A 24-year old management graduate distraught with hopelessness, helplessness and meagre self-worth that has hit the rock bottom; walks into a three-storeyed building at 10am sharp!! As the concerned person is engaged in a meeting, she's asked to wait, which gives her time to quickly think how punishing the life has been since two years, for the nth time... how good academic achievements have not been able to automatically lead to a job, how the rare and valuable monthly research scholarship could not be put into use due to delayed PhD admissions, how the professors are not interested in the research endeavours of their junior fellows, how frustrating the loosely knit connection between the study disciplines and administration departments can be and how the pressure of rejection from over a dozen prospective grooms could make one believe themself to be the ugly duckling, how her ailing father is trying hard to recover from the recent heart attack......the flashback of endless journey of depression gets disturbed by the peon who informs her to go into the boss's cabin. The dark, hefty and short personality swiftly turns towards her in the revolving chair adjusted to his height. He shakes the hand firmly and says, 'Your profile suits our Research Associate position and you can join. We are a small social and market research company and the salary would not be competitive. You can start off immediately.' She couldn't respond.... nothing except 'you can join' went into her mind but picks herself and replies, 'Thank you Sir! My father needs a surgery and I am available only after that. Shall get back in touch with you!!'. Descending the steps, she is surprised....'what did I hear, is it acceptance, finally?? what part of my profile made me eligible for the position?? do I mean something to the world?? Am I a value addition to this society in any way?? Lots of questions run through her mind.... She could not feel happy but is surprised about how someone has recognized her hidden potential... a confused state resulting from the tiring journey she had had in the last couple of years....
After three months of struggle with parents for compromising in terms of salary and determination gathered from some unknown force, she goes back to the boss. He has kept the position open and waited for the candidate patiently all this time. He explains the work and introduces her to the others with a fatherly warmth. Within few months, she prepares a portfolio of the projects conducted by the company, develops content for the website, undertakes an exit poll for a constituency and executes successfully, makes report presentations to who's who of International agencies....
The friendly boss also makes sure that the whole lot of employees dine together during the lunch time, encourages them to taste his recipes and teaches them to enjoy food and informal chats while passing boxes around the dining table. Life suddenly turns beautiful!!
Today, she doesn't know what would have happened had Parthiban Samiappa Sir not trusted her abilities when she herself didn't!! That small act of confidence by the boss permanently altered her course and gave her a new lease of life!!
Totally indebted to him in many more ways and extremely saddened to learn that his soul has reached the heavenly abode... This is only one example among the lives of many fresh graduates that he had touched!! May his soul rest in peace...
