<p>It was a busy weekend at Hauz Khas Village (HKV). The entrance to this popular hub choked with traffic and weekenders out for some fun time. Amidst this hustle and bustle, Metrolife came across a sight usually seen at plush hotels and popular discotheques --- bouncers. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Big, burly with an intimidating presence, bouncers are security guards who are employed at venues such as bars, nightclubs, ranches or concerts to provide security, check legal age, to refuse entry for intoxication, aggressive behaviour or non-compliance with statutory or establishment rules. But here they were busy manning traffic and minding the entry <br />and exit to the Hauz Khas Village precincts.<br /><br />A shocking and sad state of affairs of no doubt. Those who work their heart out for years to gain the desired body and machismo to qualify as bouncers, were made to manage parking woes in a city overcrowded with vehicles.<br /><br />Indeed, one might not always have a preference for popular ‘mainstream’ professions for their careers. An electrician might feel extremely passionate about his tiny instruments; a carpenter’s pencil and scale might be his priceless possessions and a postman, even today, might love delivering letters and postcards at people’s doorsteps. But often the people who follow these vocations are denied their due. <br /><br />Manika Goswami, a 23-year-old advocate at the Delhi High Court says, “It is deeply ironical that despite being a developing country, these are less reputed and minimal-paid jobs. Back in the western countries, all working professionals are considered equal. Everyone enjoys a comfortable living and a good reputation in the society, irrespective of their professions.”<br />Quite paradoxically, Goswami, who is trying to carve a niche in the highly exacting and competitive world of judiciary, considered one of the ‘best career options’ in our country, feels equally discontent with her job. <br /><br />“It has been five years that I have been working hard to become successful, but even today I feel that I’m stuck in the beginning. I still get paid peanuts for my work; though my boss flourishes,” she rues.<br /><br />It is largely because of popular stereotypes about professions, that exist in the Indian society, and hampers the growth and progress of individuals. It prevents one from performing efficiently in the career that they choose to be in. <br /><br />Mercifully, there is a flip side to this angst too, with enterprising youngsters boldly breaking such notions about ‘mainstream professions’ as Rajkumar Gupta*, an Ola cab driver has done. “People think that we are poor and we don’t have enough money to sustain us. But that is not the case with me,” he tells Metrolife.<br /><br />“With a 12-hour-duty on a daily basis, I earn Rs one lakh per month, which is way beyond what I had expected and maybe also what I need!”<br /><br />One can only marvel at Gupta’s confidence and self-sufficiency and his apparent satisfaction with his lot. “Even though I cannot take a single day off, and there is immense monotony in my work, I love this job which is paying me much more than what the present-day graduates earn,” he adds proudly. <br /><br />Adding to this incomprehensible irony of ordinary professions and exacting reputed ones is Rahul Mishra, a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Placement Consultant. <br /><br />At 30, Mishra has experienced extreme highs and lows in life. From spending days without eating a single morsel to presently owning a Rs 30 lakh-Harley Davidson bike, Mishra knows well the hard work that goes in earning one’s bread and butter honestly.<br /><br />Sharing his views about the so-called ‘lesser’ professions, he says, “I really think that our Government should do something to encourage talent. In my eyes, a carpenter is the most talented person. The detailing and skills that are required in his job are phenomenal. Similarly, ours is an agricultural country, but how many parents really want their children to get into the field of agriculture?”<br /><br />A lot of such questions remain unanswered, a lot of situations unexperienced and a lot of options unexplored. In a society filled with perceptions, assumptions and preconceived notions, development strongly stands at stake. Do we need to have policies or do we need a change in our mindset? The choice is entirely ours... <br />*Names have been changed on request<br /></p>
<p>It was a busy weekend at Hauz Khas Village (HKV). The entrance to this popular hub choked with traffic and weekenders out for some fun time. Amidst this hustle and bustle, Metrolife came across a sight usually seen at plush hotels and popular discotheques --- bouncers. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Big, burly with an intimidating presence, bouncers are security guards who are employed at venues such as bars, nightclubs, ranches or concerts to provide security, check legal age, to refuse entry for intoxication, aggressive behaviour or non-compliance with statutory or establishment rules. But here they were busy manning traffic and minding the entry <br />and exit to the Hauz Khas Village precincts.<br /><br />A shocking and sad state of affairs of no doubt. Those who work their heart out for years to gain the desired body and machismo to qualify as bouncers, were made to manage parking woes in a city overcrowded with vehicles.<br /><br />Indeed, one might not always have a preference for popular ‘mainstream’ professions for their careers. An electrician might feel extremely passionate about his tiny instruments; a carpenter’s pencil and scale might be his priceless possessions and a postman, even today, might love delivering letters and postcards at people’s doorsteps. But often the people who follow these vocations are denied their due. <br /><br />Manika Goswami, a 23-year-old advocate at the Delhi High Court says, “It is deeply ironical that despite being a developing country, these are less reputed and minimal-paid jobs. Back in the western countries, all working professionals are considered equal. Everyone enjoys a comfortable living and a good reputation in the society, irrespective of their professions.”<br />Quite paradoxically, Goswami, who is trying to carve a niche in the highly exacting and competitive world of judiciary, considered one of the ‘best career options’ in our country, feels equally discontent with her job. <br /><br />“It has been five years that I have been working hard to become successful, but even today I feel that I’m stuck in the beginning. I still get paid peanuts for my work; though my boss flourishes,” she rues.<br /><br />It is largely because of popular stereotypes about professions, that exist in the Indian society, and hampers the growth and progress of individuals. It prevents one from performing efficiently in the career that they choose to be in. <br /><br />Mercifully, there is a flip side to this angst too, with enterprising youngsters boldly breaking such notions about ‘mainstream professions’ as Rajkumar Gupta*, an Ola cab driver has done. “People think that we are poor and we don’t have enough money to sustain us. But that is not the case with me,” he tells Metrolife.<br /><br />“With a 12-hour-duty on a daily basis, I earn Rs one lakh per month, which is way beyond what I had expected and maybe also what I need!”<br /><br />One can only marvel at Gupta’s confidence and self-sufficiency and his apparent satisfaction with his lot. “Even though I cannot take a single day off, and there is immense monotony in my work, I love this job which is paying me much more than what the present-day graduates earn,” he adds proudly. <br /><br />Adding to this incomprehensible irony of ordinary professions and exacting reputed ones is Rahul Mishra, a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Placement Consultant. <br /><br />At 30, Mishra has experienced extreme highs and lows in life. From spending days without eating a single morsel to presently owning a Rs 30 lakh-Harley Davidson bike, Mishra knows well the hard work that goes in earning one’s bread and butter honestly.<br /><br />Sharing his views about the so-called ‘lesser’ professions, he says, “I really think that our Government should do something to encourage talent. In my eyes, a carpenter is the most talented person. The detailing and skills that are required in his job are phenomenal. Similarly, ours is an agricultural country, but how many parents really want their children to get into the field of agriculture?”<br /><br />A lot of such questions remain unanswered, a lot of situations unexperienced and a lot of options unexplored. In a society filled with perceptions, assumptions and preconceived notions, development strongly stands at stake. Do we need to have policies or do we need a change in our mindset? The choice is entirely ours... <br />*Names have been changed on request<br /></p>
