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Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Brains In The Drains

A benevolent elderly lady who lives near my house casually told me a thing that left me pondering about attitudes that can eat up our nation like termites. She told me that her daughter, an MBBS, MD, got married into a wealthy business family. However, things were not rosy for long; only after a few months, she was forbidden from practicing by her parents-in-law, who felt that household and kids should be the utmost priority of her life. She tried a lot to convince them but finally, they put their foot down and now she is a full time housewife and a devoted mother to her two college going children. Her medical degree not only got wasted but this has far reaching effects as well. A medical seat that she had occupied got wasted since as a doctor she is not contributing anything to her country that is always short of trained doctors. Also, a lot of taxpayers’ money goes into making one specialist doctor and non-practicing people from medical profession only add to the liability of the nation.

In yet another case, a lady I know personally is a trained mathematics teacher but was forced to quit her job after she had had her first kid and since then is a full time housewife. Despite repeated requests from her and her parents, her in-laws are still adamant about the issue. Maths is not a subject that many kids enjoy and that can boast of a good teacher pool in the country. In such a case loss of a trained teacher that too one who decided to take up the profession out of her love for teaching the subject is a big loss indeed.

There is no dearth of such reports, facts and figures; we all know that millions of students, especially girls, occupy college seats but provide nothing in return. There are a few things that I really wish to shed some light on. 

Firstly, Higher education that churns out specialists like doctors, architects and engineers etc. costs any nation a lot and it is literally a crime to waste the national wealth like this. If someone aspires to be a skilled professional, she/he should always keep in mind that giving services back to the society is the most important thing, the aim of higher education. Also, I personally feel that education liberates you from the banal and monotonous drudgery of life and elevates living and mental standards.

One of the girls I know is an MBA but left her job as soon as she got married. The reason she gives is really annoying: her husband will take care of all the expenses and she need not work. Another girl I know is a PG but stays at home all day and spends her precious time in day dreaming or chatting. She has her own reasons; she says that since her father is rich enough, a job is not required. Job or business, whatever you take, adds to personal growth as well. An independent and empowered woman can maintain and protect her self-esteem and can ‘choose’ to even walk out of an abusive or broken marriage, hence saving her life for better.

We can further add to the list, the people who acquire higher education in some special professional field and then switch over to an entirely different one like administration, entertainment and showbiz, politics or business, which has little use of that professional skill and in which they could have done well even without snatching and wasting one seat from some other deserving and needy aspirant.

We cry ourselves hoarse on ‘brain drain’ but what about those millions of brains that are doing nothing for the nation and are wasting their precious skills in other mundane things.


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47 comments:

  1. उत्कृष्ट प्रस्तुति ।
    बधाई स्वीकारें ।।

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  2. It's easier said than done dear. The circumstances you mentioned for the women leaving their jobs is quite petty indeed. But there are many others who have no option but to leave their career. Only when you are in a similar situation would you understand the reason behind it. Being a housewife doesn't mean she is not contributing to the community in any way. There are certain things that only experience can teach. This is one of them. There is a wastage of so many things in India. That of an acquired degree should come in the least important category. :)

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  3. You have made a valid point.If getting a seat in specialised courses is without hassle for everyone, there can be no objection to anyone choosing to remain at home or do some other work.But in our country seats are scarce and it is denying someone else a chance if one does not follow up the profession.It is a waste of national resources.

    All said women still have the dual role of being the home maker.It is still a man's world and when it comes to sacrificing a job ,it is the wife who is asked to.Hope things will change.
    A nice post.

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  4. Hi...am happy to be here. Well, it is a valid point you have raised. However i have seen many me who have taken up household chores to bring up their children. In middle class atmosphere, the trend is not followed, both have to earn their bit to put food on the plates. So, it is the kids who often suffer at the hands of maids or inlaws. According to me, career should come to a woman only next to family. Myself a working woman with a MBA, i have taken 4 to 5 years of loss of pay leave, thanks to a govt job:)Once the kids are grown up, it is back to work. When prices shoot above the roof, indulging in daydreaming without work is what middle class CANNOT afford to do:)

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  5. I would agree with what Jyothi said. It is easier said that done. When a woman gets married, and later have kids, everyone knows that she will be the best person to take care of the children. Though, what I suggest that after a gap of some years, one can restart the work they were doing by assuring that their married life and family is well settled. There is no point working for ego when the family is not happy at all.

