An opportunity that changed my life & thinking

History is full of evidence of how a decision that changed one’s life, thinking and course of action. For me it is not the decision but the opportunity which I could not say ‘NO’. Whether it is a decision or opportunity, I am leaving this debate for others to decide. For me this is a subjective issue.

The opportunity (not decision) was: Appointment to the post of Asst. PRO at NTPC Limited. It was not a surprise offer. In fact, I appeared the test and interview. You can say it was concerted effort. Admit. The reason was very simple. After working for three and half years as journalist in the capacity of Proofreader, Reporter and Sub Editor, I could not achieve the level I wanted to be – both in career and financial point of view. I am not blaming it to others. I introspected a lot, and zeroed in on that with better schooling and pronunciation in English, I could have achieved that rather easily. I did have many opportunities but could not capitalize. No regret. Happy! where I am now. However, by saying this I do want to put any break on my efforts to achieve further excellence.

With the slow progress in Journalism career coupled with lucrative financial offer attached with executive post at NTPC is the reason why I left media job. In fact, I was not in the mainline journalism. Before joining the top ranked Power PSU, I was in a publication house in Delhi that publishes a range of travel magazines. The journey from Berhampur University to Delhi and subsequently from one private organization to another and finally to a sarakari organization is full of ups and downs.

My First Job:

When all were busy in watching the Final match of Cricket World Cup between India and Australia on March 25, 2003, I started my journey to Delhi in search of a job in social science and/or journalism. Thanks to Rashmi Ranjan Parida. Had he not called me in time I would have visited Mumbai where my elder brother was working in a private firm. I can’t forget Rashmi’s help during my early days. Both of us applied at TechBook International. I cleared, Rashmi could not. The cruel joke: may be TechBook wanted Rashmi in higher level. Now he is there as Content Writer. That is destiny.

Within one week after my arrival, I started my career as a Proofreader at TechBook International in Delhi with monthly salary of Rs 5000. I have to proof many pages in hard copy in a single day that too in American English with Chicago manual style in reference to 10th Edition of Webster Dictionary. The standard of accuracy is well above 98%. As proof reader, I learned many things. I do not want to share all but one thing sure – the command over punctuation and the eye for details.

In the meantime, I got UGC-NET result in Political Science which I appeared in December 2002. Had the result published before my arrival in Delhi, I would have stayed at home and joined a college as a Lecturer. But the opportunity I got to visit Delhi and subsequent private job changed my destiny. So I could not carried out my childhood job – lecturer.

There is a small story why I always wanted to be lecturer. When I was in my Upper Primary school period (Class 1 – V) with my two other brothers, we used to be scolded by our mother. During those early days we were going through a tough period as my parents were struggling to provide basic requirement to their children. My father always wanted us to be literate while my mother as bonded labour (halia). She has an argument - if we three will work in others’ field we will be richer by getting some annual remuneration. Children of X, Y, Z studied IA, BA selling their landed property but now they are working as labour in Bhabanagar and Surat (Gujrat). You three are also no exception, she reasons. Her question – can you be a lecturer by studying? As she knows lecturer is the only highest paid job. In fact, Shri Narasingh Daini of our village (Nistipur, Ganjam) is a lecturer and living with comfort. Shri Daini is a visible figure for others as far as job is concerned. So despite all odds, since my childhood I always wanted to be a lecturer. I was closer to get it. I did well reasonably in PG Pol. Science by securing first class first. And with reservation background I could have easily got it. But destiny has something in store like man proposes God disposes.

After PG Pol. Science I joined journalism. The joining of Journalism course is again matter of opportunity/decision issue. Vijay (Krishna) and me are very good friends staring from our O Level computer course. Again the joining of O Level course is an opportunity. We got it free of cost. One day suddenly both of us decided to apply for journalism and we got it with reasonably high ranking.

