The Path Less Taken
The recent viral “IITian Baba” at Mahakumbh, an Aerospace Engineer from IIT Bombay who chose the path of ascetism has triggered a debate. One may argue...What is the purpose of so much education if it cannot be put to good use to earn for the family, serve the society and contribute to the progress of the nation? A precious IIT seat wasted. He chose the easy path – that of escapism from his responsibilities in the garb of “finding meaning to my life”. But is this path really easy? There are many instances of learned, successful and affluent people- CAs, lawyers, heirs of billionaire families- who have renounced worldly pleasures and embraced monkhood. It takes a lot of courage, contemplation, fighting tremendous family resistance and sometimes traumatic emotional experiences to go towards this path. We have ample talent in our country but how many of the IIT grads do their bit for its progress? Most of them leave abroad for high paying jobs in MNCs and help these corporat...