    Nowadays parents are also educated enough to know what a person can contribute to the society if he/she has earned high education.

    Life doesn't care what degree you have but rather how many people you can cater to.

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  6. Aditya prototypeApril 05, 2012

    Well wat i think is no one should be forced and compelled for their choices particularly wen career is concerned,its only in india where after marriage a gal has to do everythng in accordance to her so called in laws,wat kind of society we live in?these pusilanimous people can not think progressive,it is an irony that gals study hard,have their own ambitions and then suddenly their aspisations are reduced to a little measure,well the technical institutes particularly iits are a magnanimous wastage of our countrys rescources and the technical prowess.best technical education in india is for the western capitalist system not for the betterment of our motherland,in todays world the karl marx quote"money is the root cause of all evils"is bona fide

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  7. There are so many women who strike a balance between their home and the world outside. They are successful in both the fields , I don't think sitting at home but some invalid reason is justice done to oneself.
    Youve posted a very valuable topic, thanks for bringing it up.

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  8. This was indeed a point that we face everywhere especially in our Indian society...for raising a child and taking care of the family was always considered as the prime duty of a woman. Ruining her career, or wasting the degree she has achieved is often considered less significant compared to the well being of her children. I guess there are many a examples of women who have maintained a good balance between her family and work ,,though not everyone succeed in it.
    And the example of many a people switching area of interest is indeed pity.. i know many a seniors in my college being an engineer ,have contributed less to technology and involved themselves in the management industry

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  9. hello Ravi,

    dhanyawaad!

    :)

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  10. Dear Jyothi,

    Thanks for the comment. Firstly, I am afraid you missed the real sense of this article. What I mean is that those who have earned higher and important degrees should practice their profession rather than wasting one seat that could have been utilized by someone else. Housewives are an asset indeed and I have nowhere said that they contribute nothing to the society.

    Also, wastage of knowledge is the worst form of wastage indeed.

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  11. Hello KP

    thanks for the wonderful comment. However, there are many ladies who switch to homemaker roles out of their own wish and as u pointed out, waste a precious seat and national resources.

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  12. Dear Cloud Nine

    Thanks for the comment. I agree, family is important but then one should not go for such professional courses that demand constant work engagements.

    I have nowhere written that family is any less important and there are millions ladies who manage both, family and profession beautifully.

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  13. Dear Aditya,

    Thanks for the wonderful comment and also understanding the true tenor of the post! Exactly, a woman must not be compelled to make sacrifices every time as they too have their own plans and ambitions.

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  14. Dear NB,

    Thanks for the wonderful comment. You have hit the nail! A woman must not be compelled to make sacrifices every time as they too have their own plans and ambitions.

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  15. hii Madrasi,

    thanks for the nice comment. It is really sad that when any sacrifice is needed, a woman is always forced to jump ahead for it. exceptions are always there. However, a woman can strike a balance between her personal and professional lives if she really wants to.

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  16. hii AB

    I don't agree wid u !

    :D

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  17. thanks buddy for those consoling words..and sorry for late reply.just returned to sharjah..am really touched..do stay connected..dint c u for long...i mean virtually:)

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  18. Truly thoughtful indeed..

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  19. what they dont understand is that a woman is a very good multi-tasker... that even if she is working she is more than capable of running the house well too.. ...

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  20. Valid point! Not much has been talked about this aspect of wasted brains. We seem to be always concerned of 'brain-drain' where people acquire knowledge/skill in one country and use them for the benefit of another country. This, I'd say, still is much better than 'idle-brains' that don't contribute at all.

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  21. hii mOhan,

    thanks a lot!
    exactly!

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  22. hi Sanket,

    thanks for the comment, u are very right.. In most cases there is no need for a lady to sacrifice her career and education for her household.

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  23. I think men and women need to take turns and take short breaks during the initial 3-4 years immediately after a kid is born. It is at that time, that a kid needs parents most. After they get confidence that kids can handle themselves properly, they can return to their careers. Otherwise, it will be very boring at home. Taking breaks without breaking careers is a challenge, but it can definitely be done.

