Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Dare to dream
|
We should believe in our dreams and take risks if we want to move ahead, argues Subhashri
|
"Passion" is one word (in all contexts!) that does not go down well with our folks. "Be practical," they say. "Find a job which will get you money." It is inherently assumed that people work for money and not because they are passionate about something. I cannot understand why people find it so difficult to understand how one could actually put satisfaction over money.
The older generation laid more importance on having a steady source of income rather than pursue something out of interest. Pre-Independence, there were lawyers and teachers. Post-Independence it was government jobs, bank officers, doctors and engineers. Now the sun shines on software engineers.
I find nothing wrong in this scheme of things, except for the thought of the Tendulkars, Rahmans or Ambanis wasting their fragrance in the desert air. We may not all be able to become stunning successes, but at the end of the day it is the effort that counts. I went the software path and even worked for mega bucks till one day I decided to quit and learn German. And now I am planning to learn French. The advantage of learning German is being able to see and understand Deutsche Welle TV, a German channel, which has given me a whole new perspective and opened up a new world of ideas and thinking.
To see young people in their 20s and 30s pursuing and succeeding with verrückt (crazy) ideas is fulfilling. One may argue that the conditions are different and that they can afford to pursue wild dreams. Perhaps this attitude is the reason why we still lag behind and call ourselves a developing country for well over 50 years.
Having reached the breaking point, the question of where to go and what to do is one that is not easily resolved. What happens to the time and money invested in the undesired degree or study? Even if we can rise above that, how much more time and money can one invest to earn the desired skill or degree? The hardest part, of course, is convincing parents that you have reached the breaking point and get them to finance your dream. Needless to say, it is well nigh impossible to convince an employer that writing or singing comes naturally to you.
Instead of the passion to pursue a dream and take the country and consequently ourselves to greater heights, we are content to limit ourselves to a steady, well-paid job. This nation of one billion has so far seen only a handful of dreamers and visionaries like J.R.D Tata or Dhirubhai Ambani or N.R. Narayana Murthy. It has been rightly said that India is a land of hidden giants. The giants only have to discover themselves and that will only happen once we change our mindset.
Nevertheless, there is light at the end of the tunnel and the confidence that comes from pursuing a dream drives the dreamers. Hopefully, we'll turn into an unsatisfied, risk-taking society soon! May two dreamers arise for every content employee!
Do you have anything to say? About the state of the world, the city, your angst?
Pen it stylishly and you might get it published.
Don't forget to attach your photograph, either hard copy or scanned 300 dpi.
You may mail it to bangaloremetro@thehindu.co. in or post it to MetroPlus, The Hindu, 19 & 21, Bhagwan Mahaveer Road, Bangalore 560 001.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
|