Leave the topic of why I wanted to be a lecturer. Come to my first job. After working for ten months with full of efforts, I found I am not adding any value to my existing knowledge. Doing the same thing everyday like a machine. This is not what I expected (continuous learning) from my work. So one day I decided to resign. By that time I had some balance and now I can survive for at least two/three months even if I will not get a job. In fact, I was quite confident that I can get a job. However, leaving of the job was pathetic. Above all, it is like pehela pyaar and pehela naukri! But now I am happy that I helped some of my friends getting job at TechBook by telling the nuances of proofing and editing.

Within one week of leaving TechBook, I joined a travel magazine as reporter. But left the organization on the issue of byline and credit line. So I am not counting this as my second job. Now the search for second job continued. It continued for three months. Appeared many interviews, cleared written test in many, failed some in interview, rejected on pronunciation but the effort was still on. That is why Rajesh and Sitansu are joking at me - “If you want address of any media organization then ask Sahadev Bhai”. Even during this period, I tried my hand in development sector, another area where I really like to work. I was very close to get the job in PRAYASH and a Kiran Bedi run NGO in Jamuna Pusta area of Delhi. But I never got an OPPORTUNITY to show my caliber in development organization. Again it is a matter of destiny. I have gone through a lot of trauma of sitting ideal at home. The thing I learn out of this: Never leave your present job irrespective of good or bad until you get a good break. The bottom line - are you in job or not considerably influence your bargaining power.

My Second Job:

One day all of sudden I got a mail from Vikram Bhatnagar, as we know him one of the best double trap shooters in the country. He is the proprietor cum editor of the Magazine - Precision Shooting. I appeared the test and interview. He was highly impressive of my editing and offered the job on the spot for reporter cum sub editor @ Rs 7000 per month. Without any second thought I joined very next day.

I was the one man army there. I have to look after stories, advertisement and circulation. I had a great time there until one Rajan Kumar, a senior journalist, joined there to start an adventure sports magazine. He is tough master. Though good in pampering he is a very good writer having more than 25 years experience. One day he complained to the Editor that Sahadev does not know the basic of grammar and writing. He can’t write word ‘Competition’ properly. The next day the editor called me and said do not take it other way. Be positive. I know how good you are. I am not expelling you, he told me.

The complain urged me to improve further. I asked Mr Kumar how to improve writing skill. He said that no body can help you in improving your writing. It is the YOU who can help yourself. Just follow a simple thing: write everyday one page for 100 days. On 101st day write the same topic you wrote on the first day. Now you compare you will find the difference. The moment you can improve your own copy….believe me you are good enough in writing. I did the same religiously. Now I do not know whether I am good enough in writing. Un/fortunately I could not associate with Mr Kumar as he left the organization. After few months, I also left the organization. One thing I learned during this period is: expressing my thoughts in writing. Again before leaving the organization, I helped Sitansu to replace me. I worked for one and half years there and it was a nice experience in shooting sports as I got an opportunity to meet almost all the BIG shooters of India. In the mean time I got an offer from Durga Das Publication to join as Sub Editor. This time I got the offer when I was in job so I bargained some extent.

My Third Job:

Unlike my earlier media organizations, here at Durga Das Publication there are around 50 employees. There is no one man army. There is a hierarchy. Stories should go through proper channel. There are beat reporter who file stories. There are seven people in desk including me. Initially, I was looking after editing at preliminary stage and proofing at final stage. In the mean time I also assigned reporting and filed very good stories. But to be frank…I struggled in my early days as I could not write error free stories. Similarly, my edited stories were also with lot of grammatical errors. Once I received warning from the editor. Somehow I overcame this turbulent phase and did well in later phase. One of our seniors from BU, Srikant Tripathy was there as Copy Editor. He helped me greatly.

Now I consolidated my position there by virtue of my hard work. I was given independent charge of a magazine – Cargo Talk. I was also asked to work for two magazines from Bhutan and Sri Lanka in association with one of the eldest editors. Also assigned to look after E-news. Got an opportunity to visit Bhutan and work with Tourism deptt. of Bhutan Govt. Visited thrice, and every time the hill-locked country enthralled me for its natural beauty, culture and traditions. Filled many travel stories from Bhutan for Tashi Delek magazine.

