A Million Dollar Question

We all talk about passion, commitment, determination etc etc etc......Aspiring engineers businessmen read autobiographies of the eminent few to get inspired and take a cue from them. I am a simple but a highly motivated individual...who is always beating his brains out trying to gauge what interests him...Well thats something many of us have pondered upon without any noticeable result and in an attempt to carry on with something that doesn't interest us, we become more frustrated and a debacle to our family and society.

Sometimes i seriously, intentionally and whole heartedly appreciate our parents for carrying on with something which they don't like for so long again and again and again( C'mon who likes cooking three times a day...give me a break and who likes to keep going office daily carrying out his mundane work all day). The implications can be extremely annoying and irritating, often leading to instability in family-life.

The need I felt, writing this article over here, cause I was moved by a very interesting problem confronting a very good friend of mine. My friend is an artist, an extremely creative soul, a dramatist, but is unfortuantely stuck in an engg. course called Information Technology, purely because of parental pressure( cause engg in Inda is the easiest way to get employment).

Still he kept on working on many scripts, organizing plays in the college and opening his very own drama club with a little assistance from the college. Generally the viewership rose and the talent was there to see. Now came the campusing time and this creative soul had to go back to his f****g(thts wht he says) books and prepare for placement.

He gets the job, family is happy, flounting their child name in the relatives and society. Now he realizes that he doesnt want this from life, he realizes that he wont do justice to his talents if he continues as such. He plans out everything, how he would do an advertising course, how he would approach directors, how he would generate contacts, where would he live etc etc etc.

Normally after the engg. course gets over, we get a break of 2-3 months before joining any organization. He thought this time would be enough, to initiate his venture.Now an eternal force holds him by the scruff of his neck, plays a game. His joining date is 5 days after graduation. He has to join, no alternative, his dreams shattered, no options. His parents wont allow him to leave that organization. He is feeling choked, blaming the eternal force for all the mishappening that has ever happened to him.

A very good friend suggests," Dekh Yaar u owe a lot to your parents, u cant just say no". At this he cries realizing his dreams are slowly but surely going down the dumps. His very good friends stands there helpless and hapless, thinking of the quandary which is so perplexing.

Do u people have an answer to this million dollar question. Should this person go against the world and pursue his dreams, the so called interests, or should he surrender, like most of us have till now.

I have become quiet a veteran now, facing this dilemma, but i guess my friend is fortunate enough to know what he wants from life. Many of us or most of us are still pondering over what is our ultimate goal in this life, our ultimate karma.

A famous yet inspiring book "The Alchemist" paints a very interesting picture in this regard. It says that you just need to follow the signs that god arranges for you. Now that calls for living in the present and not pondering over the future and just keep on following the signs. If you are made to do something you would ultimately land up there, COME WHAT MAY.