chapter 19

Dreams of an UnemployedRamu, a brilliant software engineer who graduated with distinction from a prestigious college in Bangalore, found his dreams shattered by the harsh realities of the job market. His childhood friend Manju, also talented, shared the same bitter taste of unemployment. Manju came from a wealthy family, while Ramu was from a middle-class background.During their final year of engineering, when several companies came for campus selection, Manju made a firm decision: he would not accept any job with a salary of less than one lakh rupees per month. He felt that working for anything less would be an insult to his talent. When he shared this decision with Ramu, Ramu agreed, thinking it was the right thing to do.Ramu, being from a middle-class family, and Manju, from a wealthy one, rented a room together in Bangalore and began their job search. Manju's father sent him ample funds, but Ramu's family struggled financially and found it difficult to send him money. So, Ramu often borrowed money from Manju.One evening, as Ramu sat alone in a park, an elderly gentleman named Shyam Sundar Rao sat next to him. Noticing Ramu's distress, he asked, "What work do you do?" Ramu replied, "Sir, our country has a severe unemployment problem. My friend and I, both graduates with distinction in Computer Science from a prestigious college, have been struggling to find good jobs for almost six months."Shyam Rao said, "Ramu, there is no unemployment problem in our country. However, you are making a mistake in how you choose jobs. Start by accepting any job you get and gain experience. That experience will take you to higher positions. It's not wrong to dream of high salaries and prestigious companies, but you must take the right path to achieve them."Ramu said, "Uncle, it's not just my story; my friend is also unemployed. We both graduated with distinction. It's difficult to survive in Bangalore with the fifty or sixty thousand rupees salary that companies are offering."Shyam Rao said, "Ramu, in the path to success, understanding reality is essential. It's not wrong to have big dreams, but you must choose the right path to fulfill them. Don't consider any job small. Every job provides experience, and that experience will take you to higher positions. Success doesn't come overnight; it requires hard work and patience. If you proceed step by step, you will definitely succeed. Instead of living with false pride, it's better to live with an understanding of reality. Join any small job now and stand on your own feet. Work hard there, and if possible, get a promotion. If not, use the experience you gain to get a better job with a higher salary in a good company and climb the ladder step by step."Shyam Rao's words changed Ramu's mindset. The next day, he joined a small company with a salary of 50,000 rupees per month. He advised Manju to join as well, but Manju refused, thinking it would tarnish his prestige.Five or six years passed. Ramu, through his hard work and talent, climbed the ladder step by step. His salary crossed one and a half lakh rupees. However, Manju remained unemployed. His big dreams remained just dreams.CA V. K. S. Shetty, Bangalore