Discovering self...

It was an usual question during my MBA days, when everyone was struggling through a tasteless cup of coffee to find sugar lying at the cup's bottom, "What after this?”. With the many vague answers that I generally gave, I answered once, "Don't know where I am starting my career from, but, would definitely retire with an NGO". Little did I know about the operations of an NGO (apart from working with one during my result break), but my idea of social service always had the name 'NGO' flashing in my mind. I had always known the fact that ’I am not a Corporate (Targets-Party-Targets) Material’. Even sitting in the Marketing Class trying to gulp the Ps of Marketing or in the Finance Class struggling through the Cash models, I knew I wasn't meant for these…

Recession was the buzzword during my graduating days and consequently, no single company bothered to visit our Management Campus, leaving us the option of Job hunting by ourselves. For me, a job in my home-capital was all that I was craving for. My friends were inducing me to go for a break first before I dig myself in a sulking job. But as for me, I was seeing another picture, and thus soon after 3 days of my stay at home, I headed towards Guwahati (which is THE ONE AND ONLY fast developing hub in my State). During those days, I consulted whoever I could for trying to figure out, where I actually wanted to land. Logged in with the Consultancies, tried referrals, Exams, Job portals, Walk-ins and what not. But, I arrived at nothing satisfying. Every employer was looking for - this target,  that target, this deadline, that deadline, simply leaving me depressed, not because I didn’t like their work, but because I realised I can’t fit into those shoes.

Just during that time, came a call from a Registered Society where I had once applied for (like any other, in a Blued mood). I once again paved my way towards the address as instructed over the phone. After arriving at the place, I was interviewed, went through some ‘I-don’t-know-how-it-helps’ Psychoanalytical tests, this-that, and at the end, was offered a position!!! It was an NGO that had been registered but hadn't started its work. The lady gave me a picture of how they are planning to start the work, briefed me on the status-quo, their vision, mission, objectives, area of operation and guess what, this was something that actually interested me, FINALLY! I called home and told them about my offer, to which no-one showed any excitement. And this was all because I was showing an interest towards joining an NGO, which according my clan was ‘Not-an-MBA-material-job’. (For God’s sake can anyone tell me, what an MBA ought to do?). I wanted to shout, “Look your daughter is still job-less even after having an MBA degree and you all are claiming about this work not being worth me? C’mon, take a break”. 

But, having heard all the nonsense, I was quite determined of what I wanted now… The cause of the proposed NGO was noble, one of a kind in North-east and above all it was challenging for me, in the sense, cause now I had to apply all of what I had gulped in my classroom to uplift this ‘Still-not-under-operation’ NGO and make it sustain. I loved the idea of the promoter in the first instance and gave a confident YES and confirmed her my acceptance of the offer from that very second. And, guys, that was the beginning of my love affair with what we call is Social-work.

I know you people might be wondering whether this is a personal blog or an NGO promoting itself through an ex-employee, but, in that case, let me tell you, it is nothing of that sort. I am just making an attempt to draft my discovery to my work-affair!

Resuming my thoughts again, let me tell you that the organisation I worked for was trying to give employment to the underprivileged women and youths of the North-Eastern region through capacity building, that, in layman’s words is, imparting a skill set to the women and youths to make them employable so that they can earn a livelihood, rather, a dignified livelihood, and not lead a life on alms and grants.

This very idea struck me and induced me to work for the cause, which I did, with all my heart. I was feeling very lucky for myself as I considered myself to be one of the very few who got the opportunity to work for a cause they had always yearned and lived for.

As for my clan, they had always tried to influence me by exaggerating my qualification and deflating my work at the same time, but, the more they tried to persuade, the more they proved their ignorance, their indifference towards the society and stupidity too (No offences though!).

Everyone I know or I come across talks about the lacunas of this part of the country, the underdeveloped nature, and the burgeoning issues. Sitting on the luxury sofas, with ACs on, these people even dissect the reasons out of the engulfing issues, but, the only thing that they forget to do is “To do something” or if not, atleast Shut Their Mouth when rest are at work!

It was however a misfortune for me as I couldn't continue my affair because another mishap overtook me and disturbed my spine (an accident demanding me to curtail mobility) for which reason I couldn’t do justice to the work which demanded mobility. But, with time, I know what and where I want to go…

For those who have a passion for 'I-am-meant-for-this-kinda-work', go forward and preach whatever your heart says. And for those who end up doing things for the sake of doing, please stop criticizing the former atleast...

That was all about my journey to discover A love of my life, what’s yours?