After I finished my BE, I told my mother I wanted do one more course as I wanted to get an entry to management cadre. This is because, I came to know from my friends that in Public Sector, post graduates (those with an MTech.) are automatically given a 2 yr jump.
I was also thinking about doing a practical course and not a theory focused course like a BE in India is. Sadly, even today, it is the same. Just to divert a bit, initially I used to blame IAS officers and Politicians for the intense focus on theory. Today, with a bit of experience, I don’t blame anybody for this.
I had heard of ITI courses (Industrial Training Course) which are very focused and teach specific skills. To be successful, I knew what really happens on the shop floor is very very important.
My mother understood my dilemma and told my dad about it and asked him to talk to a friend of his who was an MIT Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. After much deliberation and discussions I joined a Post Diploma course in GTTC.
Initially, I was not inclined. The reason was, it was of a too long duration for me. I was in a hurry to start earning.
However, I liked what I learnt as it was all hands on and armed with this knowledge I knew I could land a decent job and make a good living. As I was completing my course in GTTC, I realized I could aim for a bit more by doing a highly focused and a short term course on Technology and its role in a Company’s success. This was a consequence of my regular reading of India Today. I saw in the books review section, a review of a book by Michael E Porter, “The Competitive Advantage of Nations“. The book introduced me to the concept of “Competitive Advantage”. Starting at an individual level, moving to family, and then to companies and to industrial areas and then countries, Competitive Advantage is the key. The book underscores the importance of Technology and its role in any competition.
I realized I am exposed to the value chain of technology in a particular and specific vertical (Metal Forming, Metal Cutting and Plastic Components) and success was waiting for me.
What I needed was a simple badge (certificate) which gives me the “Chapa” to talk about Technology.
Even today, the content of the book is relevant.
So, I started searching for a course, which will give me the underlying principles of Technology and its role in shaping companies. The next stop was here:
To cut a long story short, a sequence of events took place, some of my own conscious choice, of which I am proud of, and some not, and I landed up in the application software business.
Now, I did not know head or tail of software and I had to learn everything from scratch. If it was mechanical engineering especially in metal forming or metal cutting and tooling, I would have been more at home. What we needed was 3 Lakhs investment + money to buy a factory shed. I was willing to compromise on moving to outskirts for a rented shed initially to set up a EDM or a Molding unit, which are affordable.
All my observations and insights were, well, just left as observations and are buried in time.
Learning everything from scratch about application software was tough.
Even though I could not learn hard coding, I gradually understood how software work, what is a compiler, and its role, what is a DBMS, how to leverage it for business, what is an interpreter, what is an executable, stages of development, data processing, bugs, reports, WordPress.
I also got to learn about digital marketing, tunnelling, content development, bounce rates, and so on.
To keep things in perspective, application software business did not perform as much it could have, even though I have to admit it gave us a living and a decent life. As I had anticipated, a day came when I had to exit the business.
This is where my mother’s foresight helped me.
At the age of 56, based on my efforts in my software business, evidence of which was there in the hundreds of product shipments we had made over several years, I got an assignment in a Component Manufacturing Company addressing the Aerospace and Defence Sector. And a six digit salary.
The GTTC course was a key factor in getting the assignment.
This is what is called mother’s blessing. They simply know what is good for us.
Today, after a stint at the manufacturing company, some 30 years after completing the above said course, I am working on my own business, defencemanufacturingindia.com. My mother would have rejoiced.
This is the website I have designed. Using WordPress, a good theme and some plugins.
I plan to spend the remaining part of my life, use my limited resources to build this business with an aim to network the different stakeholders in the Defence Manufacturing vertical. And, create a gated community of manufacturers for whom this website will serve as their vehicle for marketing and scaling up.
Yes, manufacturing is my home turf.
I just feel comfortable working in this area, and am peaceful as creating physical things especially helping the promising but ridden with complexities Defence Manufacturing Industry of India. After all, wars are in factories. Because, constant supply of high quality war equipment is a must. Soldiers do not fight with bare hands!
When I got into the business of application software, I never imagined I will get back to manufacturing.
But, here I am doing exactly the same.
I have seen everything. The harsh world of competition. Jealousy of near and dear ones. And, the natural wear and tear of life. In this complex life, knowledge and application of mind without biases are the only thing no can steal from you and keep your life simple.
As I move into the sixties, the situation is completely new for me as compared what it was 30 years ago.
My parents have passed.
My sister is busy with her own family and her relatives.
My wife is super busy with her career in ERP software and her relatives, and my son is super super busy with his career in Investments and his friends. Naturally so.
Sometimes, I feel a bit lonely in this new business, wondering whom am I doing this for?
Which is natural because, as we age we get lonely and invisible, and people, generally bet less on aged persons, and are not sure how far the business will sustain.
Physical energy reduces. Enthusiasm wanes.
But, we become wiser, tend be less rash, weigh the pros and cons better.
This classic conflict, less energy vs Wiseness is built into old age. By default.
The odds are stacked against.
But, odds were stacked against my mother also, at an young age.
Even though the possibility of some issue related to the heart was a constant companion for her, she never mentioned about end of life, not even once. A fighter. Fortitude was the word my dear uncle Dr. N A Sarma used, to describe her.
Even though she could not eat all types of food for nearly 22 years of 43 years of her life, she never complained.
Even though she could not walk even 2 kms at a stretch she never complained.
Even though I was not a top bracket student she never pointed it out. Not once.
Even though my father spent a lot of time at office, she never complained. No swamis, no superstition for her.
Cheerful, nice and kind. She might have made harsh judgements once or twice. But, they turned out to be 100% true.
A no complaint life. Such a blessed life.
Time for me to silently thank my dear mother.
And get on with my work.
