In 2004, Marathi poet and author Arun Shewate, 65, published ‘Napas Mulanchi Goshta’ (The Story of Failed Students) with the modest hope of reassuring students that academic setbacks are not the end of the road. Today, over two decades later, the book has seen 49 reprints and continues to resonate with readers, offering solace and motivation in an era of increasing academic pressure. Now that exam season is in full swing, mid-day spoke with Shewate about his book, the evolving stress and pressures on students, among other related topics.

Reflecting on the book’s journey, Shewate admits he never anticipated its profound impact. “I never imagined my book would resonate so deeply in a society where, with rising academic pressure and stress levels, students are easily and increasingly losing hope after failure or even after scoring lower marks than expected,” he says.