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About Me...
I am presently in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia with my family— Leena, my wife, and Atharva, my son. Leena was a banker and now a dedicated housewife and mother. Leena feels managing a bank branch is a lot easier than managing a family and grooming up your bundle of joy and seeing him grow up every day. That’s quite true, I believe too.
My personal and professional graph…
I completed my graduation in 1998 from M. S. University, Vadodara. There after, I joined IBS, Ahmedabad and finished MBA in 2000. I started working in an IT start- up company as Business Analyst, pursuing part time studies simultaneously. I met Leena in the college and decided she was the one I was waiting for.
On the professional front, I shifted my role from being a business analyst to programmer. Now I devote full time in the domain of quality and information security. This journey, from a trainee business analyst in a start-up company to Malaysia as a Quality Leader for the fourth largest Indian IT MNC, has been quite exciting and enriching. I am happy that at every stage I could learn new things.
Ideas of a perfect life…
A little bit of everything… a hard day’s work, good time with family, weekend trips, good food, light movies. All these spices make life interesting.
Life after IBS…
IT industry was facing a downturn at the time I graduated. The bubble had just burst and it was difficult to find good job. I was a lucky to find a campus placement in my hometown, at a distance of 10 minutes’ walk. But it has also taught me a few lessons:
° Be patient
° Continue your work and rewards will come searching you
It has been a good life so far, with its own share of ups and downs.
Ideal in life…
Well, I don’t really have a single ideal in life. I have learnt many things from many different people… … my parents, my teachers, my colleagues, the rickshaw-walla, who brought me to the hospital when I had fallen down from my two-wheeler on a busy road… … and many others whom I have met. Everyone has a share in what I have learnt.
I believe, life is a great teacher. If you have good observation skills, every person, every situation gives you something to take back.
On facing high pressure situations at work…
I just get out of my desk and don’t look at the laptop for next 5 minutes. Or I sit in the pantry, have a coffee and don’t do anything for the time being. I think for me it’s a great reliever. After a short break, I take pen and paper, and list down all the activities and then prioritize, and act on them.
Balancing work and family…
I call it compartmentalization. I am able to put office and home in two separate compartments. Till today, I have never carried work to my home. I make it a point to complete it and go home. I would not say that it has always paid off, as sometimes I needed to stay back till very late in order to stick to my principle. However, when I am back, I am a complete family man— only a husband and a father or a son. I spend entire weekend with my wife and son, either visiting different places or sometimes simply be at home. That’s how I try to balance work and family.
Biggest lesson in life…
Believe in yourself. If I feel what I am doing is right, I will do it, and take full responsibility for it. Self-belief is half the job done; as you get high in confidence from the word go. This will help you give your best effort and overcome difficulties.
De-stressing…
A lot has been said and written about best ways to de-stress. However, I feel, it is best to explore for yourself as there cannot be any universal solution to this.
Best de-stressing method for last two years has been my son. I enjoy playing with him, teaching him new poems and becoming a kid myself with him after a stressful day of work. When my wife and kid are in India, and I am in Malaysia, best de-stressor for me is Indian music and Marathi natya-sangeet.
My hobbies…
I like to read and write Hindi poems. I enjoy reading almost anything except filmy gossip magazines. The latest to the list is visiting new place every weekend and shoot the best moments in my camera. And my present location, Malaysia, is fueling this as there are quite a number of nature’s wonders that I can explore.
My friends and batch mates at IBS…
There were four of us sharing a single apartment during those two years. I am still connected with a few of my batch mates over email and phone. And I still miss Swagat, with whom I was in touch until the most terrible day arrived and parted us forever.
IT Industry—the Indian and global scenario in the next five years …
IT industry in India has witnessed many ups and downs and I feel it is stabilizing steadily. India has emerged as an end-to-end consulting, architecture and solutions provider. Now IT does not mean only programming and body-shopping. New domains are emerging within it. And as we are progressing, the IT industry is becoming even more a coherent part of anything that we can imagine.
It is going to be the eyes of the world in the future. It’s one area which is part of our lives right from start of day… from the canned milk in the morning to the emails through which we communicate or the TV remote for our entertainment …you imagine anything …and you experience the presence of IT in it.
So, I will not say future for IT is promising. Rather, I will say, future without IT is impossible.
Suggestions to the young starters …
Life can never be perfect and life can always be perfect. Our thinking and perspective would make it the way we want it to be. The best we can do is to adapt to the changes and constantly keep learning.
IT does not mean programming only. It is a sector which requires CAs, engineers, architects and even doctors. Yes, that’s a fact. How would a medical software system run without understanding the business domain and who better than a doctor to give inputs on that domain? Every big IT and consulting organization would require people from diverse domains.
Plans for the future …
° Grow professionally, that’s the plan for the future.
° On the personal front, I want to focus on my son’s education when he starts going to school.
° On the fun side, since I am in APAC, I want to see this part of the world as much as possible, learn new culture and have a taste of their cuisine. ◊
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