I want to be....

The other day I asked my neighbor's son - who is studying in 10th standard - about his future plans. He looked a bit concerned and said "I wanted to be a computer engineer, but now that there is no IT boom, I am thinking of studying M.B.B.S and become a doctor."

Most high school students and surprisingly even their parents know of only two career options, engineering and medicine. Students are not even aware of career opportunities in other fields like economics, journalism, science etc. They choose their career not based on their interest and aptitude, but on parental pressure and herd mentality. This has to stop if India has to fully utilize the potential of its human resources.

To start with, students have to be made aware of the career options in different fields. This can be done by changing the academic curriculum in such a way that it focuses more on the practical applications of the subject. The teachers also have to play an important role in making the students cognizant of the career options in their subjects.

Secondly, it must be mandatory for all schools to have a career counselor, who can work with the student to identify his/her strength and weaknesses and help in making an informed decision about their career choices. Though some schools do have career counselors, a majority of them don’t have one.

Thirdly and perhaps the most important of all; the parents should encourage the child to pursue a career of his own interest. Most parents either realize their dreams through their children or are just ignorant about the career opportunities in their child’s interested field. In the latter case, the counselor has to proactively interact with them to remove their any of their misconceptions.

Human resources are the most important asset any country can have; India is fortunate to have it in abundance, but their utilization leaves a lot to be desired.

Should Capt.Gopinath contest ?

Captain Gopinath is contesting for the Lok sabha seat from the Bangalore south constituency. Opinion is divided as to whether he should contest at all? Even if selected, will he have sufficient clout to effect any policy decisions ?

I for one believe that Gopinath should contest. If he wins, it will be a watershed event in Indian politics. Politics has always been considered a dirty game, especially by the educated elite. It is something which is discussed over a cup of coffee and forgotten even before the cup is over. Gopinath's victory will prove that being an successful businessman doesn't stop you from entering politics, it doesn't alienate you from the common people. The entrepreneur community consists of some of the shrewdest brains in the country; their entry into politics will immensely help India in addressing some important issues before it like poverty, unemployment etc.

Many argue that even if Gopinath is elected, as an independent candidate he will not have the necessary clout to influence any major policy decisions. This may be true, but lets not take such a myopic view. He may not be able to influence any major decisions in the next five years, but as an MP, his point of view will be heard and more importantly it will inspire more and more people to enter politics. Someone has to start somewhere and we should think of it, as just the beginning.

Eminent personalities like Narayan Murthy, chief mentor of Infosys, have openly advocated the candidature of Gopinath. A victory for Gopinath will not be just for him, but for an entire community disillusioned with politics. I sincerely hope that Gopinath wins and pave the way for a new breed to people to enter politics.