Now a days I am reading, watching & listening everywhere
every now & then none other than one Leader in India out of 125 Crore
Indian that is Mr. Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of State Gujarat & Prime minister
Candidate of Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) led NDA. “Either You Hate Him or You Love Him but You Can’t Ignore Him” The
best example of this is the response he got in His Vibrant Gujarat where he has
been supported by various Countries & Official Delegates Attended the
Program all the Vibrant Gujarat Submit & in the flip side of this One of
the Prominent International Magazine recently published one Negative Article
about him “Can any one Stop Narendra
Modi?”. Now the food for thought is why Mr. Narendra Modi is relevant in this
Blog? And the answer is in the Bog Title itself.
When there is an era of Mr. Narendra Modi everywhere in
India & Surprisingly in the World every one talking about him, he speak mostly
in Hindi or in Gujarati but rarely speak in English. It doesn’t mean that he don’t
know English but he put his thought properly no matter in what language. And the main reason he is getting responses
& attention is because of his other qualities like Personality, leadership,
Capacity to Execute the Policies Successfully etc.
My main focus is his popularity in the International
Market teach us the lesson that our Qualities is a major factor in our success
rather than which language we are good in.
Unfortunately Indian Education System was hijacked by
British before the Independence & we lost our originality & nobody
thought of bring back the Education to its Original Indian Way including the
Dress Code in School for an example Tie. Recently I heard one of the prominent Yog
guru in India Ramdev Baba has started one with same aim in the North India.
I am not against English in any way & I also
thinks that each & every Indian should know English & We can at least
Read & write English properly & obvious if we can read & write so
we can speak it as well but for sure not fluently. This will give India advantage
to dominate the world but giving importance & giving weightage in various
Exams like Group Discussion to Speaking Fluent English is a Bullshit. Nobody
can be fluent in any other language more than his or her Mother Language. I am
sure that if we will give Chance to a Rural Indian Student to Speak in his or
her language while presentation he will be much more better & Logical than a
Convent School Student who is groomed in non-practical sophisticated Higher
Middle Class & Upper Class way.
Recently I visited to The Netherlands & was
really impressed to see that they hardly bothers whether they are good in
English. Their Government & Private Companies motivate
their own language which is “Dutch”. They speak & write mostly in Dutch
& not in English. I am the worst in Speaking English & not fluent for
sure. I haven’t found people speaking English fluent & frequently There as well. They give
importance to “Dutch”. I don’t think they take even job interview in English,
can you ever think in India where any Big Private Company will select you if
you will to give interview in Hindi or any other regional language & that
too when you have to only work in India & interact only with Indian knowing
same language, knowing the fact that you can read & write English properly.
Obviously No not at all possible. This is the best example of Blindness in copy
paste of others way without understanding that you have better way of doing it.
And I have no doubt that India has a rich culture no country in the world can
ever have.
This is a bitter truth of our India, now a day’s 90%
chance to getting good job is depends on how fluent you are while speaking
English & 10% of your talent.
You don’t believe that I have prepared one Project in
My MBA which was in Hindi & most of the people including the Director of
our collage Mr. Upindar Dhar pointed out “Why it’s in Hindi” before even
reading its content although they can very well read & write Hindi.
Now let’s have a look at my background. I am a typical
Rural Indian who born & brought up in a place where information reach is
very less. You don’t believe that I was not aware of any Degree called as
Masters in Business Administration (MBA) until my Graduation. I was Hindi
Medium student & did my schooling & Graduation in Hindi. Subject on English
Language was the toughest one for me with the fact that my favorite subjects
were Mathematics, Science. I could understand English during my Graduations but
I don’t have hesitation to tell that I could not even read or write English
Properly so you can understand speaking could be how much difficult for me. And
now after 10 years of my Graduation I am writing this Blog in English.
Till today I am not good in English. I never prefer to
speak in English where audience knows Hindi. I started faltering speaking in
English when I know all who listening knows Hindi. Even I am not that good to
speak in English to Non Hindi People. But I am happy to tell you that this all
never stops me to manage myself in highly competitive professional life.
English never came in my way for my success in my Professional Career.
