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Sunday 8 December 2013

Write Tribe # Memories


memories


                                                  Pic: courtesy Write Tribe

 It is said that the past is gone and it will never come back. But it does come back to us in the form of memories. Sometimes these memories are so vivid and clear that you relive them. For hours and hours they keep flashing before us and we are lost in the past. It happens to everybody. Some memories, we wish to erase from our being forever but there are others, we cherish for all times.
 If I look backwards the memory of my first ever interview appears before the screen of my mind very often. I had never planned to take up a job. After I passed my M.A. I saw an advertisement in a newspaper for the post of post-graduate teacher in Government schools in Delhi. We were holidaying in Mussoorie. The interview was scheduled to be held on 11th of July in Delhi and the advertisement appeared on 9th of July. I along with my mother started on the same day. My certificates had to be picked up from our house at Dehra Dun.
          We reached Old Secretariat, the seat of Delhi Admiration, in time for the interview. I saw only five or six girls and a crowd of male candidates. If I remember correctly, I was the first to be called inside. I was feeling very nervous. There were goose bumps in my stomach and my knees were giving way. Putting up a brave front I went inside. There were four people in the interview board. I wished them good morning and sat down when one of the members signaled me to take a seat. The Chairperson was engrossed in reading a file and did not even raise his eyes.  With his eyes glued to the file he said, “So, Miss Chawla(my maiden surname), you stood first in Dehra Dun District”.”Yes Sir”.  He again shot another question, “When you get married, will you continue with the job or leave it?” I thought in my mind, what a strange question he was asking, but  I replied, “Sir how can I predict where I will be after marriage”. This man again said, “Please wait outside; we will give you your appointment letter”.This was like a bomb shell!  I wondered what sort of interview was this!  Those days, (it was the year 1957) very few girls studied up to post graduation level. Moreover English was not at all a preferred subject. All the seven girls,appearing for the interview were appointed.
 I remember I cried because I did not want to join, but on my parents persuasion I had to join. My father told me on the phone, “You work for one month, and if you don’t like it, you can resign”.  I had no choice. As luck would have it, within one month my father got a transfer to Delhi. Sometimes I wonder, how I started liking the job and reached the position of Additional Director of Education, which is the highest that the teachers can aspire for.  The next and the highest is The Director of Education, who is an I.A.S. officer.
  There are multitudes of memories bubbling to come out but this one takes a lead.




This post in  response to the second Write Tribe,Festival of Words.  The topic for the post is  the  # Memory/Memories.







55 comments:

  1. A memory worth reliving.Good academics and your honest reply must have impressed the Chairperson.Some decisions in life are made unknowingly by destiny.

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    1. Thank you KP. Memories of those days bring a smile.

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  2. That was so nice. I face such interviews which left me wanting to take sannyasa :P

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    1. Thank youbbsearcingself. Why do you want to take sanyasa?

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  4. Wow Usha, first of all let me congratulate you for the accomplishment of becoming Additional Director of Education! Your post reminded me of my first interview and how it carved a path for my career. It was one of those rare interviews in an ad agency when the interviewee is praised and motivated. Had it not been for the motivating words of my boss, "You have the ad bug in you, you have to be in advertising," I wouldn't have been in this place today. See you around in Write tribe, my first time participation ;)

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    1. Thank you annucool. Your replies must have impressed the boss. You are correct. In ad agencies it is actually true that candidates are never praised.You must be a bright candidate. I will visit your site shortly.

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  5. Some factors rain on us favourably. Well-written.

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  6. That is a good memory to hold in one's thoughts. Wow Congrats Usha you really reached those heights. When we are aligned to our destiny, things appear on platters. Nice one.

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    1. Thank you Suzy. Your comments are valuable for me.

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  7. Lovely post outlining a beautiful memory. :)

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  8. Your achievement is mighty impressive!
    Very well said that past come back to us in the form of memories....:)

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  9. You are an achiever Ma'am and so very inspiring too! Wonderful memories of the days gone by! :)

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  10. Nice post just wants to salute you for your achievements.

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  11. I feel the first interview is the toughest and u've achieved so much in life. Wonderful memories, Usha-ji:)
    www.vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com

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  12. I like you answer from the interview! Can you imagine if those types of questions were asked today?

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    1. Thank you Robyn. Now a days there is so much competition.

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  13. What a major achievement and how scary that interview must have been for you. You managed though and that is the main thing. Funny how some memories stick out more than others. I loved learning more about you. ♥

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  14. This is the reason why you are a role model Usha ma'am. What an achievement! Some destinies are unpredictable :) Loved reading your post.

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  15. Wow Usha Ma'am! What an achievement. Lovely read it was. Looking forward to your post on the next prompt. :-)

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  16. Yes, I do agree with you ma'am. Sometimes we forcefully embark on an unintended journey and it turns out to be the most important one in our lives.

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    1. Thank you Padmanabha. Thanks for stopping by.

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  17. Superbbbbb!!! Thanks for sharing this achievement with us here :) Feels great to know someone who is so dedicated towards teaching!

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  18. enriching memory and we too went down memory lane with you. and loved your interview Usha Maam.

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  19. Nice one. Even my wife (Dr Sangita Passey... ideamasala.wordpress.com ) is with the DTTE.

    Arvind Passey
    www.passey.info

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    1. Thank you Arvind. Will check your wife on her site shortly.

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  20. For somebody who cried because she didn't want to work, you sure reached amazing heights with your career, Mrs Menon. This was such a nice post, especially the portion about your interview :) I could clearly feel the tension in you when you went into the room.

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  21. wow! What amazing heights to reach!! You are truly an inspiration...
    Thank you for sharing your memories of your first job interview :)

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  22. Such a sweet memory, Usha ji. I always loved reading your memories/nostalgic posts :)
    What an innocent answer you have given :)

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  23. Hmm.... Experience in memories are nice... :D

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  24. All of your anecdotes have an inspiring story to tell Ushaji :) Success comes to those who dare to take the first step :)

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  25. Awesome.
    I have seen all this personally

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  26. Memories make our lives richer Usha! you have been very lucky! My mother is of the same age, but even when she stood first for her school, her education was discontinued and was married off, how much she could have achieved is all I wonder about now when I read your experience.

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    1. Thank you Padmaja. Those days very few girls were allowed to study after High school.

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  27. Wow! a beautiful memory worth recording. Thanks for sharing this ma'am.

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  28. Such wonderful memories are always tattooed in our mind forever. Good you did not give up, for this field must have given you so many additional memories too, to cherish and to relive each and every one of them time and again.

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