Last week was quite eventful. Shashi-Sunanda (the just friends) married, Pakistan accepted Indian aid u(s)nder pressure, Sehwag hit a six that blew credibility and honesty of the whole Sri Lankan team, and etcetera etcetera. But the news which remained on the chartbusters was our own नेतालोग asking for a 500% pay hike!
In the last month and a half I have seen what factor salary plays in one’s life. So, I can completely understand the agony of the नेतालोग. They were truly underpaid by a huge margin. Even now they are short by a good 20001 rupees. It is really humiliating for the neta to get less than the babu. And that also by such a huge margin. Anyways they always get the credit for all good that happens through their overestimated underperforming ministries. If something (always) wrong happens, that is the fault of the common man, rotten system, opposition and the eternal and most loveable foreign hand. Even these excuses seldom give him the reprieve. He is the one who receives the brickbats and now even the shoes! (Garlands have become costly and people prefer to get rid of their old footwear in an effective way!) So, I believe it’s his eternal right to receive a higher pay than the babu who always stays away from the limelight. आखिर उनकी भी कोई इज़्जत है !
This is not the only reason why the pay should be hiked. The entourage that always surrounds a neta has to be fed and cared. It’s a simple everyday observation that the more delicious and aromatic the eatable is, the more flies it attracts. Similarly an MP is bound to have a lot many co-workers (चमचे). Now with the escalating costs every day, it is hard to feed these people. Government has dealt this issue nicely by using scientifically approved cost cutting techniques (decrease the number of employees) but then our dear 545 + 250 MPs are the best and different from the rest. So, common man’s techniques are undesirable in these circumstances!
People are raising a huge furore over the issue of their free travel facilities. But they must understand that the नेतालोग have to fly business class and travel AC-1st class for three obvious reasons. First, they are not cattle class. Second, their time is precious and shady deals needs to be done in confinement. Lastly, they have promised to return after 5 years. So, if they show their faces earlier than that, there would be questionnaire waiting for them from every passenger (read Voters) they meet. Moreover, if we start charging them, they have to do few more acts of social work (corruption) to cover their expenses. So, for the better good of the society it’s a welcome decision.
Also, the burden of the social work that they have taken really hurt their shoulders. In the service of the society, they waste themselves without caring for their health. They become overweight, develop ailment in every possible body part and become insomniac. So, a contingency fund has to be build up for them so that they can continue to serve the country till their very last.
Another trouble which has prompted our dear नेतालोग to ask for the pay hike is the unavailability of funds through the havala route. These mediawallahs are always against them. Whenever the नेतालोग try to do a ‘havala’, these mediawallahs do a ‘tehelka’. The IT-department is also not behind. The innocent नेतालोग are not even allowed to take gifts (बेचारी mayawati) and donations. They are charged the dreaded income-tax for the money they receive, which actually is the immense love shown by the common man. So, this time they decided to earn some tax-free money through legal means. So, why oppose!
Also, this has also shown the world the fast decision making capacity of our parliamentary system. Otherwise every bill goes through the देखते है, सोचते है, करेँगे, जल्दी क्या है phase. This also showed the harmony and unity among our नेतालोग. In case of any other bill, it’s so difficult to bring them together but this bill is a real winner. I hope the bill will be passed in one sitting. (Well done Laluji. It would have been difficult without you.)
पैसा ऐसा चीज़, ख़ुदा से उनीस बीस !
Jokes apart, the mockery that these people have done of our democracy is worth a concern. Let’s not forget this when we meet them again for the 2014 general elections.
Jai Hind!!!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
One Month In Office
(सोचा था की जब पहली salary मिलेगी तब यह article लिखेंगे लेकिन अब सोचते हैं की फिर कब लिखेंगे! Because salary तो भविष्य के गर्भ में चली गयी है, पता नहीं कब आएगी!)
11th of August, I finished one month at my job. I’ve mentioned earlier that my last trial at a job lasted just 2 days so this is indeed a remarkable feat (Given the fact that I’m not particularly very satisfied with the job that I have now)!
