Rahul Banerjee did not make his millions in the Silicon Valley. In fact, he has never been to the Silicon Valley. He hasn’t made his millions either.
Instead he has written a book- and the book has not found a publisher. So he did not make his millions this way either.
But Rahul Banerjee found a wealth of experience and inner satisfaction of having spent a life among the poorest of the poor in the country. He represents that diminishing tribe of middle- class young men and women fired with an empathy for the downtrodden, forsake what could have been more comfortable lives, to work for, and with what Dostoevsky’s called the ‘insulted and the humiliated’.
Bhupinder points this out.
There are many such IITians who have forsaken the big bucks so as to follow their hearts. I know quiet few of them who have returned to India after PhD, in the US, to work as social worker. Its not about making big money but its all about doing what you like the best. I must admit that this won’t have been an easy step to take because money does matter and especially if all your classmates are making million dollars an year. But then living life the way it pleases is more important than living lavishly but still suffering from infinite diseases of mind, body and soul. What say?
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
i agree that happiness lies in following your heart… and kudos tot his person who had the courage to do so. inspring for the rest of us. wish hmi good luck in life…
It’s the passion that becomes a driving force which makes one forsake material pleasures in order to pursue the dictates of the heart. Besides, can you imagine the sheer monotony and dissatisfaction of having to wake up day after day to work on something that you are only luke warm about. It’d drive me to drink!
Rahul, I’m sure, is having a great time… money or no money!
i have enjoyed myself immensely but there is a sadness that the dreams that i had dreamt of in my romantic youth have not materialised. life in the doldrums in which the adivasis somehow survive has remained harsh despite all my and my colleague’s efforts and this is what saddens one. but i suppose this is a reality that one will have to live with
Rahul,
I am overwhelmed that you dropped on my blog. I greatly appreciate your efforts for the adivasis even though, as you have mentioned, success is still far from reality. I know I can only provide lip service. I feel that doing what one cherishes is more important. And you have paved the way for many more from IITs to take up this cause. I would be glad if you could share with me and my readers experiences of your efforts.
bhupinder told me about the fact that you had picked up his article on the book and so i dropped in on you! i am not a regular blogger and only post from time to time. in fact i have got into the blog world only after i put my book up on the net. i am rather busy at the moment with some work but in future i have decided to post many of the stories of people’s struggles that i come across on various blogs and i will visit your blog also.
Rahul,
I will definitely catch up with your book at the earliest as I have a thesis to submit now. As I have mentioned earlier that at present I can only provide lip service but I have plans to get involved with the kind of work you do. I suggest that you take out some time out of your busy schedule to blog so as to reach the huge audience blogs receive. You have to make people aware of the works. Wishing you luck for all your future endeavours!
Good luck Rahul! You humanitarian efforts are commendable, indeed!
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