But with only two boards put up, it was quite a challenge: one was so keenly examined that it shifted back several metres behind. “It will fall down any minute,” said one parent. “I think they (parents) want to pick it up and take it home,” remarked another.

To ease the clamour, the school guard brought out a third board — this one strictly for women. Yet, the chaos ensued. As some parents scanned the lists, others anxiously waited for their chance. Sarika Chetwani had a “promising” interaction last week — “it couldn’t have gone better” — but she still wasn’t hopeful of securing a seat.

“God knows what our chances are. I’m a housewife, and I have a son, not a daughter,” said a mother, referring to points allocated for education and the girl-child norm in some institutions.

As the results slowly became apparent, parents made their way out. “No, we didn’t make it,” said Parul Sharma. Yet, still optimistic: “I have applied to 13 other schools. This is only the first list I have seen.”

Others were more despondent. “We’re not bureaucrats, or high-profile people, that’s why we’re not getting a seat,” said Ajit Kumar. Dr Mohit Bhatnagar, who also failed to secure a pre-school seat, was unimpressed with the way results were delivered at Birla Vidya Niketan: “Three lists are not enough. And it isn’t even in alphabetical order.”

Palak and Harjot were two of 169 children to gain a seat. Finding her son’s name on the list, Harjot’s mother immediately rang her husband: “We got in!”

Harjot already has an older sister studying at the school.

But for parents who failed to secure a seat, doubts and questions were rife. Circling the school’s director, Colonel Ramesh Laddha, in much the same way as they did the board of lists, parents fired away: When is the second list out? Was parents’ education a criterion? Why did my neighbour get a seat — she’s exactly the same as me — but I didn’t?

The school received 3224 applications, said Laddha. The maximum number of points scored by any applicant was 75. But with large numbers of applications tying on 45 and 55 points, the lottery system came into play.

“We can’t satisfy every parent, but we have been transparent,” he said. “A child who doesn’t get admission… that’s not my fault. Unfortunately the system is like this.”

The school is one of the first to release its pre-school list. Gyan Bharati, Saket, and Bluebells School International also released their first list today. Shri Ram School, Vasant Vihar, will put up names of successful applicants on Thursday.

Diary of Rajni Tuti
Wednesday, January 16
At 10.45 am, Rajni and her husband Anup arrives half-an-hour early for an interaction at Tagore International School, Vasant Vihar. “I was nervous but the staff put me at ease right away.” The interaction kicked off on time — a welcome surprise. “I’d give the school ten out of ten for organisation.” Inside the school hall, parents are handed a brief questionnaire, with questions such as the sorts of responsibilities the child has at home. “I didn’t want to exaggerate,” says Rajni. So she wrote how Aadi has learned to put away his toys after playing, and to keep his dirty laundry aside.