As I’ve written before that now I’m a lecturer (Assistant Professor in college rolls) at MIET, Shahapur, Bhandara and will be teaching(?) Physics to students of First year BE. It would be untrue if I say that I was overjoyed to get this job. My idea of a job, for the last few years, has revolved around research. I wanted to join a premier research institute for my PhD and then join over there itself or somewhere else and be with research for the rest of the days, I can manage to survive on mother earth. I would be the undisputed boss of my life and would be paid handsomely with money, respect and satisfaction. But it was not to be. So I went for my next love, teaching.
12th of July when I went to JM Patel College, Bhandara, I had no idea that I’d be starting my lecturer’s duty that very day. So, when Dafre sir asked me to write the “Letter of Joining”, I couldn’t believe my ears and had to ask him twice whether or not he was saying exactly the same thing that I had heard.
And from that day started a new innings. I had to learn new ways to fit myself into the new order that was beckoning me. As soon as I reached the college, the guard at the gate asked me about my purpose of visit. When I told him that I was a newly appointed lecturer, he immediately saluted me. I was shocked as this was the first time someone had done something like that to me. From that day on this has been a regular practice, taking namastes, salutes, Good Mornings from guards, non-teaching staff and my colleagues. Even though I’m saying colleagues, I’m the second most junior on the list. The next young guy is 5 years older. The youngest is only 15 days younger to me. But since he has one year experience, he is treated as a compatriot while I’m treated as a kid. They are always there to take care of me and guide me and readily point out my mistakes. I’ve also learned and absorbed so much from them. They have been in this field for quite a long time and I’m learning the tricks of the trade from them. Especially I’m fond of Fandi sir and Shende sir.
But the man who holds all of us awestruck is Nema sir. He is 61 and has retired from WCL. But the fire within him is more than any of us. He defies his age with astounding energy levels which makes us ashamed because of our inability to match with him pace to pace. Not only physically but also mentally he is young. He will generally think what we GEN-Y think! Especially his use of technology and computers has made all of us his ardent fans. I always love talking to him and 1 hour spent with him gives you a year of wisdom. His vision is far more clear than most of the others associated with the institute. Even if I don’t gain anything, his companionship will be an achievement for the entire life.
This one month included 26 days of inaction and 5 days of admission rounds. Both the phases taught me important lessons. The days of inaction were very long and tedious. It was after a long time that I was travelling every day. 4 hours of travelling everyday has made me immune to ST buses that I don’t like as a mode of communication. After reaching Jawaharnagar, we have to endure the agony of travelling in the rickety six-seaters (It’s just the name. It is actually a 10-11-12 seater). And then starts the long day in which the only productive work is LUNCH! We chat, watch movies on my laptop, roam here and there, just sit idle, and even sleep but even then the day doesn’t seem to end! It really has improved my patience, endurance, sleeping powers, talking powers and my knowledge on many subjects both sense and nonsense. At quarter to five, we start getting ready and at five to five we go for our end-correction (signing the attendance register) so that we can leave exactly at 5!
The 5 days of admission were more energy consuming but at last we had something to do. We even worked on the Sunday, thanks to DTE. Our monochromatic life now had some colour as so many people came with so many different types of queries. It’s always lovely to meet people and help them with their troubles. But this time the meetings had me on the other side of the table for the first time. Instead of being counselled, I was the counsellor. I was really enjoying my seat of power. Variety of people came from different places. Some were dumb, some smart and some oversmart. Many were afraid, some confident and some overconfident. They had queries from hostel to fees to infrastructure to lecturers to …… We were to answer everything satisfactorily keeping in view that any student entering through the door should not return back. His admission had to be confirmed. Other teachers were experienced in this matter while I was a greenhorn. But I believe I did my job to near perfection. There were times when the heart was saying to slap and swear the guy in front of me but I kept smiling and got him admitted as well. There were times when making the fellow understand my point of view was next to impossible but I somehow managed. I always thought these counsellors are overpaid and overestimated. But it’s true that without sitting on the Hot Seat, nobody can feel and understand the heat. I sometimes deviated from the path but others pulled me through. I’m proud to say that we managed to bag 88 seats in the very first round even though the college was new and had made very little publicity (We have students from Mumbai to Salekasa). Those five days greatly improved my public conversational skills (I must thank my Pune gang, especially Aradhana, without whom I’d never have learnt the art of public speaking).
