2. Practicing Engineer or Higher Studies ?

 

Well, my answer  to my grandson to the  question why I chose  teaching was  not very  convincing, I was  certain. Learning more was  the  answer. But the  real  more  mundane  answer  was  that I wanted  to go  for higher studies in engineering.

For a graduate  in engineering  passed  out in 1968, there was  two options open. First was  to get  into the   government service  or private  firms as an electrical  engineer. Private  firms   will prefer  only engineers with  field experience  whereas  many government  organizations like  Kerala State  Electricity Board  or Kerala Public Works Department were recruiting engineers  without any previous experience. They had  the  opportunity  to learn on the  job. However, once  you get into such  an organization, the possibility of improving  your qualifications is not all required as  higher  qualifications are  not given any incentive in such organizations.  Therefore, as  I was  sincerely interested  in going for higher studies, the  better opportunity  was  offered  by an academic assignment. So, I thought , I will  do by  Masters  or even  PhD  after joining as a teacher  in an  engineering  college  and afterwards  get into  industry. I was aware  of many institutions   abroad where  those with  higher qualifications  work in industries and do help academic institutions by constant interactions . But   later  I found  out , in our country, once you have chosen teaching as a profession, as years  go by your chance  of getting  back to industry  is very remote.  This  was   true  in my case  too, as  after several years in teaching it was  not  possible  to move  into  industry at a position commensurate  with your  qualifications.

I could have  gone  for  higher studies straight away after  graduation , even directly go  for  PhD  in any of the  IITs as there was  a provision for direct  admission for those  who secure high rank in  universities. But  my  family needed  my financial help  to bring  up   our younger  brothers and the  scholarship available for research students   was too meagre. It was just sufficient  to meet own expenses only.  Salary  offered for teachers  were  not too  bad   and definitely  more  than the scholarship  amount available for higher studies.  So, obviously  my decision  to join teaching  was  to  get a reasonable  salary  to support  my  family and go for higher studies  as early as  possible.