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 IXth
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.