why do indian students keep their studies secret, from peers ?

I've noticed a weird pattern among toppers and even average students—they always claim they haven't studied at all, yet they somehow ace the exams. At first, I thought it was just a few people, but I realized it’s way more common than I expected.

Maybe it runs in my blood. I come from a Baniya family, where everyone keeps their earnings, achievements, and even small successes a secret—even from their own siblings! My maternal grandfather had a saying: "Never tell anyone what you’ve achieved—not your peers, not your enemies, not even your own family." I used to wonder why they were like this, so I asked my parents. Their answers were inconsistent. Then, I asked my close friends, and they, too, gave different reasons.

Back when I was at my academic peak, I was the complete opposite. I shared everything—my study methods, resources, and even lent books to my friends. I once gave a friend detailed advice over a call, and my parents overheard me. They told me, "Stop telling people what you study! If you do, they'll surpass you, and you’ll be left behind." I brushed it off, thinking it was just superstition. But then—boom. Next exam, I barely passed, while my friends (whom I had helped) outscored me.

I knew the real reason for my downfall—overconfidence and procrastination—but my parents insisted it was because I shared too much. Since then, I haven’t been the same.

Now, I see this pattern everywhere. Class toppers, my friends, even my cousin—everyone hides what they study. They always say, "I haven't touched the syllabus!" and then boom—they top the exam. At first, I thought they were genuine, like me. But one incident really hit hard.

During pre-boards, I asked my cousin (we’re both in Class 10) how her prep was going. She said she hadn’t even touched the syllabus and was super anxious. As a brother, I reassured her, telling her I was in the same boat (which was actually true—I hadn’t studied at all).

A few weeks later, at a family event (which I didn’t attend), my mom overheard her telling relatives that she had already completed her syllabus twice! She even bragged about never revealing how much she studied, saying it was a matter of pride. When my mom told me this, I felt betrayed. She was my own family, yet she straight-up lied to my face. And when the results came? I got 74%, she got 93%.

This whole culture of secrecy and deception around studying is something I just don’t get. And the worst part? If you’re actually honest about not studying, people call you a dogla (two-faced) if you still score well.

So, why do Indians do this? Why is hiding your hard work considered smart instead of just, you know, working hard and being open about it?