This is the story of young Raj, a 7-year-old boy 👦, and his father, Bhola. Raj resides in a family of four, comprising his mother, a younger sister who is two years old, and his beloved father 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦. Within the context of their village, their family enjoys relative stability and prosperity. Bhola operates a successful stationary shop, generating a monthly income ranging between 15,000 to 20,000 rupees.

Bhola's Curiosity 🦅

Over the past 4-5 years, Bhola has keenly observed numerous children from their village pursue higher education in colleges located in the city, ultimately securing well-paid positions in IT companies, with salaries in the lakhs per month. Some of them were still working from the village, thanks to WFH culture and the village having a good internet connection.

Bhola has witnessed these kids during their younger years, specifically during their junior college days. Occasionally, he contemplates how they were not particularly extraordinary or possessing any exceptional qualities that he believed a person earning in lakhs should possess. Yet, they have managed to reach remarkable heights. In contrast, Bhola has been diligently working for the past seven years, earning a similar income, or perhaps even slightly less due to the growing trend of online purchases within the village.

During the Diwali season, Vishwanatha, their neighbor's well-settled kid 💰, was visiting his family. A day before Diwali, Vishwanatha paid a visit to Bhola's house, following the tradition of exchanging sweets prevalent in most Indian cultures. Bhola saw this as the 👌 opportunity to seek answers to his lingering questions. Curiously, he began questioning Vishwanatha about his city experiences and how he was faring in life. As their conversation progressed, Bhola bombarded Vishwanatha with a multitude of inquiries 😮‍💨: What had he studied precisely? What qualifications were necessary for securing such a job? Could it be accomplished without a degree? Realizing that this discussion had the potential to become lengthy, Vishwanatha tactfully suggested reconvening a few days after Diwali for a more detailed conversation 🏃‍♂️.

Vishwanath fulfilled his promise and returned with his laptop, ready to engage in a detailed discussion 🏄🏻‍♂️, addressing all of Bhola's inquiries. Bhola seized the opportunity to ask all his doubts, eagerly seeking to understand the inner workings of the industry. Vishwanath patiently explained the intricacies, emphasizing that while a degree was advantageous, it was not an absolute requirement for securing such jobs. He further enlightened Bhola about various institutions that offered coding courses lasting one to two years, ultimately granting a degree. Inspired by Bhola's enthusiasm for knowledge in this field, Vishwanath shared inspiring anecdotes about individuals he personally knew who had entered the industry without any prior background and achieved remarkable success.

Bhola Embarked On A New Chapter 🦾

Empowered by their enlightening conversation, Bhola felt a resolute determination to embark on the path of learning computer science. With this newfound passion, he eagerly enrolled in an 18-month course that would comprehensively cover everything from the fundamentals of computing to coding, and application development. In his pursuit of knowledge, Bhola made a selfless sacrifice by utilizing a portion of his savings for Raj's education to invest in a new laptop, for self-education. Although Bhola already possessed a decent level of education and possessed average English speaking skills, he recognized the need to expand his expertise in order to thrive in this new field.

Bhola engaged in a conversation with his supportive wife, seeking her assistance in managing the shop while he dedicated most of his time to studying. Initially, the sight of his father studying felt slightly peculiar for Raj, as he had always associated learning with children rather than adults. Moreover, Raj faced some mocking from his peers, who questioned why his father was still pursuing education instead of focusing solely on earning money.

Overall, this made Raj wonder- Why would PAPA become a Software Engineer ....... 🙇‍♂️

This continued for a duration of 18 months, during which both of Raj's parents repeatedly attempted to explain to him that their endeavors were ultimately for his benefit. However, being just a child, Raj remained confused and somewhat frustrated by the situation. Nevertheless, the most crucial aspect was the outcome of these efforts. After months of diligent hard work and countless new learnings, Bhola successfully passed all of his exams and obtained his well-deserved certificate👏

Although the institution had promised job opportunities for the top-performing students, Bhola, unfortunately, did not secure one of those positions. Despite his persistent attempts to secure employment by applying for various jobs for approximately a month, Bhola found himself facing repeated rejections, which gradually led to a growing sense of frustration. Consequently, he returned to his shop, disheartened by the unsuccessful job search.

The Last Mile 🚙

During Vishwanath's subsequent visit, Bhola shared his preparations with him, expressing his disappointment at not securing a job. Nonetheless, Bhola expressed gratitude towards Vishwanath for introducing him to this new world of possibilities 🙏 Deeply moved by his hardworking uncle's determination, Vishwanath posed a few questions to assess Bhola's level of expertise. To his surprise, Vishwanath discovered that Bhola had developed some small programs in Java and was even proficient in solving dynamic programming level of problems. Recognizing his uncle's potential, Vishwanath decided to take action and sent Bhola's resume to one of his friends working in a consulting firm without telling this to Bhola 🤫.

Success 🕺

A week after this incident, Bhola received a call from the company. He was pleasantly surprised and expressed his gratitude to Vishwanath during the conversation, acknowledging his invaluable assistance. Vishwanath generously shared tips and advice with Bhola regarding the upcoming interview. Thanks to his preparation and determination, Bhola successfully navigated through all the rounds of the interview 🥳

Eventually, Bhola managed to secure a job, albeit with a salary of around 20k per month, which, to his disappointment, seemed meager compared to the significant figures he associated with engineers. Nevertheless, it was a substantial improvement over his previous earnings, and he made the decision to join the company with determination. Bhola put in tremendous effort and dedicated himself to his work. As a result, his son, little Raj, experienced newfound happiness and began to comprehend the significance of his father's endeavors. To Raj's delight, Bhola used his first salary to fulfill his long-held wish of buying a bicycle. As word spread, Raj’s once-mocking friends gradually grew envious of his new gift 🤭

Driven by his unwavering dedication, Bhola persisted in his efforts, and within a span of 1.2 years, he made a significant leap by transitioning to a new job through an online portal. This new opportunity offered a monthly salary of 50k, leaving Bhola astonished by the substantial increment 🤯. It was a remarkable change considering he had been working under the same profit margin for the past ten years, with no fixed income. Motivated by this positive turn of events, Bhola remained committed to his hard work and perseverance. In due course, he made the decision to relocate his family to the city, seeking a better life and greater prospects for their future.

Moral 🔥

The essence of this story goes beyond comparing different streams or professions. It highlights the importance of personal flexibility and the drive to continuously improve oneself and the conditions for one's family, all while disregarding societal biases or mistreatment.

This principle is applicable to each and every one of us. Even if we find ourselves in a comfortable position in life, we mustn't let our curiosity wane. We should strive to keep learning and expanding our knowledge. If we have mastered one area, let's venture into new territories such as AI, blockchain, or the metaverse. There is an abundance of knowledge and exciting developments waiting to be explored. We should embrace these subjects not merely to enhance our circumstances, as Bhola did, but out of sheer curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. 📚

• Let us not limit ourselves based on factors such as having children or growing older. These limitations exist only in our minds. Instead, let us nurture our innate curiosity and continue to grow, evolve, and learn throughout our lives. 🫵*

Keep learning... It should never cease, and thus... PAPA should become a Software Engineer 🎊🎊