The Hindu Business Line : A burning desire to come up in life

THERE is a mail from Mr M. Thirunavukkarasu, employed in the State electricity board as an Assistant Engineer. He is an MIE, apart from being an MBA and MCA; he is currently doing his M.Phil.

While most CAs may ignore him as belonging to a different tribe, I ask him how he keeps alive his interest in studying, even when he is 45.

Well, he tells me his story. "I got married when I was barely 19, when I was doing my first year diploma in teacher's training."

Early marriage, I comment, because these days most boys want to delay any wedlock till about 30. But there are often domestic compulsions.

"After my marriage I studied the second year and my wife got an appointment in Chennai Corporation co-op society. Hence we moved to Chennai." What were you doing, Arasu? Looking for job? "Yes," he says. "For two years I was jobless and stayed at home." That must be killing, I remark. "True. That's the way the job market is."

Then? "Seeing my despair my wife encouraged to study further," he continues. "That's a smart move," I say, "to think of adding to your quiver of arrows." Arasu narrates: "I joined full time diploma course in electrical engineering and stood first in my college." Congrats, though belated, I wish. "Thanks. I got my appointment in Lucas-TVS. After two years I resigned that job and joined TNEB as Technical Assistant in 1986."

A sarkari job, and you would have put a full stop for studies. "No," says Arasu. "I completed my AMIE by self study in 1990 and got my promotion as AE by internal selection the very next year."

He then went on to study MBA (Finance) from IGNOU, and thereafter MCA too.

Even when the lights go pop, courtesy power-cuts, I am sure he is burning the midnight oil to study for his M.Phil on management.

"This is because of the support given by my wife and my burning desire to come up in life," he asserts.

"When I was jobless the mental agony I experienced cannot be described in words. Only my inner voice guided me to this point."

It would be hasty for CA students to draw a conclusion that they would study better if they too got married as early as Arasu.

Such a course would be advisable perhaps if one continues to be a student in spite of repeated attempts in the perennial May-Nov cycle of exams and age zips past mid-30s.

For the vast majority, though, who do not have the commitment of having to support a family, it should be lot easier to study. But odds do play a role in spurring up one's efforts, sharpening focus, and providing a meaning to life.

JumpTheOdds@hotmail.com

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