The Wrong Career

a poem by Hiren Shah

The two major decisions are career and wife.
Considering the time spent on the former, a wrong choice can ruin one’s life.

In fact one’s career is something that one spends most of his time.
It would be an understatement to state whether in prose or rhyme.

Considering all this, I would say that it is a big faux pas
That instead of this theme, nine times we have made the movie “Devdas”*

(*Devdas is based on what happens if one does not get the right woman rather than career)

If there is one thing that in one’s progress as an individual can be a strong barrier,
It is the wrong choice of career.

There cannot be greater misery and loss
If in addition to the wrong career you also end up with the wrong boss.

If you are not in the right vocation
It implies a life of misery and suffocation.

On the other hand the choice of the right occupation
Thomas Edison’s “I never worked in my life. It was all fun.” suggests a lifelong vacation.

Remembering Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and self actualization.
Can only be implemented in letter and spirit if at an early stage there is Realization.

It is only because the education system in certain respects has continued to remain hollow
That there is many a fellow who for a lifetime continue to wallow.

The education system has to have the right focus.
If in the adult life of many an individual it has to avoid a ruckus.

There are many for whom the “Concentration or absorption in work is a kind of orgasm”
If really so, why in theory and practice in education, there is such a wide chasm.

Concentration is the secret of success in politics, War, trade, in all of human affairs
It is actually spontaneous concentration; a wrong job is full of nightmares.

Education being derived from latin terms; “ek” means ‘out’ and ducere means to draw
If the basic purpose of education is unfulfilled, it should withdraw.

“Idle mind; Devil’s workshop’ the result of education not being able to draw out.
Work banishes boredom, vice and poverty; for misfits there can be a dangerous fallout.

The consequences of not following the real education are far reaching.
A teacher should try to be an educator; he should not restrict himself to teaching.

A lot of teachers are obsessed with knowledge stuffing and blind instruction.
They should give personal attention to ensure that in learning, there is no obstruction.

Another deplorable obsession among teachers is the weightage given to tuition,
In education at least we can do without such pollution.

A lot of people indulge in corruption; sometimes profession spawns many a prostitute.
If only they were aware of the Vicissitude ; if only they could witness the professional destitute

There are some pseudo motivating glib talkers who keep harping on attitude.
Instead of gratitude, there can be nothing but platitude if there is no spontaneous aptitude.

Education has to go beyond the obvious, it has to go beyond merit.
Instead of stuffing facts, it should be detecting talent; looking at spirit.

Occupation should be such that in which one can spontaneously occupy
You are in the wrong field if it takes too much force to apply.

It is not just a question of earning one’s livelihood.
Materialism and spirituality being two wings of a bird, it should also make you feel good.

It is not just about choosing a line of business.
Doing something for most of waking hours has to be something you can do with easiness.

Considering that one has to spend eight to ten hours for a lifetime on one’s job.
In this respect, how can one remain afford to remain a slob.

One’s career is something you simply cannot but adore, it should not be a bore
How can one spend a lifetime on the work which seems like a chore.

What is the purpose of running after infotech and biotech,
If the basic anomaly of education we are unable to check, why not pursue humotech.

There are some who think that work should be more fun than fun.
Extreme mismatch can be like resigning oneself to the life of a nun

It is for this reason that for not detecting talent the education system has no excuse.
For being in the wrong place forces people to live the life of a wretched recluse.

How can one not pity if in one’s work ones sees no beauty
Who wants to live lifelong doing some imposed duty.

The latin meaning of the word education is to draw out what is already within
Considering all that, blindly stuffing in facts is a sin.

It is a pity that despite the kind of clout that the education authorities wield
They are not able to fulfill the basic purpose; people still end up being in the wrong field.

There is no point in approaching a doctor
One has to face the basic factor, early in life there must be a talent detector.

“People’s hobbies are more their measure than their jobs”*; entails due respect to hobbies
The education system should undergo a metamorphosis and cater seriously to such lobbies.

(Quotation by Robert Byrne)

The doctor may give palliative medicines and try to cheer
That is all useless because the right cure is the right career.

On not being able to concentrate on the job, if there is tremendous frustration,
Being nothing more than focusing on the right object, the right career is the right mediation.

Whether the pursuit is knowledge based or vocational,
The education system must try and ensure a perfect fit; such instances should not be occasional.

The well reputed education institutions boast of very good placements.
However once inside, both the employer and employee face a plethora of resentments.

Education has become a business; like other fields it has become over commercial.
It’s basic purpose should not have sloppiness; in that it cannot afford to be controversial.

Everybody has heard of “Square peg in a round hole”;
That is so dangerous that from a very young age finding the right career should be a goal.

There can be nothing more appalling,
Then not being able to find one’s calling.

It is high time that the benefits of education are both financial and emotional.
Restricted to degrees and jobs, they are merely notional.

Considering the emotional and financial implications involved, there cannot be any concession
In not being able to pinpoint the right profession.

It is not for nothing that spiritual literature is full of “Know thyself”.
Being an extreme job misfit is like a lifeless showpiece on a shelf.

If there is one thing that for individuals and nations can prove to be a blessing,
It is that there is not a single misplaced human being.

If we were literally following the real education.
For every person, we could ensure lifelong recreation.

“The real tragedy of life is not being limited to one talent but failure to use that talent”*
At least in such cases the education system must draw out; it cannot remain silent.
* Quotation by Edgar work.

I hope I have been able to prove that the inappropriate career is a major wrong
One should fit with one’s career that it should seem like poetry and life a song.