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Christ College, Irinjalakuda is a venerable institution with a vibrant student community which makes the role of being a responsible student of the institution itself a privilege. I worked as the democratically elected Economics association secretary of the college which was once in a lifetime opportunity to make an impact in the life of other students.
I was lucky enough to co-found a child welfare socio community named Hope to Own which is a volunteer-driven no-profit community. The volunteers were initially recruited from Christ College only.
This actually helped me do the role of a mentor, organiser and human resource manager in the college even though the organisation had no affiliation with the college. Moreover, it is the first role of being a responsible student with strong personal bonds that helped me perform the other two roles without any impediments.
My personal belief is that our multiple roles as a social being cannot be compartmentalised as all these roles are interconnected. The basic success mantra is to become a persuasive force rather than being a compelling force on others.
2. What have been your biggest challenges and learning from what you do?
The greatest of battles are fought within us and the biggest challenge was to overcome my anxiety about the possible outcomes of every action. It took some time for me to understand and follow the rule of Nishkam Karma. During the initial stages, there was also frequent recurrence of demotivation and the inability to tolerate criticism.
Another peculiar challenge was the difficulty to win the democratic election with no favourable political affiliation. To make people understand your motive behind every move in the right sense is a herculean task in many contexts. In my case, the motive behind the formation of Hope to own was questioned by many as they initially so it as a publicity stunt or a for-profit venture. This prejudice was an impediment in every stage of the evolution of the organisation.
The biggest learning was that every challenge actually put forth an opportunity before you. If you start seizing that opportunity, it will make you fall in love with every challenge that life throws before you. Self-motivation that is derived from the urge to do something for others is an important factor that drives me forward.
Indirectly it’s also beneficial for me. While working for Hope to Own there sprang up a realisation that any hurdle can be crossed with self-belief and the cooperation of well-wishers. The experience also helped me become a more empathetic person with better management skills. Challenges can be overcome by learning from what you do.
3. How do your parents look at you participating in extracurricular activities?
My parents always had a positive outlook on this aspect of my school days. It was my mother who prepared me for my first mono act performance whereas my father wrote the first-ever speech I delivered in public when in school. They never tried to artificially mould me by imposing their thoughts. It helped me grow independently and to pursue dreams that are actually mine.
It doesn’t mean that they were not bothered about my academic performance. But they never gave all importance to the mark oriented academic performance. It’s like they have scolded me for scoring fewer marks but they have never scolded me for not being the topper. They always encouraged me to excel in theatre arts, athletics and public speaking.
This support helped me perform well in these fields without affecting my academics adversely. It was their strong conviction and encouragement that helped me do well simultaneously in academics, sports and arts. A big thank you to my parents for letting me chase my dreams without any pressure that is typical in middle-class neighbourhoods.
4. Do you enjoy the kind of influence you hold at such a young age?
Definitely, I enjoy every bit of it. It’s always a privilege to influence someone and to see that your ideas are carried forward by others. It may sound crazy but I thought of being a future parliamentarian after winning the election to the post defying all the existing political equations:- The best thing to do is to raise someone to do things for the society and Hope to own helps me do that these days.
The entire recruitment process, planning of events, search for sponsorship and mentorship is truly a wonderful experience. It’s a wonderful feeling when your batch mates and juniors are inspired by your deeds. In fact, I enjoy the process of being with others to influence them in the right way rather than simply being a commanding authority. Teamwork is the key and it’s my team that makes me comfortable with what I do. Leadership is synonymous to joy!
5. What are your career goals and how is what you are doing going to help you with that?
I aspire to be a part of the coveted civil services of India or any policy-making body under Government of India. The ultimate goal is to make positive changes in the lives of Indians and to help them overcome difficulties. The post of economics association secretary is helping me in a great way to come in touch with Economists who are part of the policymaking machinery.
The workshops and seminars conducted by the association help me understand the basics of policy research. This part satisfies the intellectual part of my career. The work with Hope to own helps me improve my management and interpersonal skills. The outreach programme to locate our target group really helped me understand the ground reality regarding the conditions of the poor and needy.
This part really throws open the practical part of my career. So the leadership experience that I have acquired during college life will definitely help me pursue my dream career.
6. Do you have a message for parents to allow their kids to do things besides academics?
The current education system is giving too much importance to academics so that students are finding it hard to pursue their aspirations in other fields. Parents are also nurturing this flawed system by compelling students to give up their extra-curricular initiatives. This has to change at any cost.
Parents should realise that these extra-curricular activities are essential for the overall personality development of their children. Another thing is that sometimes these extra-curricular activities can provide you with the most rewarding careers. We would have lost Sachin Tendulkar if his parents wanted him to score high grades in the tenth standard rather than giving him the freedom to chase his dreams.
It’s very important to identify the talents in your children and to help them pursue their dreams. Don’t try to make them an instrument to chase your dreams. Always inspire them to think out of the box because the world is run by those “out of the box” people. The world needs artists, sportsmen just like it needs engineers and doctors.
It’s a myth that academics and extra-curricular activities cannot be handled simultaneously. Former ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan is a professional Carnatic Musician too.
I would suggest all our parents watch a Hollywood movie named Dead Poet’s Society (1989) which beautifully depicts the evils of the current education system and parenting. I bet you will change your perspectives!
7. What is your message to encourage students to do internships and attend conferences?
Everyone will learn from what is given in the syllabus and those people who go beyond the limits of syllabi will taste success. Internships will help you gain practical experience which will have a huge impact on your career prospects. It’s not about adding something to your CV but it’s all about understanding how things actually work. Sometimes mere bookish knowledge can be deceptive.
From my experience of conducting many conferences, I can assure you that these conferences will provide you with a plethora of ideas. It’s akin to reading many books because the experts will provide you with knowledge from many sources in a single stroke. These thought-provoking experiences will help you develop aptitude and definite perspectives in different areas.
Try not to miss any high-quality conferences conducted in your vicinity. To all those humanities folks out there, please try to attend literary fests in your area which will definitely be an enchanting experience. Don’t really restrict you to a single domain. Be a jack of all trades and master of few!
From my personal experience, I would suggest you board the train to Jaipur when the stage is set for Jaipur Literary Fest!
Interview by - Benil Joseph
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