    Destination Infinity

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  24. hii Destination Infinity,

    Thanks for the comment!

    careers of both, husband and wife are equally important and a child is the responsibility of both

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  25. excellent, wellmeaning post yar..my dear friend, one of the best journalists in mumbai, quit her job after first baby...she has been housewife for a decade and now stays in dubai..hmmmm..

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  26. hii R Ramesh!

    thanks a lot :)

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  27. Hi AS, when we complete our 12th exam and get admission in some college or medical or engineering we don't even know we want to do that... We study because our parents are ready to spend money in our education.. Many of us don't use their prior education because they must have discovered that it is not their interest area. And those girls who are sacrificing their career because of in-laws and not by their own will should be more strong in keeping her point of view..

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  28. Very true, agree with you. I know such a doctor, MBBS,who let her studies go waste on her own. The in-laws or the husband never had anything to say in this matter. When I recently asked, she said it was her father's wish that she become a doctor.
    :( Well, it is beyond my capacity to understand anything about that.

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  29. Well, there are some like me who can't practice full time because they are not in their country and are happy to use this time in pursuing their hobby - writing. But, sitting home without your own wish is not acceptable.

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  30. hii Pink Teddy,

    your point is also quite valid since at the age of 16 or 17, a boy or a girl hardly can decide about how will be manage his/her career. Those quitting well meaning and important jobs that include services to the society should avoid doing so esp under pressure.

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  31. hii Ruprekha

    exactly, leaving such qualifications unused to rot with time is the worst of all sins.

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  32. hii Saru Singhal

    yes, exceptions are always there but letting education esp important qualifications and wasting national wealth must be listed as one of the crimes

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  33. heya...how doing ? n thanks yar

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  34. ...but the buck stops with the girl in questions. She just have to stick to her ground. Plain and simple. Of course, she'll face havoc but eventually, she'll pwn the opposition and make things rosier - not only for herself but to the overall society.

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  35. hii R Ramesh,

    m fyn u say wass up?

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  36. hii Shakti

    yaa that's right, but the opposition she faces is one issue, there are so many professional and highly qualified girls who willingly take permanent sabbaticals from work in the name of children and home which I think is not justifies.

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  37. I think we are talking about choices here. To do or not to do-to be or not to be. Somewhere down the line, I stopped pitying these women. They have no reason whatsoever to blame anyone for the choices they make. If they make a choice, it is theirs; and if they accept the choice made for them, it is once again theirs... so who is to be blamed really?!
    I think what Jyothi says is right "Being a housewife doesn't mean she is not contributing to the community in any way." Just because a person does not make money out of their profession cannot mean that they have betrayed their profession. Probably, they are silent-practitioners in their own right.

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  38. hii VST

    Thanks for a thoughtful comment!
    Nothing can be foolish than en educated girl leaving her career to become a full time 'bahu' or 'maa'. Housewives are the spine of the society but here I am talking esp regarding skilled professionals.

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  39. What is not a "skill" tell me... just because we don't 'pay' for certain skills, lets not underestimate certain skills only these Maas and Bahus are capable of exhibiting. The choice of the primary role I think is left to the woman and I think she will know best what choice to make based upon her circumstance which none of us who criticize will understand. Skilled professional, non professional, professional-whatever, underneath all those masks rests a plain, simple woman who probably responds to her baby's cry and her in-laws call and finds it far above all the criticisms that we easily lash. She rises above all of us. There are plenty who can take over her professional role in the corporate world's rat race and in the urban jungle yet none to replace her in her home which she cares with an instinct only she can have. Let her be that woman she wants to be...

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  40. thanks again:) n where r u long time no c

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  41. hii R Ramesh!

    M here only, was a bit caught up in mundane things .. hehe.. will come soon! How are things at your end?

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  42. It is my personal opinion that any education after 8th standard is a WASTE in India. This point is only reinforced by the kind of 'careers' we get. A nation being a 'back-office' of the world is not exactly a proud thing.

    In such circumstances, since we are not exactly doing any cutting-edge research, it is fine if the degrees are wasted. I mean, there was never anything valuable there to waste in the first place.

    Destination Infinity

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  43. hi,

    But we must put a stop to this wastage...Education is I feel, never a waste..not using the skills is the real wastage

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