Let me tell you my friends that without English
thinking of even doing MBA or even before that give Entrance Exam for MBA is
like thinking to take a return tour from Mars. But remember one thing even
though our Indian Education System made English so important for MBA never
forget that it’s your Talent who make you successful not English.
And with all this fact story of my MBA made it more
interesting & that could never been reality without “Shekh Aashif” – The
person Behind My MBA. The one thing I can tell about him is “A Person without Ego”. I can still remember
when I first met him when he came to us & extended his hand towards us for
handshake & said Hi I am Aashif. In reply we surprisingly asked sorry we
couldn’t identify you... He said I am also doing B.Sc. & from Suktara
(Village of Seoni District nearly 20 K.M. from Seoni). He is like that only. He
has no hesitation to meet new people & make friends. Before meeting us he
was well aware that we are from Barghat & also from the same Hindi Medium
background. We were sharing the same background of Education. He had his
homework completed before meeting to us & we were surprised the piece of
information he had about us. That is one of the great quality of his which make
me Jealous about him but make me happy as well that I have someone as my friend
from whom I can learn good things.
He was well aware that the world is almost closed for
the Rural Students like us where they almost can’t match with the Convent School
Students with good English. He knew that he alone can’t make it. The
inferiority complex of almost no match between the Urban Students can only be removed
when you don’t run away from them & face them. He has that quality to make
good friends, meet people & talk with them without hesitation & try to
grab good things from them. His polite nature & amiable behavior was actually
a lesson for all of us.
Believe me He can make friends any part of this world
without a moment to wait. Whenever He goes, he always tries to interact with
people & start talking with them & try to make friends. This quality if him making him the Person
without Ego.
We both have completed our schooling in Hindi Medium in
very rural areas & were doing B.Sc. together in Hindi Medium. Our poor
English was one of our biggest drawbacks & speaking English was the far from
our ability & it was better to avoid it then to make our self-panic.
But he was well aware that if we have to face this
competitive world & become successful we cannot avoid our limitation. From
the B.Sc. 2nd Year he has changed his Medium from Hindi to English. I
was really shocked with his decision & thought this is the unnecessary
decision he has taken. I was very upset of how he will manage & his marks
may be affected. But one thing I was missing was his foresight. Hats off to you
dear, I am really happy that you made it.
He was the one of those unique people from Rural India
who doesn’t care of what they don’t have. He was really not at all demoralized
with his background, in fact his background was his one the best strength.
Means your weakness can be your stairs for Success if you take it as
Opportunity to Learn.
I was still to undecided what to do after B.Sc. My mom
was not interested to send me for higher studies to the place which is far from
our place & also was financially not feasible for us. In fact that was the
one of the reason I could not be an engineer. And if I would have gone with her
way I might have been ended my education with M.Sc. (Master of Science) as my post-graduation.
But thanks to Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee to introduce “Education
Loan” facility without any Security or Mortgaging in November 2001 when we were
mid of our B.Sc. That means even the poor student who doesn’t have good
Financials to show to the Bank for a Loan can also apply for the Education Loan
if he or she has the Admission Latter with him or her for a professional
degree. And due to Education Loan facility even I have started about my future
for higher studies.
As we both Me & Ashif was doing B.Sc. in Computer
Science & we had the first choice to opt for MCA (Master of Computer
Applications). But Ashif had a different plan going on his mind.
Aasif was staying in rented room in seoni so that he
should not find him wasting time on travelling from Suktara to Seoni which will
cost him at least 1 to 2 hours a day. But I still to continue traveling from
Barghat to Seoni Daily twice a Day which cost me around 4 hour a Day.
We were in 3rd Year & the last year of
our B.Sc. I remember One Day I visited to his room stay with him for a night. And
the whole night we discussed about our future, about our career. He told me about the MBA. I asked him what
kind of course is this. He told me that MBA is Masters in Business
Administration & what kind of course is this. I took interest on that
course as I was good in business & already implemented my few ideas in our
business. I asked him about the collages & all. He told me that there are 6
top most collages in India called Indian Institute of Management (IIM) which
are located in 6 different cities of India.
