Mystory@BL Garg: How I selected my course and made my career

When I was studying in Class 10, I used to think of becoming an engineer. But in my school there was no proper guidance for the same. Since I was good at Mathematics, I opted for the Science stream in Class XI and XII. Even in Class XII, I was not at all guided as to how I should prepare to get admission in a BTech course.

Finally, I completed my Class XII with very less marks. Due to this I could not get admission in even trade institutes like ITIs, forget about IIT or any other engineering college.

This was a very frustrating phase of my life. Then I thought of joining the Indian Air Force (IAF) in technical trade as an airman and got selected in the IAF in the technical group. There was a lot of scope of studying Engineering through distance mode. I started studying Engineering through the Institution of Engineers (Calcutta) and completed my graduation in Engineering.

After that, I joined Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) as a scientist. After coming to CSIR, I joined Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh to do my MTech. Admission to MTech was not as tough as was the case for BTech.

If given a chance, I would have continued to work in the armed forces as a commissioned officer or could have even become an IAS/IES.

As described above, since I was serving in IAF, after attending my daily routine duty, finishing lunch and getting some rest, I used to go to the study room, which was just near my living place. I used to study there for 4-6 hours. Again, after dinner, I used to study for 3-4 hours and this was my daily routine till I completed my Engineering. It continued for at least three years.

I participated in many extra-curricular activities. After my IAF duty, I used to go to the gym to keep myself fit. In the IAF, everyone was cooperative, supportive and helpful in many ways. No one was there to disturb me when I was studying. Infrastructural facilities at IAF were excellent.

Immediately after completing my BTech from The Institution of Engineers, I started applying for Class-I jobs in Armed Forces as well as outside them, including the Indian Engineering Services. My objective was to first get any job which was Class-I category as without a Class-I job, IAF would not allow me to leave the service until the completion of my contract with IAF. This is a mandatory condition. Since, I had already applied for many posts inside the armed forces as well as outside, one fine day I got a call letter for an interview for the post of a scientist at CSIR. I got selected and finally left the IAF after around nine years.

Although, while leaving the IAF, I felt very emotional because I would never get a chance to wear the uniform again. But anyway, I was to leave for my betterment and like this, I got appointed as a scientist at CSIR and even today, I am working at CSIR.

About the Author:

At present, I am working as the Principal Scientist in one of the laboratories of CSIR. My qualifications include – MBA, MIPL, PGD, AMIE and I am pursuing PhD. I feel that I have good management skills.