So near yet so far

The announcement of results of PET & PMT in Chhattisgarh, as always, delivers a very awkward picture. The pupils of Bhilai have once again dominated the merit list (claiming nearly 50 seats in IIT this year), whereas Raipurians again have to put their faces in shadow, with only two students in the merit list.
The awkwardness, lies in the fact that both the cities though at a distance of only 35 kilometers but are poles apart when the assiduity of their youth are concerned. The yaksha question :- why ?

Albeit, Raipur is my native place, I was primarily schooled elsewhere, for my parents never felt that the town is a better place for education. For attaining my primary classes I had to reside in an alien place in Uttranchal, Ranikhet. Bhilai too, though for a short span of one year, became my educational refuge. The ambiance that town offers is very different from that of Raipur.

The Dissection
On analysis, of 'why' both near-by cities produces so different mentalities presents the whole socio-economic picture, which even can be applied to all popular system of thoughts.
Nehruvian dream of making India self-reliant in its industrial needs took a giant leap with the commencement of production of steel by Bhilai Steel Plant in 1959, with the help of India's faithful friend, Soviet Union. With this, a township area for its workers & officers also flourished near-by which later grew into the city of Bhilai. The Marxian proposition of work division for machine-cum-humans, eight hour work, eight hour rest, eight hour sleep became inevitably the mantra for this steel plant. This system of life also injected some neo-thoughts into the brains of its inhabitants. The more time passed, the more socialist Bhilai became. The division of residence according to their ranks in the plant viz HIG, MIG & LIG (Higher Income Group, Middle Income Group, Lower Income Group) helped this town to grow into a socially divided unit rather than caste divided, which unfortunately happened in most part of India. The education was also developed in such a way that the competitiveness can be pushed into child's mind from an early age since everything one can get in this town was by one's education. This engineering city to fulfill its own need was determined to produce some of the top notches of engineering products. In some way, this city became a metropolitan, for SAIL (Steel Authority Of India Ltd) deployed its officers & workers from all part of the country, to maintain a steady growth, though with time they familiarized themselves with local atmosphere. This congregation of best brains also led to make their descendants believe that books are the way to success.
All this, resulted in what we see today- the intelligent students of Bhilai.

Raipur, on the other hand, became more & more commercialized with the growth of Bhilai Steel Plant. Putting simply, Bhilai produced steel, Raipur sold it. The money started showering in to Raipur, inevitably leading it to follow a modern lavish lifestyle. To be mentioned, Raipur has always been the centre of political activities since the time of its being a part of central province. Still today, I assume that it is one of the most political cities of india.
The offshoot of all this money pouring in & political hot-pot resulted in a rather different development of youth mind. The political power & wealth became the primary target of majority of youth in this city. Though, these ambitions are not wrong in any way but the approach is. In Bhilai when a young man was dug deep into his books , the Raipur boy was staging a dharna for some political party or sitting in a shop selling consumer items.

The mere difference of 35 kms between both cities is like travelling into another world.
Both these cities are breeding the future of this state & nation.
Last night I saw a group of young boys fighting. On asking, they told me that they are passed-outs from high school.

So near we are, yet so far.