I met Saif when I was traveling in a bus, going to a small village of Kesalaguda from Adilabad. (Adilabad is a small town located almost at mahashtra AP boarder, in central India. )
As it turned out he was going to Karimnagar to get admissions in diploma in veterinary science. He was carrying a file along with him, which he showed it to me. The file had all his certificates. It did seem little strange to me, because I thought that it was not one of the fashionable things to do for a 20 year old guy,
“Are you interested in being an animal doctor?” I asked
“No, I have to do something to get settled na. If you get settled in life then it is so good. I will get a job in government in Adilabad if I do this course, then life is so peaceful you can really enjoy life”
"So you want to do a government job?" I asked
"Yes, government job is so peaceful, you can travel you can do everything, you get fixed income, I would get settled so early in life"
"But why do you want to get settled?"
"No it is good to get settled"
All throughout our conversation which lasted for close to one hour he just kept on insisting the importance of getting settled. He was a youngest in the family of 5 brothers and four sisters. All his elder brothers were “settled” as the way he called them, one of them an auto rickshaw guy, another one a Hawalder and so on. One of them had even got separated as he had got married. So there was no guarantee how life was going to be so it was important for him to get settled.
“Is farming not a very good option?
“No generally people give their farms for rent to private companies; private companies pay about 50 thousand a year for ten acres of farm. So that is good, If you take a government job then it is so simple, you can just go for vacations no tension”
“What are your friends doing?” I asked
“Most of my friends are trying for jobs, some are continuing their father business, some have found jobs?”
"Is there someone whom you really look up to and admire"
"I had a friend, who took up a job in private goods company and he then he started taking and in less that two years he had earned about 4-5 lakhs."
"But do you want to make money like that?"
"No", he said, "I want to live a simple life"
Do you smoke and drink?
“Sometimes I smoke, when some of my friends do, I just need thirty rupees everyday for my personal expense, most is petrol, that would make me happy. If I can spare that much I would be very happy. ”
Do you vote?
Yes I vote and I vote for congress, because congress gives reservations and then I will get the job.
Do you want to do everything for the country?
“First I want to do something, for my parents, and give them a peaceful life. Then I will think of doing something for the country. That is why I want to be settled first”
:D