Another thing that I’d to change was my attire. For the last seven years I’ve never tucked my shirt in and wore my shoes irregularly. My dressing sense is a complete faux-pas. Here I’ve to bath every morning and then prepare myself for the whole day. If the college authorities stick with what they have said then I’ve to wear light coloured shirts, dark coloured pants, shoes and tie for the rest of the year and maybe soon learn some dressing sense as well. (I hope I soon get a research job and be able to wear my kurta or T-shirt with my bermuda coupled with my chappals!)
Even though I was thrilled to be part of such a big education society, I’m not fully satisfied with the work conditions. I know my utopian vision of an educational institution is an impossibility but still let’s hope I get at least 20% of what I think is needed.
Next wish is quick delivery of our salary so that I can buy things on my list which I planned even before getting this job!
And last but not the last wish is your cooperation, help, blessings and love for a successful life.
11th of August, I finished one month at my job. I’ve mentioned earlier that my last trial at a job lasted just 2 days so this is indeed a remarkable feat (Given the fact that I’m not particularly very satisfied with the job that I have now)!
As I’ve written before that now I’m a lecturer (Assistant Professor in college rolls) at MIET, Shahapur, Bhandara and will be teaching(?) Physics to students of First year BE. It would be untrue if I say that I was overjoyed to get this job. My idea of a job, for the last few years, has revolved around research. I wanted to join a premier research institute for my PhD and then join over there itself or somewhere else and be with research for the rest of the days, I can manage to survive on mother earth. I would be the undisputed boss of my life and would be paid handsomely with money, respect and satisfaction. But it was not to be. So I went for my next love, teaching.
12th of July when I went to JM Patel College, Bhandara, I had no idea that I’d be starting my lecturer’s duty that very day. So, when Dafre sir asked me to write the “Letter of Joining”, I couldn’t believe my ears and had to ask him twice whether or not he was saying exactly the same thing that I had heard.
And from that day started a new innings. I had to learn new ways to fit myself into the new order that was beckoning me. As soon as I reached the college, the guard at the gate asked me about my purpose of visit. When I told him that I was a newly appointed lecturer, he immediately saluted me. I was shocked as this was the first time someone had done something like that to me. From that day on this has been a regular practice, taking namastes, salutes, Good Mornings from guards, non-teaching staff and my colleagues. Even though I’m saying colleagues, I’m the second most junior on the list. The next young guy is 5 years older. The youngest is only 15 days younger to me. But since he has one year experience, he is treated as a compatriot while I’m treated as a kid. They are always there to take care of me and guide me and readily point out my mistakes. I’ve also learned and absorbed so much from them. They have been in this field for quite a long time and I’m learning the tricks of the trade from them. Especially I’m fond of Fandi sir and Shende sir.
But the man who holds all of us awestruck is Nema sir. He is 61 and has retired from WCL. But the fire within him is more than any of us. He defies his age with astounding energy levels which makes us ashamed because of our inability to match with him pace to pace. Not only physically but also mentally he is young. He will generally think what we GEN-Y think! Especially his use of technology and computers has made all of us his ardent fans. I always love talking to him and 1 hour spent with him gives you a year of wisdom. His vision is far more clear than most of the others associated with the institute. Even if I don’t gain anything, his companionship will be an achievement for the entire life.
This one month included 26 days of inaction and 5 days of admission rounds. Both the phases taught me important lessons. The days of inaction were very long and tedious. It was after a long time that I was travelling every day. 4 hours of travelling everyday has made me immune to ST buses that I don’t like as a mode of communication. After reaching Jawaharnagar, we have to endure the agony of travelling in the rickety six-seaters (It’s just the name. It is actually a 10-11-12 seater). And then starts the long day in which the only productive work is LUNCH! We chat, watch movies on my laptop, roam here and there, just sit idle, and even sleep but even then the day doesn’t seem to end! It really has improved my patience, endurance, sleeping powers, talking powers and my knowledge on many subjects both sense and nonsense. At quarter to five, we start getting ready and at five to five we go for our end-correction (signing the attendance register) so that we can leave exactly at 5!
