“Is there a scope in studying History, Sanskrit or Hindi?”
“I don’t see much scope in studying pure sciences these days. Scope lies in taking up Engineering and Management studies .Right?”
“Oh my God! There are so many options to choose from. I am totally confused. Where do you think, there is more scope?”
“Well, I really want to pursue a course in classical music, but I am discouraged because the general perception is that there isn’t good scope in it. Really?”
Scope, Scope, Scope!!! What is this Scope?
As per its dictionary definition it has two meanings:-
1. The opportunity that is created by doing something
2. The range of a subject or an activity.
In our case the first meaning is more appropriate.
As someone has rightly said, “There is always a scope in doing good.” If the queries listed above were put before this person, then certainly the answers would be in favour of all the subjects.
Now let’s come to the general meaning of Scope-It is something providing enough money and luxury to live life to the fullest! And, why not? As a parent or a friend we will always want our children/friends to live a life of luxury but not at the cost of inner peace and satisfaction. Right?
Well, all of us are used to being a part of such career discussions, either as an active participant or just as an observer. Just consider yourself being asked such questions from a student or a friend or an acquaintance or a stranger. I am sure, we have all faced such instances. How easy is it answering such questions or getting along in the conversation? I don’t know about you, but most of the times I have got enough goose bumps while speaking on this topic in such situations.
Asking them to follow their heart instead of the rat –race is what everyone does and should do, but it is easier said than done. Yes, all careers coincide in the end, but the journeys are not all same. This thus brings into focus the matters of integrity both private and public.
Taking career decisions is considered one of the most dreadful experiences in the world. Let’s face it!-It is! - For the majority of us, it is indeed a real pain in the neck! It is easy to say, do what you love doing or what you think is right, and all such ‘sounding good’ and ‘real good stuff’ too, but sadly this is not what everyone can afford or is there a way out?...Let’s take a closer look at the Indian scenario and think of proper solutions.
(I have formulated some cases -all inspired from real life experiences. Although it is purely fiction)
1. Neha lives in a small town in Gujarat. Her father works as a security guard in a soap factory. He is the only earning member in the family of five which includes husband-wife and their three children. Neha is the eldest child, who has just completed her schooling, followed by Preeti who is in class 10th and Gaurav, who is in class 9. All the three children are sent to study in the central school. They have a peaceful atmosphere at home. As we all know, Neha has completed her schooling-Yes, she is a very bright, but a shy student. Has secured 90% in class 12th and now it is time to take a career decision. Let’s try to analyse Neha's case.
If you ask her to speak her heart, she would like to pursue a course in biotechnology.
But as she belongs to a conservative family where girls get married as soon as they complete their schooling or attain the age of 18, she has very well consoled herself to accept the reality and has given up her dreams.
And there are plenty of such sprouting Nehaes rotting in our country. She doesn’t have enough guts to speak to her parents and her parents or family can at the least be called innocent or dumb. Not their fault either. Awareness has still not dawned on them. They are bounded by traditional practices. They see no scope in further studies for girls.
Yes, Hope is always alive and if she gets a supporting husband her life can be changed for the better, otherwise, she’ll lose her right to exercise her will and that’s just not fair!...Right?
What should be done in such a case?
I feel, first and foremost we need good teachers and only good teachers who should help such students realize their dreams by counselling their families in the right spirit. People need to be taught that there’s no standard age for marriage. Children must be guided to take a path which is best suited for them and should never be forced to do anything.
Someone has rightly said, “Wise is the father who knows his own children.” It applies for a mother, a teacher and a friend too.
And girls like Neha should be encouraged to pursue their dreams which are promising and fulfilling in nature.
In my opinion, ultimately, the main goal in life is to achieve self realization and there’s a customized path for everyone. Identifying the path is the most challenging job and if a person is focused and willing to follow the right path, he /she must always be encouraged. Not all find their paths in one go. Experimenting is the way of life and experimenting with an objective is always fruitful, because there’s always a result at the end.
I wish the families of all such Neha’s realize that there’s always a scope in doing good and good acts should always be encouraged.
Let’s make a difference in our own possible ways!
