Written by Sofiya Shahiwala
15th September is celebrated as the Engineers’ Day in India commemorating the birthday of one of the greatest engineers known in India, Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, popularly known as Sir MV.
Sir MV contributed a great deal to Indian Technology and Industry by designing a system of automatic weir water flood gates to raise water supply in the reservoir without causing any damage to the dams. Apart from this, he had found the Mysore Soap Factory, Parasitoid Laboratory, Mysore Iron and Steel Works, etc. He was given the title of the “Father of Modern Mysore State” by the Government during his service. He was a sincere, ethical and dedicated engineer and philanthropist.
A day dedicated to such a great scientist is celebrated in different ways all over the world. Regardless, with this article, we aim to crack and dispel the myth around the Engineers who are said to be ‘counter-productive’.
To begin with, we all have come across these juxtaposed statements at some or the other point in our life; one being, “Engineering kar lo, life sethai” and the other, “The degree of an engineer these days is of no value, 80% of them are jobless”
The problem faced by most of the students is the conflict when both of these statements are kept forth and they are supposed to take a huge step towards their career.
The first question arises, Is it true that a degree of Engineering can set your life?
Sorry, but no, it is not so. As a matter of fact, there is no degree course yet made which can guarantee a set life to you. Yes, the course of Engineering would be a step closer to a well-settled life; But you always have to work and strive to get into the market. With the growing industrialization, the demand for engineers has increased but there is less number of engineers who work smartly and strive to achieve their goals. In any field, be it science, commerce or humanities, be it an employee or an employer, he has to keep learning, keep developing and keep evolving. And there is no evolution when left stagnant and constant.
Another myth relating to the same question arises, Are Engineers Under-paid?
Statistics show that it is not true. Engineers are not underpaid. However, we come again to the same references. There are two sets of workers in any field. Not every engineer is a good engineer and not everyone can be paid the same. There is a massive amount of value paid to a skilled engineer and his stipend is always with reference to his work value.
The second question, Is the engineering degree of no value?
Indeed it is true that almost 80% of the engineers are jobless or unemployed. The reason behind this is the skill gap between the engineers who graduate every year and the technological know-how and skills required by the industries now. It is believed that in India, there is more unemployability rather than unemployment. There is a growing demand for engineers in each and every field, be it civil, computer or mechanical. However, the training is what makes the difference.
The education system can be held responsible for this aspect. The students, since childhood, are taught in a classroom-based, four-walled environment where everything is taught on-board. There may be certain classes with Smart Boards but again, there is more theoretical usage of it rather than practical. When such an environment fed students are sent into a completely practical world, their first reaction is to just memorize the diagrams of the mechanics and technical designs to score better marks. Once again, our society is to be blamed for expecting better grades rather than better knowledge and skill. Let us say that they do get good grades. However, when a student who simply crammed everything since his childhood enters a completely practical world, the theory remains be of little to no use.
Hence, it is important to be keen, to grasp more practical knowledge, to have a better perspective about things not just by reading but also by observing, relating, innovating and exploring.
Remember,
Stagnancy never leads to success. It is the thriving which would lead you to great heights.
“Success ke piche mat bhago. Kabil bano, Kabil.
Kamyabi toh jhakk maar ke peechhe aayegi…”
(3 Idiots, 2009)
Image source : http://ucsdguardian.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/IMG_8182-1024×640.png)
