In India most of the engineers like me regardless of the stream end up being a software engineer more because of lack of ample opportunities in other fields and less due to less hard work and more money reason which all the outsiders think of. I will not say software industry involves lots of hard work but it is not a comfortable job also as you have to bear a lot mentally. Some times you are thrashed by your manager and some times by client. Some time you have to work the whole day and night and that too with out any required result and thus more depression in place of any appreciation.
At the time of appraisal you have to prove that why you should be given double digit hikes in place of single digit and all of your justifications can be seen nullified by your manager telling you that it could have been done in a better way. All these and much more is a part of life of software engineer. Most of us must have experienced it.
When the code we have written is being tested by the client that is the most anxious moment that can bring sweating even in the chilled AC environment. However we always have an option of switching and getting into another company. But the condition become same sooner or later. Same meetings, same development and same thrashings. Whether we people work or not, we have lots of self respect for us. We always find some one else who is responsible for our non - working attitude. Some times its manager, some times its nature of work and some times our lack of understanding which also we forced on some other person. If we dont know any thing about the work, we assume that its not the responsibility of us but of the person who assigned it to us.
When the code we have written is being tested by the client that is the most anxious moment that can bring sweating even in the chilled AC environment. However we always have an option of switching and getting into another company. But the condition become same sooner or later. Same meetings, same development and same thrashings. Whether we people work or not, we have lots of self respect for us. We always find some one else who is responsible for our non - working attitude. Some times its manager, some times its nature of work and some times our lack of understanding which also we forced on some other person. If we dont know any thing about the work, we assume that its not the responsibility of us but of the person who assigned it to us.
What ever be the scenario, a common misconception about the industry is that there is lots of money in it and thus the areas where software industry is automatically become double priced from the normal area. From home to cinemas, everything becomes costlier. All the relatives think that he must be earning lots of money and must have been abroad some times. If you have not been abroad specially USA then you are a waste in your life. Parents feel proud that our child has been to outside. Onsite which we usually call it to be outside India is synonym of your capability and worth. But the main reason we want to be abroad is MONEY. This 5 alphabet word rules the world. It is usually said that a home is one of the biggest achievement a person can achieve in his life. As soon as 2-3 years of experience is done, parents start arguing for marriage and after marriage planning of flat is started. Yes A FLAT not a home. In IT affected areas, homes have been replaced by Flats. People live in flats which resemble colonial nests of honeybees and incidentally inspired from them. Thanks to IT, these nests are not cheaper either. You may have to pay more than 25 lakhs for the possession after 3 years in a remote area far away from your office and city for these.
You have to buy a flat even though that is not your native city and even you are not sure of your working location(as well as of your wife if she is working too) in future. So you are trapped now. You have bought a flat and you are bound to location and in some way to that company too.
But you have not bought your flat till now. You need money and for money either take loans for 15-20 years with monthly instalments or
go outside India, far away from your parents and friends just in the hope that you will have enough money to buy a flat and make parents happy. But it does not happen in all the cases. We keep looking for more and more money and thus complete our life in this hunt.
As I may have to go outside NCR too for new job, there is one short story of an Software engineer shared by my brother Neeraj 5 years ago when I have not entered IT industry. You may have read it some where else but it is worth sharing with both IT and non IT people. We all know the truth still we just keep running for the money. Have a shot of it.
As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree in
Software Engineer and joined a company based in USA, the land of braves and opportunity. When I arrived in the USA, it was as if a dream had come true. Here at last I was in the place where I want to be. I decided I would be staying in this country for about Five years in which time I would have earned enough money to settle down in India.
My father was a government employee and after his retirement, the only asset he could acquire was a decent one bedroom flat. I wanted to do some thing more than him. I started feeling homesick and lonely as the time passed. I used to call home and speak to my parents every week using cheap international phone cards. Two years passed, two years of Burgers at McDonald's and pizzas and discos and 2 years watching the foreign exchange rate getting happy whenever the Rupee value went down.
Finally I decided to get married. Told my parents that I have only 10 days of holidays and everything must be done within these 10 days. I got my ticket booked in the cheapest flight. Was jubilant and was actually enjoying hopping for gifts for all my friends back home. If I miss anyone then there will be talks. After reaching home I spent home one week going through all the photographs of girls and as the time was getting shorter I was forced to select one candidate.
In-laws told me,to my surprise, that I would have to get married in 2-3 days, as I will not get anymore holidays. After the marriage, it was time to return to USA, after giving some money to my parents and telling the neighbors to look after them, we returned to USA. My wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she started feeling lonely. The frequency of calling India increased to twice in a week sometimes 3 times a week. Our savings started diminishing. After two more years we started to have kids. Two lovely kids, a boy and a girl, were gifted to us by the almighty. Every time I spoke to my parents, they asked me to come to India so that they can see their grand-children.