The 5 days of admission were more energy consuming but at last we had something to do. We even worked on the Sunday, thanks to DTE. Our monochromatic life now had some colour as so many people came with so many different types of queries. It’s always lovely to meet people and help them with their troubles. But this time the meetings had me on the other side of the table for the first time. Instead of being counselled, I was the counsellor. I was really enjoying my seat of power. Variety of people came from different places. Some were dumb, some smart and some oversmart. Many were afraid, some confident and some overconfident. They had queries from hostel to fees to infrastructure to lecturers to …… We were to answer everything satisfactorily keeping in view that any student entering through the door should not return back. His admission had to be confirmed. Other teachers were experienced in this matter while I was a greenhorn. But I believe I did my job to near perfection. There were times when the heart was saying to slap and swear the guy in front of me but I kept smiling and got him admitted as well. There were times when making the fellow understand my point of view was next to impossible but I somehow managed. I always thought these counsellors are overpaid and overestimated. But it’s true that without sitting on the Hot Seat, nobody can feel and understand the heat. I sometimes deviated from the path but others pulled me through. I’m proud to say that we managed to bag 88 seats in the very first round even though the college was new and had made very little publicity (We have students from Mumbai to Salekasa). Those five days greatly improved my public conversational skills (I must thank my Pune gang, especially Aradhana, without whom I’d never have learnt the art of public speaking).
Another thing that I’d to change was my attire. For the last seven years I’ve never tucked my shirt in and wore my shoes irregularly. My dressing sense is a complete faux-pas. Here I’ve to bath every morning and then prepare myself for the whole day. If the college authorities stick with what they have said then I’ve to wear light coloured shirts, dark coloured pants, shoes and tie for the rest of the year and maybe soon learn some dressing sense as well. (I hope I soon get a research job and be able to wear my kurta or T-shirt with my bermuda coupled with my chappals!)
Even though I was thrilled to be part of such a big education society, I’m not fully satisfied with the work conditions. I know my utopian vision of an educational institution is an impossibility but still let’s hope I get at least 20% of what I think is needed.
Next wish is quick delivery of our salary so that I can buy things on my list which I planned even before getting this job!
And last but not the last wish is your cooperation, help, blessings and love for a successful life.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Job: To Be or Not To Be
When I was young, I thought that for getting a job astounding qualifications was the sole criteria. As I grew towards jobhood, I found out that in case of insufficient qualifications, contacts (setting) and even bribes have to be incorporated into the CV! I had no contacts and nothing to bribe. Morally I’m against it and even if I succumbed, monetarily it was impossible. So, I decided to embark on the path of attaining the best qualifications needed for a satisfying job.
2005 was a great year. I was in BSc(Final) and was undecided about my next step. My college profs sent me for an interview for a IT job at MBT (now TechMahindra). I went there empty minded just to attend it. But, in the evening I was among the four who got the job. In another month or so I accompanied my friends for another interview to Infosys Progeon (now Infosys BPO) and landed up with that job as well. By the end of the session, I had decided to move my ass to Pune for Masters in Physics with Astrophysics as my specialization. I couldn’t fulfill my wish that year and just out of frustration went for the BPO job. I didn’t like it and left in just 2 days! Next year I fulfilled my wish and went for my masters to Pune. In two years, the idea of job and for that matter earning large sums of money by grinding my ass was summarily rejected by me. I decided to dedicate my life (big words!!!) for research. So, I started applying to all national level institutes for PhD. I cleared some entrances but always fell at the last hurdle (interviews)!
By June 2010, it was totally clear that I wasn’t to be enrolled for PhD this session or even later. By luck, I have a nice AIR25 in NET(LS) examination. So, I decided to exploit it for a teaching job.
I started to gather information about the requirements and emoluments about my prospective job. I found out that teaching in a Science college in Nagpur will suit my taste but not my pocket! The colleges which would match my taste were in areas that didn’t match my taste. So, I had only one option and that was to join an engineering college. Pay was good and that was one of the basic requirements. Having fixed my mind, I started applying to various engineering colleges in and around Nagpur. In the meantime, I kept emailing Science colleges in Pune and Mumbai. St. Xaviers, Mumbai surprisingly called me for the interview. But as luck would have it, the call letter came very late on a Friday evening for the subsequent afternoon’s interview. I couldn’t go and missed a great opportunity. I kept viewing ‘aspire’ columns in Lokmat and in other Newspapers. One college was happy to have me for the interview but told me that it was unhealthy for them and me if I joined them. They cited that I would not stay for long given my qualifications and that would not be good for them. They also added that they can’t pay me the deserved pay and that would be an unsatisfactory start for my ‘would be illustrious career’.