2. This case is about Ravi Mehra. He too has completed his schooling and has secured 50%.Yes, he has never been a good student, but he is a good human being and a fantastic singer who has never taken any formal training in singing, but is really good at playing all musical instruments and singing. His father is a GM in an automobile company –a big shot! And he wants his son to do engineering followed by an MBA. So he gets him a management quota seat in a private engineering college.
Poor Ravi!-He is suffering, is suffering like hell. He is not able to clear his subjects and has lost all his interest in life. Life is treating him dreadfully and he has a constant pressure from his family. God knows how, but he finally manages to get an engineering degree in 6 years, but then he’s jobless and now his father plans to send him to an European University for an MBA degree ,again by using his money power!-Well, this is just too much! It’s no less then brutal slavery!
Why can’t Ravi take up a course in music? I am sure his talents and commitment to music will widen up his horizon and take him to places. There’s nothing like it as there’s a scope in Music for Ravi!
We can do nothing more than feeling sad for Ravi and the likes.
But this is not the way. If an educated father can do this to his son, then it’s about time we should start questioning education as it is- Education’s goal is to open minds not to shut them. Today Real education has lost its meaning. Education’s purpose is to empower people, to impart values, to teach Life in its true sense. But where are we heading??? It’s high time; we should first take a U turn and then a Right.
Let’s try to give form to Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore’s poetry, in which he says,
“Where the mind is without fear, where the head is held high, where knowledge is free. Into such a situation, Oh Lord, let my country awake!”
I am waiting for the day when his prayers are answered in totality and to make it happen we need to work together in this direction.
Let’s take the first step in our own possible ways!
I am glad, movies like Rock On!!, Rocket Singh, Wake up Sid and 3 idiots are being made to generate awareness in this direction. It’s a move worth appreciating!
May all Ravies live their life to the fullest!
3. This is a case of Asha, who is a big dreamer and a bright student. She is in love with Chemistry. She belongs to a middle class family living in a small town in Assam. Her parents are ingenuous by nature and are dominated by their children, Asha being the eldest. She is a state board student. She tops class 10th and gets an opportunity to meet Dr Abdul Kalam and to visit New Delhi for the first time. Her date with Dr. Kalam is like living a dream. As she returns back from New Delhi beaming with full enthusiasm and excitement, she realizes it’s time for her class 11 admissions and she opts for science, obviously. Up till now, it seems life is just working fine for her, but as she doesn’t have a very educated family background, she ends up being egoistic by the time she completes her schooling. Does well in 12th, qualifies in the IIT entrance and is eligible to take up any branch of engineering in IIT .Fascinated by the fact, she drops the idea of studying Chemistry from Delhi University-something she always wished for and now decides to take up Electronics engineering at IIT Guwahati. Now, let me make it clear that Asha’s reason for taking up engineering instead of Chemistry is not because of her change in interest, but it is an act of self-betrayal by choosing to do something which is one of the most coveted things in the eyes of the world-as per her thinking! But this is only her perception.
This is known as destroying your own life. Here Integrity comes into picture. The question is how can one build integrity? Can righteousness be taught? How can this problem be cured?
In Asha’s case, the only way out is to help her hear her conscience. Life, of course is the best teacher! Eventually, life will surely teach her! But let us not forget that Life works through its instruments, of which all of us are a crucial part. So let us at least play our part well, to make Life’s job easy and smooth.
Let’s make it a point, next time if we meet any of the Asha’s along the way, we’ll make sure to speak a word of caution and wisdom to them. That’s all we can do in our own possible ways!
I don’t mind saying it again and again, that we need good teachers who understand their students well enough to guide them on the right track.
Yes, Integrity can be built, but it requires mutual cooperation and demands tireless efforts from both the sides.
Yes, Righteousness can be taught and the best way is by setting a good example.
The Foundation of education should be Values and it’s time to reflect, to see if we are imparting the right education to our children.
Let’s make a difference in our own possible ways!
A good teacher is a good friend.
