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An employer who is forced to become an employee!!!! –thanks to the legacy of British Raj
In our school days, we had read in our history book that British Raj had opened Her Factory here on a coastal Bengal few hundred years ago. They made Bengalis the first elite class in India and Bengalis were only species at that time in India, knew English and carried the loads of official files to placate the English lords. Bengalis had drawn immense pleasure to become first Sarkari Babu. Bengalis got the charms to work under British Raj as Babu who loved to carry out the order diligently and patiently for some promotion and favours.
Recent avatar of that Sarkari Babu, comes down on the earth as a Sector-V( the IT HUB in Kolkata) techie , who is to glued to computer monitors for writing and testing codes for distant Companies in UK , and USA .They are hired for software factories not because of their sheer innovative skills , but to write the generic codes on terminal at a supersonic speed without thinking much . Our fathers take prides for the incarnation of their kids as super High tech Babu. And Legacy continues ……
But, Here I request you to meet Amit (name changed), a graduate from IIT Kharagpur, who braved the wind to embrace the new path in Great Bengal. He joined top notch IT Company in Bangalore. But, so called fancy and fanfare of IT could not motivate him to stick to the position. He left the company in 2006, and started his company in Kolkata .It was electronic pump Controller Company, in six month it picked up its operation, and he recruited few employees .But the typical pressure from society and parents constantly hammering his position as an IITians perceived by his society. I had discussion once with him and he shared his feeling that people around perceive him as an electrical contractor. Even his customers aired their surprise that how he could become an equipment makers and supplier despite being an IIT Engineer. I know , this Society’s imposition making him sad , because , he is a self conscious guy , to whom self esteem and work satisfaction carry more weightage .
Later, As a diversification strategy, he ventured into publishing line and hobnobbing with guys from College Street. (The publishing factory in Kolkata ) Local peers again give their verdict that it not suitable for an engineer , as this time his work is same as station side paper vendor.
He should be a Babu in some firm , only MOKSHYA ( freedom ) comes in form of a guy who does his job by supreme command of Employer . Amit’s father also vented his anger over him . He prefers to see his son as Babu , glued to computer , and nodding his head with supreme command . He does not like his son to be employers. His father knows employers or companies means TATA , Birla , Reliance at higher end or lower end these are grocery shop , mobile recharge shop , or blacksmith factory . He feels survival is tough for small business owners, why to take risk, rather a 9 AM to 5 PM Sarkari job or corporate job can give maximum satisfaction .So , it is always better to be a person and being lead by someone else .
Last few months, I could not meet him. Later I have got the news that He left business and becomes a employee in less known software company in Kolkata. Every one is happy now , because Amit has done justice to his qualification . He ventured in a less comfortable territory of professionalism. The Bengali legacy says that why to take risk , when we can earn by giving our labour to our corporate Raj . As per Amit, I feel, still he may nurture the dream to establish his own venture. Society in Bengal should allow him to have a chance to prove his mettle as an entrepreneur. We are waiting for that the day to come for Amit.