In my previous blog I mentioned the importance of parents
supporting and guiding their children. I say that not to judge parents or
parenting but to bear witness to the brilliant role my own father has played in
my life in getting me to where I am right now.
Idols are extremely important in one’s life. As humans, we all
need something to strive for, something to achieve, someone to look up to and
someone to make proud. A trophy isn’t as good if you don’t have someone to
share that happiness with.
My father, in all ways has been more than an idol to me. He guided
me yes, but he let me make my own choices and live with them. He never let me
fall but he always inculcated in me the essences to prevent me from slipping.
You could do a million things, but if even one of them doesn’t
make you happy, that’s a million things wasted.
A lot of today’s entrepreneurs and successful people say that the
Indian education system doesn’t foster individuality and talent. While I
couldn’t agree more, this reminds of my own time enrolling into school. So back
to where I left off now...
I was taken by my father to be admitted in a local school when I
was eight years old. He wished that I be admitted into the 6th grade. I was
given an entrance test to write and gladly cleared it.
Now all the tutoring I had received happened to be only in English
and Maths, and the test comprised of both these primarily so I cleared the test
with ease. Till this date I wonder what would’ve happened had they asked me
questions in Social Sciences or Economics! My life would’ve definitely been
charted along a different path then.
Since the did the exam well, I was admitted into class 6. Now, a
few months later, we had our half-yearly exams. For a child who has been home -
schooled all his life, examinations were something new and a question paper
was, as you can expect, quite intimidating. Since I was clueless about
the examination system, I ruined my chances in the half-yearly exams and,
barring English did miserably in all the other papers.
My father was aghast at my performance and put me through the
whole rigorous study routine again - and this time , it was for all my
subjects. In the months leading up to my final exams, my play time was reduced,
my other activities curbed and I spent most of my time under my father’s
guidance, preparing for the approaching exams.
I did my exams reasonably well and continued a disciplined method
of study for the next two years. By this time, I developed an interest in
learning and in appearing for exams. I liked the happiness that getting good
marks gave me and decided to put in more efforts into my studies.
When the results for my 8th standard’s board exams had come in, I
had topped my school and was also ranked in the state. This achievement made me
understand the potential of hard work and dedication. Post this, the rest of my
schooling required hardly any push from my father or anyone else.
I would work hard on my own and strive to do well.
My older brothers had, by this time, become doctors and engineers
and I had a lot of people to look up to. One incident still remains in my
psyche.
A friend of my father, Mr. Harbanslal, was the Chief Engineer at
Public Works Department. He had come to visit our house one day, and came in a
car.
Today, almost every family has a car and it is no luxury. Back
then, however, a car was quite a sign of wealth, only the established could
afford one. My immediate thoughts on seeing this gentlemen were that being an
engineer would bring wealth and riches and let me have a car of my own.
As most children are asked about their ambitions, I too ,was asked
mine. So it came as no surprise that I uttered that I would become an Engineer,
for of course, I could have my own car then!
Why did Mr. V.K.Saraswat join Aeronautics ? What made him
interested in space and creating technology that helped us reach the stars ?
Read more in his next blog, coming up soon.
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