time off. Vacations, celebrations, and similar distractions are on hold. In India, board exams are a rite of passage-not just for the children, but for their families as well.

Every family has its own board exam lore. My father still chuckles over a moment from more than four decades ago, when he came to pick me up after my Class 10 math exam. I walked out flying, having slain my bete noire reasonably well, but burst into tears the moment I saw my classmates cryin...