4. This is a story of Ashok. He had always wanted to study pure science and fulfils his dream by doing BSc in Physics from Mumbai University. After completing Bsc, he accesses the prospect of doing MSc and MBA and finds that an MBA degree is more lucrative. So he decides to go for it. One of his friends, Rishi, who did Msc in Physics when Ashok was doing his MBA, is now working as a school teacher when Ashok is a CEO in a FMCG company. Yes, he is living a luxurious life, but it’s all plastic. He is not at all satisfied intellectually and his friend is not satisfied financially.
This is a case where both the Scopes clash (the real and the general) and in most of such cases the general scope wins over the real one. Now, the question is what is right?
Well, in my opinion I believe, it’s time to get smart. Where there’s a will, there is a way .So one must never compromise on what is right. I feel Rishi is on the right track as he chose what he felt was right. Now as far as his financial situation is concerned, it can be improved. I am no financial guru, but as per my knowledge anyone can become rich financially if one knows the right way and there is a way. All I can recommend is to ask him to read, Rich dad, poor dad once to first get motivaated and then to get started by taking the right guidance.
I know,whatever I've said,is easier said than done and I also agree that Ashok was right in taking a practical decision because without doubt-Money is important!...But just imagine,if the situation was different.With different,I mean,if all career paths were free of any financial constraints!...I am not sure,if that sounds too utopic,but sometimes,I really feel sad to see highly intelligent people earning not so well.What's the problem-is the the socio-economic system or lack of awareness resulting into lack of lucrative opportunites?...I am sure,Ashok would have opted for further studies in physics,if he need not had to consider financial factor while taking his career decision.
Second, I believe, financial management should be a mandatory subject from class 8th onwards in school and in all colleges as well. I feel it is a need of this hour. I myself have zero knowledge about finance and hence a zero bank balance at the moment. Fortunately, it’s not something to worry about in my case, but I feel if all of us learn financial management from an early age we will surely feel more confident about our life which will further help us in taking the right decisions (then be it career decisions or any other). Most of the times, it is lack of knowledge that comes in between success and us.
It’s just an idea and I am quite serious about it. It’ll empower people and people like Ashok will never hesitate to take the right call. What do you think?
5. Let’s try to understand Ramesh’s case now. Deep down inside, he knows that his scope lies in doing a course in finance as he has a propensity towards wealth management studies, but has fallen prey to a psychological ailment, some kind of complex which forces an individual to live life to prove to the world that he is his own master, just because he thinks being your own master is the best thing in the eyes of the world and hasn’t yet realized its true meaning. He believes that doing an MBA will be considered as following the rat race or the bandwagon and people will think he is just being a copycat. So despite of the fact that he wants to do an MBA he joins politics just to impress the world around and creates a labyrinth for himself. There are many such Rameshes who choose to destroy their lives by not listening to their inner voice.
Whenever I see such people around, I just pray for them that somehow they understand the true meaning of being your own master, i.e., to do what you deem as right and not what you imagine is right in the eyes of the world.
All we can do to help such people hear their conscience loud and clear is by speaking a word of wisdom to them. I guess in such cases, friends can be of great help.
Let’s just try to make a difference in our own possible ways!
6. This is a story of Vimal. Vimal belongs to a vey intellectual and open-minded family. His father is a reputed doctor; mother a psychologist and elder brother a free-lance writer. Vimal is a mature individual who decides to take up a course in Sanskrit.
He completes his BA in Sanskrit, followed by an MA in Vedic studies and then a Ph.D in Hinduism and joins as a faculty of theology in Delhi University. He is very happy with his life and content with the way it is moving forward. Well, Yes! This is indeed one ideal case and is mentioned to bring into light that righteousness is also alive amidst so much of chaos. This is the way!
My personal TIP (Theory in Practice) for taking career decisions is:-
• First of all we must be true to ourselves.
• Second we must always do what we feel is right. (Right in my opinion is doing that which gives you peace and a feeling of fulfilment).
• I know not everyone gets to know the right path in one go, so keep experimenting till you hit your jackpot! (Good intention is the only prerequisite.)
• Always remember our goal is to keep our equation balanced. So study your factors carefully and take the right move.
Scope lies wherever there is an opportunity for growth of our soul.
Happy living!
Cheers!
Note:-This is a life note written primarily for my own benefit. Would be equally glad to know your views as well.
