““In this materialistic world, you can rarely find a person like Shreesh In this materialistic world, you can rarely find a person like Shreesh and its great to know that such people do exist in our society. “and its great to know that such people do exist in our society. “

A truly inspiring article!A truly inspiring article!

Anil – chandrot@gmail.comAnil – chandrot@gmail.com

““HANDS THAT SERVE ARE HOLIER THAN LIPS THAT PRAY”HANDS THAT SERVE ARE HOLIER THAN LIPS THAT PRAY”

Shirdi Sai Baba

Rahul Awasthi comes away impressed Rahul Awasthi comes away impressed after meeting his classmate and IIT after meeting his classmate and IIT topper, who earns no salary, but has the topper, who earns no salary, but has the highest job satisfaction.highest job satisfaction.

I read in a corporate bestseller I read in a corporate bestseller sometime back that the highest job sometime back that the highest job satisfaction is enjoyed by those in least-satisfaction is enjoyed by those in least-paying jobs, like in NGOs and social paying jobs, like in NGOs and social organizations. This sounded ironical, organizations. This sounded ironical, but still exciting enough to mull over, but still exciting enough to mull over, for those of us in the corporate world, for those of us in the corporate world, chasing a mirage called job satisfaction chasing a mirage called job satisfaction and often confusing it with high and often confusing it with high salaries.salaries.

Five years ago, I was posted in Kolkata to look Five years ago, I was posted in Kolkata to look after the eastern region . This is where I had after the eastern region . This is where I had the soul-stirring experience of meeting the soul-stirring experience of meeting Shreesh at Belur Math, the Ramkrishna Shreesh at Belur Math, the Ramkrishna Mission's headquarters. Mission's headquarters.

Away from the city's boisterous roads, Belur is Away from the city's boisterous roads, Belur is tranquility personified as its tranquility personified as its sylvansylvan surroundings are placed close to the mighty surroundings are placed close to the mighty Hooghly. Hooghly.

It had been 18 years since Shreesh and I had It had been 18 years since Shreesh and I had passed out from IIT, Kanpur, where we spent passed out from IIT, Kanpur, where we spent our days in neighbouring hostel rooms, and 14 our days in neighbouring hostel rooms, and 14 years since we had last met. In the course of years since we had last met. In the course of lunch that day at Belur, he unfolded his post-lunch that day at Belur, he unfolded his post-IIT story, which marked a turning point for my IIT story, which marked a turning point for my own view towards life.own view towards life.

Shreesh Jadhav was ranked second across Shreesh Jadhav was ranked second across India in the JEE andIndia in the JEE and completed his B.Tech in completed his B.Tech in computer science with a perfect 10 CPI. A computer science with a perfect 10 CPI. A recipient of the President's gold medal at IIT, recipient of the President's gold medal at IIT, he spurned all offers of plum scholarships he spurned all offers of plum scholarships from top foreign from top foreign universitiesuniversities. .

Instead, he went on to do his Ph.D from IIT, Instead, he went on to do his Ph.D from IIT, Kanpur. As his neighbour, I was familiar with Kanpur. As his neighbour, I was familiar with Shreesh's leanings towards Swami Shreesh's leanings towards Swami Vivekananda and Ramkrishna Paramhans. Vivekananda and Ramkrishna Paramhans. Often, when I barged into his room for a chat Often, when I barged into his room for a chat session, I would find him deep into session, I would find him deep into readingreading their teachings. These had an impact on his their teachings. These had an impact on his day-to-day actions as well.day-to-day actions as well.

An example of his austerity was the fact that An example of his austerity was the fact that he managed to pass those four years with just he managed to pass those four years with just a pair of white kurta-pyjamas . Top brain that a pair of white kurta-pyjamas . Top brain that he was, the toughest assignments were he was, the toughest assignments were cracked by him in a jiffy and his answers cracked by him in a jiffy and his answers matched up to the second decimal of the matched up to the second decimal of the model answers put up later outside the exam model answers put up later outside the exam hall.hall.

He also found time to take up the cause of He also found time to take up the cause of mess workers, which temporarily invited the mess workers, which temporarily invited the ire of IIT authorities, but eventually bore ire of IIT authorities, but eventually bore results. Through his Vivekananda Samiti, he results. Through his Vivekananda Samiti, he taught several of the mess workers' children, taught several of the mess workers' children, besides other poor employees of IIT.besides other poor employees of IIT.

With three sisters, he was the only son of his With three sisters, he was the only son of his parents, and the entire familyparents, and the entire family along with many along with many of us, egged him on to of us, egged him on to study abroadstudy abroad. .

I occasionally mocked his convictions and told his I occasionally mocked his convictions and told his parents that he would eventually succumb to the parents that he would eventually succumb to the lure of dollars, just like several of his batchmates. lure of dollars, just like several of his batchmates. But, he couldn't be deterred from his single-minded But, he couldn't be deterred from his single-minded pursuit of serving humanity. He would explain, pursuit of serving humanity. He would explain,

"Just like Silicon Valley, social sectors too "Just like Silicon Valley, social sectors too desperately need intelligent people."desperately need intelligent people."He continues to positively impact the lowest rung of He continues to positively impact the lowest rung of the social ladder. Recently, he helped save the life of the social ladder. Recently, he helped save the life of 12-year-old Sarita, who developed a hole in her 12-year-old Sarita, who developed a hole in her heart. Her operation in Bangalore cost Rs 3 lakh and heart. Her operation in Bangalore cost Rs 3 lakh and on reading Shreesh's email, I had contributed my on reading Shreesh's email, I had contributed my bit, but was doubtful if he would meet the target. bit, but was doubtful if he would meet the target. But, as I recently found out, Sarita was back home in But, as I recently found out, Sarita was back home in Kanpur after a successful surgery, making me put Kanpur after a successful surgery, making me put my faith in Shreesh's words that my faith in Shreesh's words that

““There are a lot of good people in the world, we There are a lot of good people in the world, we just need to reach out to them’’just need to reach out to them’’

Unmarried, he has dedicated his entire life towards Unmarried, he has dedicated his entire life towards a social cause. He joined the Ramkrishna Mission a social cause. He joined the Ramkrishna Mission after his doctorate and, by now, has taught after his doctorate and, by now, has taught computer science to several thousand students at computer science to several thousand students at their university, besides managing various projects their university, besides managing various projects spread across the country. He also humbly believes spread across the country. He also humbly believes that Belur Math has given him the opportunity to that Belur Math has given him the opportunity to achieve his mission. Yet, his journey continues.achieve his mission. Yet, his journey continues.

Shreesh's story is beyond inspiration. When I look Shreesh's story is beyond inspiration. When I look around at my batch-mates, many of whom head around at my batch-mates, many of whom head companies, I consider Shreesh the biggest success companies, I consider Shreesh the biggest success story of IIT. His story should be a catalyst for all story of IIT. His story should be a catalyst for all those who want to bridge the social abyss created those who want to bridge the social abyss created by market forces and government inaction. by market forces and government inaction.

As I write a cheque for Rs 15,000 for my three-year-As I write a cheque for Rs 15,000 for my three-year-old son's quarterly fees, I'm reminded of an old son's quarterly fees, I'm reminded of an education system gone horrendously wrong. Unlike education system gone horrendously wrong. Unlike many of us who keep trodding known paths, many of us who keep trodding known paths, Shreesh Maharaj - as he is popularly known in Shreesh Maharaj - as he is popularly known in Belur - has clearly found his own path and left a Belur - has clearly found his own path and left a trail.trail.