I Was Not Dumb

A Child’s Journey Into Overcoming High Myopia, Maths, and A Broken IQ Test

“We have found the lowest IQ kid” declared the invigilator with a loud laugh. I had just turned 10, had failed my Maths paper in the mid-terms, and was attempting to answer for an IQ test my school had organized for everyone. The invigilator came to me and said, “I am sorry but looking at your answer sheet, you are really dumb”. I felt shattered on the inside. It happened too fast. In the hindsight, I am amazed at my courage that I did not cry.

The most important event was a double parasitic infection a few days after the IQ test. A very friendly doctor examined me. He got me talking and I told him that I had a low IQ. He talked about cricket, and I went on for quite a few minutes about metrics such as batting average and strike rates.

He asked me something about a calendar in his office but I could not see it. So the doctor suggested that we must visit an eye doctor. An eye doctor? But it was my stomach that hurt a lot.

The optician was elated and amazed: “How were you seeing anything, dear boy??? In my 20 years career, I have never given -6 D as a starting power to ANYONE.”

I cannot explain what I was feeling then. I could see those far-away trees! Wow!

I had suspicions about my vision but never took it too seriously (was 10 you know). Now I was literally seeing the world with a new…

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