I got rejected by 2 other colleges on the same flimsy reasons. I was contemplating about my decision when I suddenly saw an interview for MIET, Shahapur. The college belong to Gondia Education Society, chair manned by Mr. Praful Patel. I had no hope of getting a job even there. But, since the interview was at Hotel Centre Point (near to my house), I went there. But surprises are a part and parcel of life. 4:30 PM, Saturday, 10th July 2010, I gave the interview and in less than 23 hours I was on the faculty list of the college with a promised pay of 15K.
Since, 12th July, I’m attending college. Life has played the tricks. I’m working where I never wanted to be in the first place. I travel daily 2 hours one-way for my job and still am surprisingly healthy both physically and mentally. Maybe getting a job has given my mind the required energy to focus on my unfinished endeavours.
Since, the admissions are yet to happen, we have nothing much to do (I wrote this blog in college time)! This would be first time in my life when I would be paid for doing absolutely nothing.
I pray to God for a successful run in my subsequent adventures in the job world.
2005 was a great year. I was in BSc(Final) and was undecided about my next step. My college profs sent me for an interview for a IT job at MBT (now TechMahindra). I went there empty minded just to attend it. But, in the evening I was among the four who got the job. In another month or so I accompanied my friends for another interview to Infosys Progeon (now Infosys BPO) and landed up with that job as well. By the end of the session, I had decided to move my ass to Pune for Masters in Physics with Astrophysics as my specialization. I couldn’t fulfill my wish that year and just out of frustration went for the BPO job. I didn’t like it and left in just 2 days! Next year I fulfilled my wish and went for my masters to Pune. In two years, the idea of job and for that matter earning large sums of money by grinding my ass was summarily rejected by me. I decided to dedicate my life (big words!!!) for research. So, I started applying to all national level institutes for PhD. I cleared some entrances but always fell at the last hurdle (interviews)!
By June 2010, it was totally clear that I wasn’t to be enrolled for PhD this session or even later. By luck, I have a nice AIR25 in NET(LS) examination. So, I decided to exploit it for a teaching job.
I started to gather information about the requirements and emoluments about my prospective job. I found out that teaching in a Science college in Nagpur will suit my taste but not my pocket! The colleges which would match my taste were in areas that didn’t match my taste. So, I had only one option and that was to join an engineering college. Pay was good and that was one of the basic requirements. Having fixed my mind, I started applying to various engineering colleges in and around Nagpur. In the meantime, I kept emailing Science colleges in Pune and Mumbai. St. Xaviers, Mumbai surprisingly called me for the interview. But as luck would have it, the call letter came very late on a Friday evening for the subsequent afternoon’s interview. I couldn’t go and missed a great opportunity. I kept viewing ‘aspire’ columns in Lokmat and in other Newspapers. One college was happy to have me for the interview but told me that it was unhealthy for them and me if I joined them. They cited that I would not stay for long given my qualifications and that would not be good for them. They also added that they can’t pay me the deserved pay and that would be an unsatisfactory start for my ‘would be illustrious career’.
I got rejected by 2 other colleges on the same flimsy reasons. I was contemplating about my decision when I suddenly saw an interview for MIET, Shahapur. The college belong to Gondia Education Society, chair manned by Mr. Praful Patel. I had no hope of getting a job even there. But, since the interview was at Hotel Centre Point (near to my house), I went there. But surprises are a part and parcel of life. 4:30 PM, Saturday, 10th July 2010, I gave the interview and in less than 23 hours I was on the faculty list of the college with a promised pay of 15K.
Since, 12th July, I’m attending college. Life has played the tricks. I’m working where I never wanted to be in the first place. I travel daily 2 hours one-way for my job and still am surprisingly healthy both physically and mentally. Maybe getting a job has given my mind the required energy to focus on my unfinished endeavours.
Since, the admissions are yet to happen, we have nothing much to do (I wrote this blog in college time)! This would be first time in my life when I would be paid for doing absolutely nothing.
I pray to God for a successful run in my subsequent adventures in the job world.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
