While I was growing up in the neighborhoods of Delhi and Jaipur, there was one common advice ‘Get into a professional course, it guarantees a decent job’. My juvenile mind could not figure out the complete definition of the term ‘professional course’, it seemed from further elaboration of the advices that these courses were the ones centered on subjects in the fields of medicine and engineering. These pieces of advices were justified, because of the fact that my growing years were also the years where our country embarked on the most successful revolutions of its time the IT revolution, of the truth that those were the days when extensive privatization of health care was taking place and hospitals and clinics were mushrooming all over.
Amidst these counseling sessions the counselors forgot that they were giving suggestions to the generation who dared to dream, who wanted to chase their passions, even if it meant challenging the traditions, facing all the odds and keeping everything on stake. Success and failure was not in their mind but fulfillment of childhood dreams was of paramount importance. This sudden awareness of ones career path could be the result of the foundation laid by our forefathers, who put the stepping stones for an economy with opportunities, the credit also goes to the newbie entering the professional arena who had the guts to deviate from the routine path and create corridors in the economy which were not only chic but became the source of inspiration for many.
A feeling of pride creeps in when I see the bright guys and girls from my school becoming entrepreneurs, rubbing shoulders with corporate giants while striking a deal. It gives me pleasure to see my handsome and pretty ex-classmates advertising products, playing a character on popular shows or movies, enjoying their moments of fame. I enjoy watching plays crafted on low budgets from my friends who are determined to make theatre as popular in India as Broadway is in USA. My head bangs and foot taps to the beats of a band whose inception took place in the garage of our colony and now have an album to their credit. I am in awe when I go to visit an art exhibition displaying the talent, hard-work, creative genius and the rebellious nature of my friend whose passion is her profession. My body is in a state of bliss when I eat out in a restaurant offering cuisines never tasted before, started by my peer. I salute the ones who entered civil services and armed forces from our batch not for the lure of power but to do something for the society and the nation. I respect the social activist amongst us, contributing subtly but effectively to the society in general. My admiration for the ones, who ventured in alternative sources of energy and are finding effective, eco friendly and innovative ways of generating energy for our ever growing demands.
The perfect blend of opportunities innovative thinking and the dare to dream passionately has resulted many to take the alternative route. Of course it is not always hunky dory in these parallel routes but the main principle these classmates of mine survive on is the fact that the biggest risk is not to take the risk.
It is very important for such alternative professions and professionals to thrive in an economy it not only allows variety to the palette but also helps give a wider spectrum for the economy and the nation to grow on the whole. In these days and times, jobs and services are defying political and geographical boundaries in their movement. This movement is not driven by compassion or credentials and creditability, but by labor cost and profitability. With such radical changing nature of jobs, offbeat professions, innovation, adaptability, collaborating and risk taking individuals should be promoted.
Finely, efficiently and gradually these individuals are creating a niche for themselves. This fact gave me the confidence to smile back when a cab driver in US of A asked me ‘Are you a software engineer from India who is coding the whole day?’ True the smile was an affirmation to his query it also in its own mysterious way said out loud that give some more time you will have clients from India from varied professions.
Amidst these counseling sessions the counselors forgot that they were giving suggestions to the generation who dared to dream, who wanted to chase their passions, even if it meant challenging the traditions, facing all the odds and keeping everything on stake. Success and failure was not in their mind but fulfillment of childhood dreams was of paramount importance. This sudden awareness of ones career path could be the result of the foundation laid by our forefathers, who put the stepping stones for an economy with opportunities, the credit also goes to the newbie entering the professional arena who had the guts to deviate from the routine path and create corridors in the economy which were not only chic but became the source of inspiration for many.
A feeling of pride creeps in when I see the bright guys and girls from my school becoming entrepreneurs, rubbing shoulders with corporate giants while striking a deal. It gives me pleasure to see my handsome and pretty ex-classmates advertising products, playing a character on popular shows or movies, enjoying their moments of fame. I enjoy watching plays crafted on low budgets from my friends who are determined to make theatre as popular in India as Broadway is in USA. My head bangs and foot taps to the beats of a band whose inception took place in the garage of our colony and now have an album to their credit. I am in awe when I go to visit an art exhibition displaying the talent, hard-work, creative genius and the rebellious nature of my friend whose passion is her profession. My body is in a state of bliss when I eat out in a restaurant offering cuisines never tasted before, started by my peer. I salute the ones who entered civil services and armed forces from our batch not for the lure of power but to do something for the society and the nation. I respect the social activist amongst us, contributing subtly but effectively to the society in general. My admiration for the ones, who ventured in alternative sources of energy and are finding effective, eco friendly and innovative ways of generating energy for our ever growing demands.
The perfect blend of opportunities innovative thinking and the dare to dream passionately has resulted many to take the alternative route. Of course it is not always hunky dory in these parallel routes but the main principle these classmates of mine survive on is the fact that the biggest risk is not to take the risk.
It is very important for such alternative professions and professionals to thrive in an economy it not only allows variety to the palette but also helps give a wider spectrum for the economy and the nation to grow on the whole. In these days and times, jobs and services are defying political and geographical boundaries in their movement. This movement is not driven by compassion or credentials and creditability, but by labor cost and profitability. With such radical changing nature of jobs, offbeat professions, innovation, adaptability, collaborating and risk taking individuals should be promoted.
Finely, efficiently and gradually these individuals are creating a niche for themselves. This fact gave me the confidence to smile back when a cab driver in US of A asked me ‘Are you a software engineer from India who is coding the whole day?’ True the smile was an affirmation to his query it also in its own mysterious way said out loud that give some more time you will have clients from India from varied professions.