Surprisingly he has shown me the documents which he has
requested to IIM, Indore about the courses & admission formalities etc. He
got the details from IIM, Indore. That day I realize how focused he is for his
career. But look what happened. I just looked @ the courses name mentioned in
the details he has & I found no MBA in that List. The Course name was
“PGDM” – Post Graduate Diploma in Management. And the 1st reaction
was from my side was I wanted to do MBA not any Diploma Course. I am not
interested for IIM. He he he he he.... Today whenever I am thinking about that
day I started laughing on myself.. Boss it was IIM were I couldn’t get
admission & may not be able to get admission in my whole life.
He finally convinced me & tells me about the
Entrance Exam Preparation & about the Professional Tutorials located in
Indore which giving coaching to get admission for MBA in best collages of India.
Now the biggest hurdle was to convince my parents. I
could only get Education Loan once I got a Admission Latter but before that we
have to arrange Money for my MBA Entrance Preparation in Indore. Still they
need someone who can convince them about the course called MBA which they might
have not heard before. Aasif travelled from Suktara to Barghat just to convince
my Parent about me to do MBA. I am really thankful to Ashif for all his efforts
for me. Because of him only my parents get convinced. Finally they have agreed
to send me for MBA.
Now the day has arrived when my father paid Rs.
20,000/- as Coaching Fees in Professional Tutorials in front of me. That time I
was very upset. 1st time this much of amount has been spends on my
education & I was the only hope for them. I was very nervous that day.
My father was there in Indore for initial 1 or 2 days
to insure I am comfortably settled in Indore. I got my 1st Mobile
phone & one of my biggest dreams out of my 2 dreams one is having Car &
another having Mobile Phone at that time. He ensured I have FM radio for
entertainment as he was aware for studies I need entertainment.
But my nervousness increased in the 1st day
I have attended my coaching class. One thing I have noticed that there was only
English all over & I was not able to understand even a single things. My
father was waiting for me outside of coaching class on my 1st day. My
experience was worst but I didn’t want to make him nervous so I didn’t share
the reality. But that was the day when I understood that the roads for success
is not that much easy as I was thinking. Finally the day came when my father
went back to Barghat. He was in the Bus & I was outside the bus & little
feared how I will manage without him. But here there was aasif with me in
Indore to give company; he had joined different classes than me.
One day in coaching classes a group of people has been
told to prepare Extempore on “India Shining” & gave few days to prepare. I was not aware that it would be a group
presentation & the day the presentation scheduled our faculty asked to
raise the hand for 1st who wanted to speak & I raised my hand.
She asked me to come on stage & start. With very bad English somehow I
managed to deliver. By that time I could ended my speech everyone in the room
understand that I am not well prepared with no fluent English came from very
rural area. After my speech my faculty asked where the other people of my group
are & I was shocked. Ohhh was it a group presentation. Other group members
were shocked about my sudden speech.
That was the day which made me more nervous but see
what happened, few colleagues waiting for me who was there in the class room
during my presentation after the class. They were very happy about my confidence
despite poor English even given confidence to them as they were also part of
the same background as like me & they became my good friends in Indore, no doubt
that they were sharing the same weakness of English. But people with same
weakness become an automatic choice to become the friends with.
There was more to come from the mathematics in which I
was thinking I was very good. Our faculty started solving problems & I
realized that the questions written in English & by the time I could read &
understand what is the Question all about by that time faculty would have been
moved to 3rd or 4th Question. Ohh my god this English weaken
my strongest Mathematics too….!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But what to do the amount spent by
my parents for my MBA left no way for me to look back.
Finally by the end of our yearlong training for MBA
entrance & my failed attempts to various prestigious exams like CAT, XAT
etc. I was already aware that this is not meant for me. Then there was a light
of hope were seen when I came to know that in Madhya Pradesh Government take
MET (MBA Entrance Exam) in Hindi & I can also participate in Group
Discussion & Interview in Hindi. Wow and here is where I can do better I
got 113 All India Rank & 2nd Top Collage of Madhya Pradesh
Prestige Institute of Management & Research, Indore.
