‘The time I got caught cheating’: DU professor’s story on empathy goes viral after catching student cheating

A Delhi University professor’s honest reflection on empathy and second chances in education has struck a chord online, garnering thousands of reactions and shares across platforms. Assistant Professor Bhupnesh Yadav of Daulat Ram College shared the story on LinkedIn under the title “The Time I Caught Cheating,” describing how the childhood experience shaped his approach to dealing with a student who was caught cheating in his class.

Yadav began his post by recalling an incident that occurred in 2007, when he was a fourth-grade student and was caught cheating during a test in his English class.

“I still remember how terrified I was when I was expecting to be taken straight to the principal’s office. But instead, my teacher looked at me calmly and said, ‘I believe in you. I know you belong to a good family. Do you really want your parents to feel bad because you cheated?”

He added that the teacher’s kind response had a lifelong impact: “No shouting, no punishment, just words stronger than any reprimand. That moment has stayed with me for life.”

Fast forward to the present, Yadav wrote, and he found himself facing a similar situation as a teacher. While taking a class test, a student was caught cheating with her mobile phone. Despite clear instructions that students could ask an extra question instead of cheating, one student chose otherwise.

“For a few seconds, I was angry. Then I remembered 2007 – that English test, that teacher, those words,” he wrote.

Yadav said he calmly took the student’s answer sheet and phone, canceled her test, and later asked her privately why she cheated. “Sir, I was afraid… I didn’t want to lose marks,” she replied calmly.

Touched by her honesty, Yadav tells her that everyone deserves a second chance — “like I once got.” That evening, he received an emotional apology email from the student.

“I sincerely apologize for my behavior… I acted out of fear. I handled the situation with calm and dignity, and this makes me feel even more ashamed. I am truly sorry, sir,” the student’s email said.

Yadav concluded his post with a thought that resonated widely: “Sometimes, the real lesson is not in the textbook, but in how we respond when someone makes a mistake.”

The post sparked thousands of reactions and comments on LinkedIn, where users praised the professor’s compassion and perspective. One user jokingly wrote: “Well, at first I thought you were writing an email while you were in 4th grade and my only question was how good your English was back then.” Another commented: “That’s really sweet and sweet of you!”

Many others shared similar experiences, calling Yadav’s story a “reminder that compassion teaches better than punishment.”