And....I was called Mad

(Author : Shashi)

I’ve been labeled as Mad as far as I can remember. 

My father is a Civil Engineer, he wanted me to take Civil too so that some day we can open a construction company together. I chose electronics, I was called Mad.

Then came the Indian IT boom and engineers of all branches - civil, mechanical, even fire technology were actually being recruited to work in software firms. Almost all my colleagues of almost all the branches got a job in an IT company. When I refused to join an IT company for a simple reason that I am an electronics engineer not IT engineer, I was called Mad.

While everyone else in IT jobs was starting at a handsome salary, I looked for jobs for 6 months and finally landed in an electronics job that paid me only 5000 a month, I was called Mad.

Being a specialist domain (Analog Layout Design and CAD/Electronics Design automation) ,in few years I was way ahead in terms of salary and job satisfaction as compared to many of my friends. Just then I decided that I must do something related to having direct positive impact on society, I quit my Job....I was called Mad.

There were no jobs in social sector for an electronics engineer with 3 years experience except volunteering in some way. So, I went for masters in communication and entrepreneurship (PGDM). At PGDM most of my colleagues got job in media houses, advertising companies while I joined a NGO. I was called Mad.

Later as clarity brewed and I zoomed in my interest into education (alternative education) and sustainability  I went ahead and joined a school as teacher. I was called Mad. 

After learning many things, meeting wonderful people, growing in my maturity and thinking - I thought it's time to go back home and do something there. ( most of the times my jobs have been away from my hometown). I came back and told everyone that i am gonna live in our ancestral village (where most of my family and relatives have move to cities, out of farming) , do natural farming and work with schools/colleges. I was called Mad.

So, In short everytime I’ve tried to follow my heart and not the rat race of society, I was called Mad.

Everytime I’ve try to become more humane, less like controlled machine, I was called Mad.

Everytime I’ve taken a step out of false security of our economy to being more natural, I was called Mad.

Infact now I've started enjoying the label of mad and admittedly I do take little snobbish pleasure out of it. While I know being a snob or elite in any sense is not what I'd ever want but feeling that way does sometime help me feel good especially when I walk alone with no one on my side to support me. 

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