1st Semester of my MBA was like “what
happening”…!!! I was keep quit in the class as I can’t speak proper English. But
then I want to learn & I knew English can’t be the factor to stop me from
all this. After end of 1st Semester I went to Rural India did my own
research without any instruction from collage on “Business Opportunities in
Rural India” & the project was completely in Hindi. If you can’t read it
you cannot do business in most of the part of Rural India. That was my take for
why on Hindi?
And from second semester I started talking with my
poor English & most of the time in Hindi. My this way of presentation was
not been liked by many of my colleague in my MBA. As this disturb their Sophisticated
Learning in MBA with typical Higher Middle & Upper Class way. Most of the
time they feel insulted about me. How can a collage like Prestige can have such
a student who can never represent the collage by mean of Communication with
poor English & having negative attitude to start talking, discussing,
debating with anywhere without thinking that it will hurt the collage image etc….
But I never stopped. I was well aware that the way I am interacting nobody will
like & I have only two options with me either I keep should quite &
just pass written exam of MBA or at least come out from my limitations. I knew people
don’t like if I will speak but at least I will learn & correct next time
but what if I would never speak out of that fear that would stop my learning
for the life time. I couldn’t be successful.
So please don’t stops just there because you fear that
people will make your Joke because of your Limitations. Just let people make
the Joke of your limitations. They will prove to be your best Motivator to come
out of Imitations. At least let the limitations come out don’t fear. One day
you will definitely come out from your limitations.
Nobody in my collage can confident on me I could get
an offer from Campus Recruitment. But you will be surprised that in our batch
more than 25% people left without an offer & I was not belongs to those
25%. I got offer from one of the prominent employer in India “Tata Consultancy
Services, Mumbai”.
There were 4 semester in my MBA, my 1st
Semester was very silent.
In my 2nd semester I have prepared project
on Rural India in Hindi I started giving poor competition to my other MBA colleague.
I remember during my 2nd Semester in our Finance class I have given
suggestion to collect Rs. 1000/- each from every MBA student & Making a
Fund & a Committee of MBA Student who will invest money in share market
& share their experience with other MBA student. The Committee member can
be changed in a regular frequencies I was asked to sit down can heard other
student laughing on my Idea Y my Professor told me in front of class this kind
of Idea will for IIMs… J
Even I have started my own venture specifically for Learning called "Vardhman Data Solution" & prepared Broachers, printed visiting cards & then distributed to various customer. Got good response & learn practical aspects of Business Management.
In 3rd semester I was boycotted by most of
my colleague for my poor behavior & interaction with all as I started
involving myself in almost each & every discussion in the class room &
most of my interactions being proved as rubbish & never suits to their
level of discussion.
“Arey bhai
jab bolte nahi aata to chupchap rahne ka, kyon khali fukat Class ka or dusro samay
kharab kerne ka, Dikhta nahi ki yaha kuch samajhdaar log baat ker rahe hai”
(Why waste timer of class when you can’t speak properly, can’t
you keep quiet, can’t you see intelligent people talking)Hardly matters for me, I have to come out from my limitations. I don’t bothers who think what of me. And now after 7 years of MBA or even just after completing my MBA it never affects me what people thinking of me.
By the end of 4th Semester I had my offer letter which most of my other MBA colleague could not get. My project which I was prepared by on Rural India been selected by my Rural Marketing Subject to teach my Other Colleague and my negative image during my MBA which I earn from last 3 semester gone in the dustbin. Only learning & Confidence what I earn in last 4th Semester remains with me & will remain for the life time.
And finally I have completed my MBA worked with 3 Multinational Companies with leaders in their fields with good compensation as well & remember I was not the English Speaking Person.
Especially English can never be a factor in India to stop you for success. India has lots of potential to provide employment for educated people knowing regional languages not necessarily Hindi. Even we can provide employment to the world as well. The only thing we required in Political will power. Being strong in English adds value for our country to dominate world but it’s not a bottleneck for success. We are Indians we can learn English in a level we can read & write. Being fluent in English hardly matters.
Last but not the least please don’t let your limitations to dominant
you.
Thanks a lot for reading... Take care & all the best...Hope you all not bored while reading that J
regards,
rupesh