Every year I decide to go to India. But part work part monetary conditions prevented it. Years went by and visiting India was a distant dream. Then suddenly one day I got a message that my parents were seriously sick. I tried but I couldn't get any holidays and thus could not go to India. The next message I got was my parents had passed away and as there was no one to do the last rights the society members had done whatever they could. I was depressed. My parents had passed away without seeing their grand children.
After couple more years passed away, much to my children's dislike and my wife's joy we returned to India to settle down. I started to look for a suitable property, but to my dismay my savings were short and the property prices had gone up during all these years. I had to return to the USA.
My wife refused to come back with me and my children refused to stay in India. My 2 children and I returned to USA after promising my wife I would be back for good after two years. Time passed by, my daughter decided to get married to an American and my son was happy living in USA. I decided that had enough and wound-up every thing and returned to India. I had just enough money to buy a decent 02 bedroom flat in a well-developed locality.
Now I am 60 years old and the only time I go out of the flat is for the routine visit to the nearby temple. My faithful wife has also left me and gone to the holy abode. Sometimes I wondered was it worth all this? My father, even after staying in India, had a house to his name and I too have the same nothing more.
I lost my parents and children for just ONE EXTRA BEDROOM. Looking out from the window I see a lot of children dancing. This damned cable TV has spoiled our new generation and these children are losing their values and culture because of it. I get occasional cards from my children asking I am alright. Well at least they remember me. Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbors again who will be performing my last rights, God Bless them. But the question still remains 'was all this worth it?'
I am still searching for an answer................!!!!
My father was a government employee and after his retirement, the only asset he could acquire was a decent one bedroom flat. I wanted to do some thing more than him. I started feeling homesick and lonely as the time passed. I used to call home and speak to my parents every week using cheap international phone cards. Two years passed, two years of Burgers at McDonald's and pizzas and discos and 2 years watching the foreign exchange rate getting happy whenever the Rupee value went down.
Finally I decided to get married. Told my parents that I have only 10 days of holidays and everything must be done within these 10 days. I got my ticket booked in the cheapest flight. Was jubilant and was actually enjoying hopping for gifts for all my friends back home. If I miss anyone then there will be talks. After reaching home I spent home one week going through all the photographs of girls and as the time was getting shorter I was forced to select one candidate.
In-laws told me,to my surprise, that I would have to get married in 2-3 days, as I will not get anymore holidays. After the marriage, it was time to return to USA, after giving some money to my parents and telling the neighbors to look after them, we returned to USA. My wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she started feeling lonely. The frequency of calling India increased to twice in a week sometimes 3 times a week. Our savings started diminishing. After two more years we started to have kids. Two lovely kids, a boy and a girl, were gifted to us by the almighty. Every time I spoke to my parents, they asked me to come to India so that they can see their grand-children.
Every year I decide to go to India. But part work part monetary conditions prevented it. Years went by and visiting India was a distant dream. Then suddenly one day I got a message that my parents were seriously sick. I tried but I couldn't get any holidays and thus could not go to India. The next message I got was my parents had passed away and as there was no one to do the last rights the society members had done whatever they could. I was depressed. My parents had passed away without seeing their grand children.
After couple more years passed away, much to my children's dislike and my wife's joy we returned to India to settle down. I started to look for a suitable property, but to my dismay my savings were short and the property prices had gone up during all these years. I had to return to the USA.
My wife refused to come back with me and my children refused to stay in India. My 2 children and I returned to USA after promising my wife I would be back for good after two years. Time passed by, my daughter decided to get married to an American and my son was happy living in USA. I decided that had enough and wound-up every thing and returned to India. I had just enough money to buy a decent 02 bedroom flat in a well-developed locality.
Now I am 60 years old and the only time I go out of the flat is for the routine visit to the nearby temple. My faithful wife has also left me and gone to the holy abode. Sometimes I wondered was it worth all this? My father, even after staying in India, had a house to his name and I too have the same nothing more.
I lost my parents and children for just ONE EXTRA BEDROOM. Looking out from the window I see a lot of children dancing. This damned cable TV has spoiled our new generation and these children are losing their values and culture because of it. I get occasional cards from my children asking I am alright. Well at least they remember me. Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbors again who will be performing my last rights, God Bless them. But the question still remains 'was all this worth it?'
I am still searching for an answer................!!!!
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jeeyo
ReplyDeleteThank you!!! aapki dua rahi to jeete hi rahenge ;)
ReplyDeleteI am speechless...
ReplyDeletethanks. But please keep on speakingthanks. But please keep on speaking :)
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