I wrote quite a while back about this close friend of mine who was trying to make it in the music industry as a Music Director. It looks like he has already gone a long way in this direction. He had since then started a music company and has already created and released an album - Megha Malhar. Pretty impressive stuff for somebody who had to work his way against the system and get out of the career he has been trained for by the system to follow a career as directed by his passion.
Now there are two specific aspects that I wanted discuss related to this :-
a) The only guaranteed way to success is perseverance
Even though this is only a beginning of a hopefully long and successful music career, Damodar has been persisting with his efforts to make it in the music industry ever since he set out on this. If I remember right he finished his engineering degree almost 4 years back. His first commercial music album came out only very recently. Most people would have given up on a pursuit like this long before 4 years. What he has shown is that persistence pays.
The lure of an easy-living, fast-earning IT career was always within his reach all this while. I am pretty sure he must have had to face a lot of pressure from his social/peer circles as well. But the chap persisted and has shown that persistence pays. I have heard that it is unbelievably difficult to get a publisher to take on an album by a new director/composer. Well he made it through that barrier. I hope it is going to be a bit more easier as he moves on. I wish him all the best as he makes his way forward in his music career.
Youngsters setting out on their own should look at this and keep note. Don't give up even if things don't turn out well immediately. Focus on building capability and expertise. Things will turn your way and you will eventually succeed in what you set out to do.
b) The sad state of the educational system / social system
Anybody who has known Damodar from his childhood days would have realized that the guy was passionate about music. Now ironically he did a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and communication. Not that he was not technically inclined or intellectually suited for an engineering discipline. He came out with flying colors from one of the top Engineering Colleges in the state in a much sought after discipline.
Unfortunately this is a symptom of the sad state of education in the country. I guess I can't blame the education system alone. What are the job opportunities for people trained in music - bleak at best. So the whole system is not tuned towards creating individuals who are trained at doing what they are passionate about or what they are capable of. It is more geared towards creating individuals that are demanded by the industry. Unfortunately the commercial system does not demand a lot other than engineers or managers or doctors or lawyers. Those who don't make these end up making up the rest of the professions.
As a society we need to change as well. We shouldn't blindly be promoting career choices based on the options that we think are the best. Let youngsters chose whatever they are passionate about. Guide them and help them make their decisions but let us not take the decisions for them.
For those who are looking to hear the whole music album you can probably buy it from one of the local music stores. You can also listen to the album at Raaga and MusicIndiaOnlne
The following are the relevant links for listening to Damodar's new album online
http://www.musicindiaonline.com/album/162-Malayalam_Light_Music/232737-M...
http://www.raaga.com/channels/malayalam/moviedetail.asp?mid=m0002432
http://www.hummaa.com/music/album/Meghamalhar/36457
The following are media links related to the new album by Damodar
http://www.muziboo.com/damoo_here/music/meghamalhar-interview-damodar-cl...
http://www.yentha.com/news/view/4/3434
http://www.hindu.com/mp/2010/09/04/stories/2010090462751100.htm
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tabloid/all-rounders/rain-inspired-his-me...
You can know more about Damodar at his facebook profile
I feel that the Maslow's pyramid of needs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs) applies to society at large as well. If you see, self-actualization is right at the top. As a society we are somewhere at the second rung from the bottom where our our primary concern is to make a stable living (or what is perceived as one). But i believe we'll move up gradually , and we'll see more diverse career choices being made by our next couple of generations, without having to face as much pressure and on the contrary getting support from their families.
My point is that even though the society as a whole can be considered to be in level two, capable/confident individuals in the society need not be looking at this as an excuse to go after the said aspects of security and a secure living. So just like Damodar they should try to beat their own paths and make it. As more and more people take this path society would gradually move up from rung two to those above. It will just be a bit too tough for the flag bearers that is all.
Not an excuse, just an observation:)
Hi Anoop,
You have started blogging again! welcome back! I Saw your note in the facebook and came to your web page.
Good article. Liked it.
Hope business is doing well. Came to your place and bought a 64 bit Deb 6 DVD to install on my Office machine.
Do me a favour. Point to me a software that is as easy and versatile to use as AUTOCAD (Note easiness and versatility) and I am ready to dump windows!
Cheers to you!
Yes, hopefully back to blogging again. Business is doing great. Also do checkout the job openings at Zyxware. Do refer people if you know any.
I am not too sure about easiness and versatility of alternate CAD software. Here are a few other alternatives - QCAD, BRL-CAD might be good options. Here is a list. It would be great if you can check them out and write a review. I could post it here on this blog ;)
Thanks, most inspiring..
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