My last travel to Bhutan was on 25th December, 2006, the day I was called for interview at Powergrid, another PSU, but could not as I booked ticket. Missed another opportunity? Maybe. But upon my arrival at Delhi from Bhutan I received another opportunity, the last one of the series: Offer from NTPC. After one month notice period, I left the organization. Again before leaving, I helped Sitansu to replace me. It seems he follows me until I was in private/media organisation! His run behind me come to an end as I joined sarakari naukrai. No. He is doing very good job in a popular television channel. I am happy for his progress. In fact, we both have mutual respect and admiration.

The NTPC offer says: Appointment to the post of Asst. PRO in the grade of E1 with place of posting in Jharkhand by latest February 04, 2007. The financial offer was lucrative. For a struggling journalist with lower middle class status, the offer was so good that I can not say ‘NO’. It is not that I have not consulted my peer groups before joining. Most of them favored. But for one person, I thought twice before joining. He is not other than Shri Pradeep Chintamani Mohapatra, Journalism lecturer at BU. In short he defined PR work as “DIGNIFIED PEON WORK”. No doubt money is there but where is the work satisfaction, he asked? Initially, I thought either he is pessimistic or over realistic. But today I realize his interpretation. May be other journalist turned PR professionals are interpreting the same in their own way.

The post sarakari naukri effect

Finally, I joined NTPC on January 29, 2007 at Ranchi office. It is a significant jump/change in my life. It changed everything: work culture, ambition, perception about life, thinking and many more.

Now I am a sarkari babu. There is no deadline to wind up the work. No pressure from my boss. Unlike private organization there is no strict attendance. The freedom inside the office will make you easily a reckless man. The number of leave one will get is sufficient. The additional perks will make your life comfort. Everything you will get as per your entitlement, it is like a fundamental right. You will get your salary on time. There is a sense of job security.

Now everything seems to be settled. Now I saved some money, added some property, constructed the village house. I am now 29 and its time to get married. Until now no body approached for marriage because I am in private organisation. Now I am in sarakari naukri and we started receiving proposal from many. What a contrast?

After two/three search here and there for suitable match, we arranged the marriage in Berhampur in a well-educated family. My marriage held in the last week of April 2008. Marriage is the best thing happened in my life. I am happy with my marriage life and my partner.

But post marriage, I added additional comfort in my life in the form of purchasing equipments. I can not say no to all these things, it seems the system is working not me. Now I feel I am luxurious enough. I am not working as workaholic as I used to do just three years back. That is why I added some weight. I am not physically fit as I was. Earlier my work keeps me fit. Now I work separately to keep myself fit. Before marriage, I was thinking the well-being of my whole family. Even today I am thinking the same but can not as used to do. I did many things for them by purchasing land and constructing house. I know my brothers are just living a normal life, while I am thinking of purchasing a land/apartment in town, having four-wheeler, investment, purchasing shares etc. My priority has shifted. My family members expecting more from me, but I am doing little for them now. I do not know why the shift. May be it is temporary in nature, maybe it is a metamorphic change. But I still believe ‘I am the same person as I was….I am not changed greatly, believe me’.

But the significant change with the opportunity to work in PSU is: I am not adding some value in my existing knowledge base. I am not frequently referring dictionary to know the meaning of a word. Not a voracious reader now. Not watching news channels …. entertainment is. Not reading articles seriously, just headlines. Not interpreting new developments either politically or socially. Not bothering what is happening in and around much. Not showing emotional whenever there is any incident, rather take it as professional.

Is it like if summer comes winter can not wait? Am I going through the summer season? Shall the winter come in the form of another opportunity I am waiting for? Shall I get an opportunity to be lecturer to fulfill my child hood dream or an opportunity to do something for the family, village and the society in large?


The learning so far: I never set any target to achieve. Today whatever I am, it is just because of opportunity. I do not say I deserve it or talented enough. I know there are many talented guys who can do better but they are just waiting for a suitable opportunity.

Remember! The suitable opportunity never ends! Keep trying.