MS Degree

 MS DEGREE

I did not get much time to spend with my father in my younger days as he was in military and  away from  home. He joined Military service at  a very young age. Two months vacation  in a year was the only  time he used to get to spend with family. whenever  we were together and alone,  he used to open up and talk to me.  Subjects included our ancestor line, his child hood, our relatives and their locations,  and his dreams for my future.

In one of such occasions, he mentioned to  me that it was a mistake  to join Army without  completing the Matriculation course. He did it because of the family situation.  Those days  Matriculation pass was a minimum requirement for Army  to  upgrade a soldier to next higher grade.  He was good in studies and had completed IX^th grade when he joined army.

But he took this as a challenge and decided to do Matriculation through correspondence course.   He used to  carry  small notes and tried to memorise those formulas when he was free and alone at work. Though he casually told me this, it had a made definite dent  in me.

 Like most of the students, I had the inner desire to do my post graduation in Engineering and then to take doctorate when I was in the  Engineering college. I used to dream of adding ‘Dr.’ to my name.  But after I passed  out, my father also retired by the time, my  focus shifted  to  acquiring a job at the earliest.  

My long forgotten desire surfaced again after I became a father. Inspired by my father, I decided to do the post graduation with All India Management Association(AIMA) through correspondence.

I told my son Vivi also to study  as far as you can. It was my father’s wish. Vivi had already got a good job by the time. Sheela was of the opinion that the  job is more important and leaving a good job in hand may not be a good option but at the same time higher education is very very important. However we  gave the option to him decide.  Idea of   distance education came at that time.   

It is definitely challenging and demanding to take a distance education from a reputed university. First it is  time bound, costly  and  require lot of efforts and self motivation to drive you through.  I remember the time when he used to work all through the night for completing his assignments and the office issues. Frustration used to creep in occasionally.

He did not tell the office initially for the fear that the office might take it differently. Office could  presume that he is not happy with the job.  But it was opened out  when the Illinois course co-ordinator visited his office with some students to  introduce Vivin to share his experience with them. The news spread immediately but to his surprise, office reacted the other way. They were baffled by the efforts he had taken to carry on the both work and studies together. Colleagues praised him and his boss rewarded him with the  reimbursement of  part of his course fee.

Unlike taking up a regular course, distance education has advantages and  disadvantages. The course needs  to be completed within the time frame. Secondly the electives of your choice may be available only in some semesters. That puts pressure to take and  complete as and when the papers are available.Because  you  may not get a second chance within the time frame. The absence of class sessions, notes,  and not having a colleague nearby to consult are some of the disadvantages.   

When his last paper was to be completed, he waited till the university announced the course. But when he applied the professor denied him taking up that specific paper because he was not a Computer Science graduate. Repeated  requests  from him was turned down by professor. He was desperate and totally disappointed.  if he cannot complete that paper in that group the earlier papers completed by him will go waste. Then he has to take again 3 more papers in a different group. But his continued persuasion and  technical submissions made to agree finally and allowed him  to sit for the paper.   

The Final paper exam dates were announced and he had planned the New Zealand trip after completing the exams. Vaishu had already  completed her course. They both wanted a break.  Tickets were  booked and got ready to go.

Suddenly the university  postponed the  exam by two weeks. The new dates  fell exactly during his visit to New Zealand. On the day of exam , he was to be at Rotorua.

 Then by God’s grace, the help came from  my   colleague's son who is a postgraduate student  in a college in Hamilton, New Zealand.With his presence and with the permission of university, the exam was conducted at the same time  at Rotorua.

Vaishu gave the moral support  to him and I remember her anger and  disappointment when the professor initially did not allow him to take  last paper. She told me to file a suit against university.

Last week When I saw the MS Degree certificate, the  pictures of all these good people who supported him one way or other flashed through my mind.

I would have told  my father, had he  been alive, that  you  inspired not only me but a generation to follow. Our Congrats to  you Vivi being first in our family to acquire  a post graduation degree.

Remember my son all those good people who stood by you and helped to achieve this coveted degree. Life has taught me that   knowledge acquired at any point of time in life will certainly benefit  you at some point of time in your life.  

Thanks to all.