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`We are killing creativity in kids'

Sinduja Raghunathan, engineering student, feels kids should be given the freedom to make independent career choices

SINDUJA RAGHUNATHAN "I will let my child explore less travelled roads" PHOTO: S. Thanthoni

I hesitate to read the newspapers, these days. The reason - well, my imagination runs wild and I end up wallowing in self-pity. Find that funny? Take, for instance, my train of thoughts on coming across an article about Sania Mirza.

"Oh, What an achiever! What talent! What fame... all just at 18! Hey, wait! Wouldn't I be 18 in a few months? What have I done in life? Who knows my face beyond the street?"

Deeper self-analysis yielded to frustration at myself for not having taken my talents seriously.

Are we killing the writer, dancer and sportsperson inside us in the race to find a `safe' job?

Our President Abdul Kalam has urged us to dream. Sure sir, we will dream. But someday we are going to be woken up and sent to all possible tuitions. After all, isn't it more important? To get into the best college, the most popular course, earn a five-figure salary in your early 20s... and then? Then what? Be one of the crowd and occasionally, in those rare sunset moments, think of the passions we once had but never dared to explore.

My parents applaud Kalpana Chawla, look up to Kiran Bedi and praise P. T. Usha, but when it comes to their daughter — "She would rather be a software professional."

"A career in photography?" They open their mouths wide, as though I have just announced my recruitment to Al Qaeda. "What income do you think it will fetch you?" "Tennis as a profession? Where do you think you will end up in life?"

Today, every second parent enrols his child in either a music or dance class. Why wouldn't they? The kid can be made to showcase his or her skill in front of the (not-so-interested) neighbours. The same parents, 10 years later, without hesitation, terminate these "distractions". After all, the child needs time for IIT coaching! Why not allow the kid make music his career?Who gave you the right to rate different fields? Don't we feel a tinge of regret when we glance at our yesteryear talents, sealed in high school trophies, rusting in the showcase?

I silently pledge that someday I will let my child explore less travelled roads and fly the unconquered skies! He probably won't earn Rs.30,000 at 25, but will definitely be a happier individual. !

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