I spent 3 hours memorizing the names of all Vice Presidents of India. Then I went outside and asked 10 people: “Who is the current VP?” 3 people knew. 7 didn't care.
Lists are seductive. “Vice president of india list” – a simple, clean, chronological list. From Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan to Jagdeep Dhankhar.
I learned it for a competitive exam. I felt smart. I felt informed.
Then I realized: knowing this list changed nothing in my life. It didn't help me make a decision. It didn't help me understand India. It just helped me pass a test.
The list vs the reality
The Vice President of India is the second-highest constitutional office. But ask yourself: when was the last time the Vice President's decision affected your life?
Never.
The Vice President is the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Important role. But distant. Most Indians cannot name the current VP. And yet, India runs. Their lives go on.
The list is trivia. Important for exams. Irrelevant for life.
What my father taught me about lists
My father is a retired government officer. He has seen many Vice Presidents come and go.
I asked him: “Why do we need to memorize this list?”
He said: “For exams. Not for life.”
“I have worked under 4 Vice Presidents (as Rajya Sabha staff). I can tell you: each one was different. But the list doesn't tell you that. The list only gives you names and dates.”
“The real knowledge is not the list. The real knowledge is: what did each VP do? How did they change the office? What can we learn from them?”
“But the exam doesn't ask that. The exam asks names and years. So you memorize. Then you forget.”
The 10 people I asked
I stood outside a metro station in Delhi. I asked 10 random people: “Who is the current Vice President of India?”
Here's what happened:
Person 1: “I don't know. Why does it matter?”
Person 2: “Some politician. Name forget.”
Person 3: “Is it Dhankhar? I think so.”
Person 4: “No idea. I have to catch my train.”
Person 5: “Why are you asking this?”
Person 6: “I know the PM. VP? Who cares?”
Person 7: “Jagdeep Dhankhar. I saw on news. But what has he done?”
Person 8: “I don't follow politics.”
Person 9: “Ask me something useful.”
Person 10: “Sorry, no time.”
Only 3 knew the name. None knew anything beyond the name.
And yet, these 10 people are living their lives. Working. Eating. Loving. Struggling. The list didn't help them. The list didn't hurt them.
The real value of the Vice President list
Here's the truth: The list is useful for: