THE OCD ( optimistically conducive distraction) BUG!
It has been more than two years since I left Delhi, my hometown and my karmabhoomi.
First let me place my gratitude to the Almighty who provided me with the opportunities to nourish my intellect and then flourish with the abundance it brought in the form of wealth,popularity and success in all these years.
Yes,I own a success story.Here it goes.
circa 1983.
I had just completed my BEd from CIE and had stood 3rd in Delhi University.I had got a scholarship of 700 rupees for pursuing MEd from the same Institute.All my friends knew that I was tomboyish and with an academic bent of mind.They all laughed in disbelief when I said I was getting married.And I took the challenge and married my partner in crime, a jolly good fellow,Mr.Rajmohan.The OCD bug bit me for the first time and I ended up completing my MEd with a baby in hand!!
I am not sure if this could be called OCD but the idea that I could not just be a homemaker kept cropping in my head.I applied to schools near my residence as we moved within the city and outside, just for testing my market value! I wanted to belong in the industry,you see! And everytime I would get a teaching job I would be grateful to my parents, my alma mater and the department of education, for building this perfect resume for me through 'nature and nurture' as they say.The genes!! I totally trust them!!
So,ultimately I managed to teach in seven different schools in and around Delhi.
Every school had its own plusses and minuses. What I learnt was that teachers are also human,very competitive and come with their own idiosyncracies!! I made some good friends during this journey.I would like to mention just one name here.Ms.Vani Sharma.We learnt a lot from each other,stood for each other in times of need and most importantly,spoke our mind when it came to injustice and gender inequality. Surprisingly,even teaching,which is a woman-dominated industry,gives preference to men!
Ok..Let me think of the positives.My strength was my ability to love my students!!It was spontaneous! Not a day haveI felt sad around them.My job gave me immeasurable pleasure. Wherever I went, Holy child or Ryan International or East Point, I loved them and they loved me!! Infact I was so filled with love that I could easily understand my own children better because I was interacting with similar kids in school! I felt it was important to study psychology if I had to build the emotional quotient of myself and the students around me.So I did a Masters in Psychology, when my son was doing his bachelors in engineering!
Circa 2000
I was at the peak of my school teaching career..had become the head of the department with the Management and students completely trusting me and every word I spoke about education and science.The obvious next step would have been to apply for becoming a principal in a school. I didnt seem to want that kind of upgradation in status.
But ,my mind was unsettled.Then the OCD bug bit me again!! :) :) I knew what I wanted.I needed to reach out to more children and make them understand the real essence of Science. The thought that Science cannot be taught and has to caught got affirmed in my head.
Fortunately, at this time,I met Ms.Shruti Sharma, an editor of a famous text book publishers who wanted me to contribute in book writing. Before I knew I was reviewing books and very soon I was authoring them and was neck deep into writing. OCD bug,I tell you!! :) :)
Simultaneously,I quit my established job.No specific reason. So the school gave me an offer to work as a Consultant with them where I had to visit the school only once a week.This continued for two years. Meanwhile I was getting a clearer picture of what I wanted to do. I visualised my own centre of excellence for promoting science.And...yes the OCD bug did its job! It all began with 2 students and how it rose to a batch of 90 is still beyond my comprehension! Everything was going perfect.The classes,the workshops,the inflow of money,the equipments for the resource centre- everything was building up.I was at the hilt of my career.Nothing could have stopped me now.
Circa 2017 But...there is always a but in everybody's life. For me,this BUT became more important than anything else in this world.It was time to play my second innings.Service. It was time to show my gratitude to my parents who had raised me,fed me,made me equipped to perform all that I am today. They needed me.I was not being sacrificial.I was just being dutiful.So, along with my partner, I moved permanently to Coimbatore to take care of them.I lost both my parents in these two years. But,they have put me in a happy place for what I did.
Let me finish with the OCD bug! It has bit me again bigtime and here I am with my blog! Bear with me now as long as it sustains!!!
Cheers!
It has been more than two years since I left Delhi, my hometown and my karmabhoomi.
First let me place my gratitude to the Almighty who provided me with the opportunities to nourish my intellect and then flourish with the abundance it brought in the form of wealth,popularity and success in all these years.
Yes,I own a success story.Here it goes.
circa 1983.
I had just completed my BEd from CIE and had stood 3rd in Delhi University.I had got a scholarship of 700 rupees for pursuing MEd from the same Institute.All my friends knew that I was tomboyish and with an academic bent of mind.They all laughed in disbelief when I said I was getting married.And I took the challenge and married my partner in crime, a jolly good fellow,Mr.Rajmohan.The OCD bug bit me for the first time and I ended up completing my MEd with a baby in hand!!
I am not sure if this could be called OCD but the idea that I could not just be a homemaker kept cropping in my head.I applied to schools near my residence as we moved within the city and outside, just for testing my market value! I wanted to belong in the industry,you see! And everytime I would get a teaching job I would be grateful to my parents, my alma mater and the department of education, for building this perfect resume for me through 'nature and nurture' as they say.The genes!! I totally trust them!!
So,ultimately I managed to teach in seven different schools in and around Delhi.
Every school had its own plusses and minuses. What I learnt was that teachers are also human,very competitive and come with their own idiosyncracies!! I made some good friends during this journey.I would like to mention just one name here.Ms.Vani Sharma.We learnt a lot from each other,stood for each other in times of need and most importantly,spoke our mind when it came to injustice and gender inequality. Surprisingly,even teaching,which is a woman-dominated industry,gives preference to men!
Ok..Let me think of the positives.My strength was my ability to love my students!!It was spontaneous! Not a day haveI felt sad around them.My job gave me immeasurable pleasure. Wherever I went, Holy child or Ryan International or East Point, I loved them and they loved me!! Infact I was so filled with love that I could easily understand my own children better because I was interacting with similar kids in school! I felt it was important to study psychology if I had to build the emotional quotient of myself and the students around me.So I did a Masters in Psychology, when my son was doing his bachelors in engineering!
Circa 2000
I was at the peak of my school teaching career..had become the head of the department with the Management and students completely trusting me and every word I spoke about education and science.The obvious next step would have been to apply for becoming a principal in a school. I didnt seem to want that kind of upgradation in status.
But ,my mind was unsettled.Then the OCD bug bit me again!! :) :) I knew what I wanted.I needed to reach out to more children and make them understand the real essence of Science. The thought that Science cannot be taught and has to caught got affirmed in my head.
Fortunately, at this time,I met Ms.Shruti Sharma, an editor of a famous text book publishers who wanted me to contribute in book writing. Before I knew I was reviewing books and very soon I was authoring them and was neck deep into writing. OCD bug,I tell you!! :) :)
Simultaneously,I quit my established job.No specific reason. So the school gave me an offer to work as a Consultant with them where I had to visit the school only once a week.This continued for two years. Meanwhile I was getting a clearer picture of what I wanted to do. I visualised my own centre of excellence for promoting science.And...yes the OCD bug did its job! It all began with 2 students and how it rose to a batch of 90 is still beyond my comprehension! Everything was going perfect.The classes,the workshops,the inflow of money,the equipments for the resource centre- everything was building up.I was at the hilt of my career.Nothing could have stopped me now.
Circa 2017 But...there is always a but in everybody's life. For me,this BUT became more important than anything else in this world.It was time to play my second innings.Service. It was time to show my gratitude to my parents who had raised me,fed me,made me equipped to perform all that I am today. They needed me.I was not being sacrificial.I was just being dutiful.So, along with my partner, I moved permanently to Coimbatore to take care of them.I lost both my parents in these two years. But,they have put me in a happy place for what I did.
Let me finish with the OCD bug! It has bit me again bigtime and here I am with my blog! Bear with me now as long as it sustains!!!
Cheers!
Dearest Supriya-Sometimes we are blessed with meeting the perfect friend, the alter-ego who doesn't needs words and echoes our values and our energies. For me, that friend, fellow-warrior and Amazon woman has been you. I've picked strength, tenacity and the sheer guts to follow my heart, seeing your OCD:) I know how much your students reveremail and adore your "shikshaka" and humane spirit. Congratulations on this new page in your life, my friend. You'll bring lots of light to everyone you meet on your journey.Much respect and love always...Vani Sharma
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Vani! You remain my pillar of support as I am yours! Lots of love to you!!
ReplyDeletePutting all your achievements in such a concise version shows your modesty Akka. You are an example to all that man and woman stand side by side to lift all responsibilities life has in store for them, each being a strong pillar for the other. All the best in this new venture. Vijaya
ReplyDeleteThank you Vijaya for those kind words.These are not achievements.This was my journey.My understanding is that the stimulus to perform any task has to be intrinsic (the OCD bug!!) You can't wait for someone to encourage you from outside.We can shape our life the way we want and be prepared to accept what follows our action.Inaction doesn't lead anywhere.Yes, I am a pakka feminist..shall soon write something on the gender bias issue.😀
ReplyDelete