SIGNATURE

I began my career as a school teacher. After a brief stint of an academic year as a teacher with the school, the school authorities recommended me as a computer instructor and project coordinator to the computer education company they had assigned the turn-key project of setting up a computer education center for the school. I used to enjoy reading about computer science and methods of learning to make the lessons and the learning process interactive and interesting for the students, and above all, for myself. During my tenure with the computer education company and their client schools I often was urged to do B.Ed. to become a qualified teacher. I somehow did not prefer the option because, I had seen many of my colleagues, who were qualified teachers, quite well versed in the learning methods and principles, did not apply any of them in their teaching activity and preferred lecture mode of teaching. Please excuse me, it is not a general statement, I am merely sharing my observation with you as an unqualified member of the teaching fraternity. Currently, I am not associated with any educational institutions to be aware of the current teaching methods the teachers are using in the classrooms.  

I was a college student when I had visited a few European countries with my parents. Fascinated by the well organized and developed life in those countries fueled my aspiration to study, work and settle down abroad. I belong to the generation that decided on their career based on the profession that was in fad or ease of employment, rather than based on their talent and capabilities. The fad of professional studies like MBA was the factor that influenced my decision to pursue MBA studies abroad. Above all, my mother wanted me to pursue MBA studies abroad. So, after completing my work in school, office and at home, I used to spend the remaining time in preparing for the TOEFL and GMAT exams. After my success in TOEFL, I made a few futile attempts to clear GMAT. I focused more on my failure in GMAT exams rather than on the reason for it. I ignored the fact I had not understood my likes and my inherent potential before I chose to study MBA overseas. This eroded my self-confidence and made me withdrew in my shell. 
My maternal grandmother Smt. Rani Gupta could sense my grief. She asked me to get a pencil. a pen, and a notebook and teach her to write in Hindi. She told me when she was a little girl, her brother used to go to school, while she had to stay at home. When her brother used to return from school, she used to ask him to teach her all the lessons he had to learn for the day. That is how she had learned to read Urdu and Hindi. Now, she wanted me to teach her to write in Hindi. Her enthusiasm motivated me to heed to her request and I began teaching my grandmother to write in Hindi. Within a few months, she was able to write in Hindi and proved to be an excellent learner and teacher too, for, she helped me regain my self confidence.

On a weekend, when I was at home, my grandmother asked me to go to the post office, that was just a stone’s throw from our house and get two application forms to open two savings account. When I got the two application forms, she filled an application form in Hindi. She smiled when she completed filling the form with her signature at the end of it and said, "I always wanted to fill my details and sign on an official document and my granddaughter has helped me in realizing my dream!" She then asked me to fill another one for my savings account. After my work at school, I used to teach computer application to the C.A. Inter-level students for a monthly fee of rupees three hundred per student. This may appear out of the context, but it is pertinent to mention that in 1995/96, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India introduced computer studies (computer application) in its CA Intermediate syllabus. The computer application curriculum focused more on the theory (awareness of computer concepts) rather than focus on how to use the computer as a tool in accounting activities. I used to give my salary and the coaching fee earnings to my grandmother as my contribution to take care of the household expenses. She had saved three hundred rupees from the money I used to give her every month. She gave it to me and asked me to divide it into two equal halves and use it to open the two savings accounts at the post office.

I am really happy for all my friends, relations, colleagues, above all,  teacher-learners, who have successfully realized their dreams, wishes, aspirations without losing confidence in their ability to fulfill their dreams and aspirations. I always think and feel, I have fulfilled my wish and realized my dream through them.