JOB SATISFACTIONJOB SATISFACTION

Rahul Awasthi comes away impressed Rahul Awasthi comes away impressed after meeting his classmate and IIT topper, after meeting his classmate and IIT topper, who earns no salary, but has the highest job who earns no salary, but has the highest job satisfaction.satisfaction.

I read in a corporate bestseller sometime I read in a corporate bestseller sometime back that the highest job satisfaction is back that the highest job satisfaction is enjoyed by those in least-paying jobs, like in enjoyed by those in least-paying jobs, like in NGOs and social organizations. This NGOs and social organizations. This sounded ironical, but still exciting enough sounded ironical, but still exciting enough to mull over, for those of us in the corporate to mull over, for those of us in the corporate world, chasing a mirage called job world, chasing a mirage called job satisfaction and often confusing it with high satisfaction and often confusing it with high salaries.salaries.

Five years ago, I was posted in Kolkata to Five years ago, I was posted in Kolkata to look after the eastern region . This is look after the eastern region . This is where I had the soul-stirring experience where I had the soul-stirring experience of meeting Shreesh at Belur Math, the of meeting Shreesh at Belur Math, the Ramkrishna Mission's headquarters. Ramkrishna Mission's headquarters.

Away from the city's boisterous roads, Away from the city's boisterous roads, Belur is tranquility personified as its Belur is tranquility personified as its sylvan surroundings are placed close to surroundings are placed close to the mighty Hooghly. the mighty Hooghly.

It had been 18 years since Shreesh and I It had been 18 years since Shreesh and I had passed out from IIT, Kanpur, where had passed out from IIT, Kanpur, where we spent our days in neighbouring hostel we spent our days in neighbouring hostel rooms, and 14 years since we had last rooms, and 14 years since we had last met. In the course of lunch that day at met. In the course of lunch that day at Belur, he unfolded his post-IIT story, Belur, he unfolded his post-IIT story, which marked a turning point for my own which marked a turning point for my own view towards life.view towards life.

Shreesh Jadhav was ranked second across Shreesh Jadhav was ranked second across India in the JEE andIndia in the JEE and completed his B.Tech in completed his B.Tech in computer science with a perfect 10 CPI. A computer science with a perfect 10 CPI. A recipient of the President's gold medal at IIT, recipient of the President's gold medal at IIT, he spurned all offers of plum scholarships he spurned all offers of plum scholarships from top foreign from top foreign universitiesuniversities. .

Instead, he went on to do his Ph.D from IIT, Instead, he went on to do his Ph.D from IIT, Kanpur. As his neighbour, I was familiar with Kanpur. As his neighbour, I was familiar with Shreesh's leanings towards Swami Shreesh's leanings towards Swami Vivekananda and Ramkrishna Paramhans. Vivekananda and Ramkrishna Paramhans. Often, when I barged into his room for a chat Often, when I barged into his room for a chat session, I would find him deep into session, I would find him deep into readingreading their teachings. These had an impact on his their teachings. These had an impact on his day-to-day actions as well.day-to-day actions as well.

An example of his austerity was the fact that An example of his austerity was the fact that he managed to pass those four years with just he managed to pass those four years with just a pair of white kurta-pyjamas . Top brain that a pair of white kurta-pyjamas . Top brain that he was, the toughest assignments were he was, the toughest assignments were cracked by him in a jiffy and his answers cracked by him in a jiffy and his answers matched up to the second decimal of the matched up to the second decimal of the model answers put up later outside the exam model answers put up later outside the exam hall.hall.

He also found time to take up the cause of He also found time to take up the cause of mess workers, which temporarily invited the mess workers, which temporarily invited the ire of IIT authorities, but eventually bore ire of IIT authorities, but eventually bore results. Through his Vivekananda Samiti, he results. Through his Vivekananda Samiti, he taught several of the mess workers' children, taught several of the mess workers' children, besides other poor employees of IIT.besides other poor employees of IIT.

With three sisters, he was the only son of his With three sisters, he was the only son of his parents, and the entire familyparents, and the entire family along with many along with many of us, egged him on to of us, egged him on to study abroadstudy abroad. .

I occasionally mocked his convictions and told his I occasionally mocked his convictions and told his parents that he would eventually succumb to the parents that he would eventually succumb to the lure of dollars, just like several of his batchmates. lure of dollars, just like several of his batchmates. But, he couldn't be deterred from his single-But, he couldn't be deterred from his single-minded pursuit of serving humanity. He would minded pursuit of serving humanity. He would explain, explain,

"Just like Silicon Valley, social sectors too "Just like Silicon Valley, social sectors too desperately need intelligent people."desperately need intelligent people."He continues to positively impact the lowest rung He continues to positively impact the lowest rung of the social ladder. Recently, he helped save the of the social ladder. Recently, he helped save the life of 12-year-old Sarita, who developed a hole in life of 12-year-old Sarita, who developed a hole in her heart. Her operation in Bangalore cost Rs 3 her heart. Her operation in Bangalore cost Rs 3 lakh and on reading Shreesh's email, I had lakh and on reading Shreesh's email, I had contributed my bit, but was doubtful if he would contributed my bit, but was doubtful if he would meet the target. But, as I recently found out, meet the target. But, as I recently found out, Sarita was back home in Kanpur after a Sarita was back home in Kanpur after a successful surgery, making me put my faith in successful surgery, making me put my faith in Shreesh's words that Shreesh's words that

““There are a lot of good people in the world, There are a lot of good people in the world, we just need to reach out to them’’we just need to reach out to them’’

Unmarried, he has dedicated his entire life towards a Unmarried, he has dedicated his entire life towards a social cause. He joined the Ramkrishna Mission after his social cause. He joined the Ramkrishna Mission after his doctorate and, by now, has taught computer science to doctorate and, by now, has taught computer science to several thousand students at their university, besides several thousand students at their university, besides managing various projects spread across the country. He managing various projects spread across the country. He also humbly believes that Belur Math has given him the also humbly believes that Belur Math has given him the opportunity to achieve his mission. Yet, his journey opportunity to achieve his mission. Yet, his journey continues.continues.

Shreesh's story is beyond inspiration. When I look Shreesh's story is beyond inspiration. When I look around at my batch-mates, many of whom head around at my batch-mates, many of whom head companies, I consider Shreesh the biggest success story companies, I consider Shreesh the biggest success story of IIT. His story should be a catalyst for all those who of IIT. His story should be a catalyst for all those who want to bridge the social abyss created by market forces want to bridge the social abyss created by market forces and government inaction. and government inaction.

As I write a cheque for Rs 15,000 for my three-year-old As I write a cheque for Rs 15,000 for my three-year-old son's quarterly fees, I'm reminded of an education son's quarterly fees, I'm reminded of an education system gone horrendously wrong. Unlike many of us who system gone horrendously wrong. Unlike many of us who keep trodding known paths, Shreesh Maharaj - as he is keep trodding known paths, Shreesh Maharaj - as he is popularly known in Belur - has clearly found his own popularly known in Belur - has clearly found his own path and left a trail.path and left a trail.

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