Materialism

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Are you single or do you have a girlfriend?
Which party shall you attend this weekend?
How many calories in a week do you burn?
Hmm…by the way… how much do you earn?

How do you travel towards your workplace?
How often do you work on happening Saturdays?
What is the latest thing that you’ve got to learn?
Never mind; just tell me how much do you earn?

Do people respect you for the person who you are?
Do people consider you an ethical superstar?
How much output have you managed to churn?
Brushing all things aside… how much do you earn?

Are you a cricketer, poet or a software engineer?
Are you a writer, singer or a trivial ALTO driver?
Are you happy, satisfied….Are you having fun?
Only thing that matters is how much do you earn?

--Jay

No work

No work…

-Jay

Five months ago, three young and enthusiastic people joined my project. They had just finished their initial training program in the company and were really looking forward to work in our project. They had graduated just a few months ago. When they joined, they had dreams in their eyes which were eager to prove their mettle in this world. They were energetic and raw… ready to be molded. I was in the same scenario a year ago. I could really see the will to excel in them. However, they weren’t as lucky as I was.

When I joined the project, I practised my technology and within no time, I was doing work for the project. In effect, I was never on the bench. However, the current batch has no work. I have been pushing them to learn new things, work on mock applications, come up with new ideas…but I cannot create work. Somehow, I cannot become the client. All the tactics worked till a certain period of time but now these people are tired. I could see their transition from restlessness to frustration and now they are in a state of helplessness.
Somehow, I can’t say anything to cheer them up. I have a really big fear that due to their inactiveness, as and when they do get work, they may be low on confidence. I know multi-nationals always operate in this way. But seeing ineffective utilization of national resources makes me sick. No matter how much ever money one may be paid, but a feeling of being on the job but still not having the work can really make people irritable.

Recession has crept in. I can see recession eroding the new batch of people who have joined the company. In fact, even the massively experienced people are feeling insecure. Today, I read through the news of SATYAM computers. Howsoever I may try to neutralize the fact that recession is harsh by saying that recession will separate the men from the boys, I have to admit that recession has the potential to eliminate millions of visions if it stays for a few more years. The world is fighting hard. Yet again we have an opportunity to unite and weather the storm…for I am extremely optimistic that one day sun will shine. One day the newly joined people will get a lot of work and loads of opportunities to prove themselves in this practical world…