This week's prompt for Sunday Scribblings is Second chance. All of us desire for a second chance at one time or the other. We say, if only I had done this way…
If only, I get another chance...
This one goes for my dad. Thanks dad, wherever you are! I write the following for you in a slightly ironic note…
Second Chance
words rolling of my tongue never did impress you,
all you wished for me- laws and postulates to pursue.
nothing could compare with purest of pure sciences,
with my rebellion streak, I led you to merry dances.
With your persuasive best, you made me complete
my master’s degree in chemistry. I ended up replete
with valency, double bonds and kekule structures-
leaving out Chaucer, Milton, Bronte, Shakespeare
out of my periphery but only for little short while.
as soon I could, I got back without any further trial.
that previous degree was taken to fulfil your goal,
masters in English literature overwhelmed my soul.
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As I have said ad nauseam, after I passed out from grade 12 with very good marks, I wanted to pursue English Literature. I was good at it; I loved to read and loved to articulate. (Writing came much later unless you consider groovy essays and various synopses). Therefore, for me that was the natural progression. There was a major obstacle. I had not envisaged that at all. When I told my dad, he was very much against it. He wanted me to study Mathematics or pure sciences. No Biology stream either. Mathematics, Physics or Chemistry. As simple as that. I had the choice of choosing one from these three. Come to think of it, there was no choice at all. I did not want to study Mathematics and Physics was kind of God for me. No one can study God.
I was left with Chemistry. I protested but for no avail. Therefore, I ended up completing my bachelor’s degree. After I completed that, he told me it would take only two more years to get my PG degree. This time too I did his bidding. I finished a teaching degree also, after that. As soon I passed out, I landed up as a teacher…a Mathematics teacher…I had studied Mathematics in my bachelors degree along with Physics. Those were ancillary subjects, chemistry being the main one.
After a few years of working, I enrolled myself for a PG degree in English and completed it. Science students can opt for most humanities subjects. My dad was somewhat happy after I finished my PG degree in English too.
I had this grudge against him for a long time that he didn't let me pursue English Literature right from the beginning. After I finished my second PG, I realised that if I had done English in the first place, I wouldn’t be holding two masters degrees in, as varied subjects as Chemistry and English. Maybe I would have regretted that at some stage. Now I do not regret anything. I am grateful to my dad who is no more. I did get a second chance.
It does not seem ironical anymore that I studied Chemistry, teach Mathematics and love English literature.
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More second chances..
30 comments:
Sometimes the maths just doesn't seem to add up
It is inspiring for me to read about all that you pursued and achieved.
I guess we all want to please out parents expectations.
steve: well said. In life, the maths does not add up at all.
tori: Thanks. That is high praise.
lissa: In my time, yes. Now parents are much more open mined.
That reminds me of my parents! I have a degree in Biology, have studied languages at evening class and love English literature and I think those of use who have mixed experiences like that often have richer and more varied lives than those who are very stuck in one area. I've always kept away from maths though!
I wish I had enjoyed English Lit, but, sadly, I didn't!
It was so good of you to accept his choice and THEN have it your own way.
And good of your father to let you do it too.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Nathalie
Hi,
This is with reference to your comment on my blog.
First, thank you for visiting!
Now, regarding the writing -- It wasn't meant to be about Delhi as a universal subject. The writing was my perception, that too on the first day of my visit there. It is a personal reaction to the situations I encountered -- the view from the flight, the ride to Ghaziabad. That's all.
Thank you once again for the post.
Do visit more often.
Warmest,
Sruthi
http://srusrid.livejournal.com
Being a parent is difficult. I suppose that all he wanted was for you to have the best opportunities in life. I'm happy you were able to get what you wanted in the end.
if I'm able to get mine done--it'll be about my mom.
I enjoyed learning more about you. Do you know Maril Suri--he's an Indian novelist and I think he too teaches Math (at the University of Maryland--if I remember correctly). I've read his novel, "The Death of Vishnu)
An interesting write. It's a rather rare mixture, Chemistry and English but rich in diversity and brain exercise.
Hi Gautami, I really admire your being so true to yourself and going back to get your English degree. I loved the line "with my rebellion streak, I led you to merry dances."
It's funny, but I was just thinking there is a similarity between some poetry and math (as I'm sure you know), patterns.
I enjoyed your post.
The Chemistry of Chaucer, eventually, you might even turn to alchemy!?:)) The Alchemy of Hapiness of El Gazali, perhaps!?:))
achieving what you have is no mean feat. and to be able to view your father's demamds with a bit of irony is a good thing.
thank you for sharing your experiences.
knowledge helps...always
If nothing else, chemistry has provided you with a fabulous poetic vocabulary and metaphor stack - 'replete /with valency, double bonds and kekule structures' - love it (although I have no idea what kekule structures are, I just like the sound of the words!).
great post,
we all need second chances.
Your chemistry is now of a more interpersonal sort, as we all can observe on your blog. :-) But maybe physics or even maths could be an equal source of metaphors!
Englih Lit.? Would any lit in other language have surficed? Or is there something intrinsic to English that attracts you?
I realize there is a cultural difference, but I know plenty of people in America also do as their parents wish in academia. I for one am completely boggled by that notion, your post was a challenge for me to understand who was giving who the 2nd chance. (you giving your dad a 2nd chance and if so a 2nd chance for what?, you giving yourself one, you giving school one...your dad giving you a 2nd chance?)
There was so much more in this that has nothing to do with a second chance...it was a fascinating post.
second chance may turn to be better chances....:)but different
strange mix, but that didn't stop you from writing so well. :)
Wow, what a story! Thanks for sharing your poem and your words.
Things happen for a reason, and I know a lot of writers who tap into their analytical sides when creating a new work. Hope you are able to meld the two sides together.
Wow! It's so great that you were able to let go of your resentment toward him.
We do not always see the greater outcome of why we did this and that ... it is only later we realise ... the second chance.
hugs for you :o)
it is lovely to read where you have been knowing it brought the gift that is you to our presence. thanks always...
I can not begin to imagine how hard it must be to get a degree in chemistry. The thoguht make smy head hurt. Though it's funny when I was taking high school chemistry we did a section on balancing equations, and I never missed one. No matter how long or complicated. We won't get into how I did with some of the other areas LOL
Thanks for a wonderful share.
Frances
Wow Gautami -
What an obedient and patient daughter. And, you must be brilliant! I'm impressed.
My adoptive father had me study Electrical Engineering in college. I hated it, but tried for his sake.
He came into my life and adopted me from the orphanage, and though the house to which I was taken was a bit of a hell for me -- I still figured I owed him a debt.
I tried a career as an EE, but ended up a singer, designer, artist, and a writer.
Our elders mean well, and they do affect our lives -- but in the end, we decide who we are.
Congratulations on your decision!
My chemical romance. This is what makes you so interesting. Instead of being the mandatory run-of-the-mill angst driven artsy fartsy touchy feely wordsmith you are anchored with indisputable rational empirical logical pure sweet, sweet, science!
Nobody else on the planet gets to use both sides of their brain like you do!
Nobody.
Thanks donn. I don't know what you say is true or not but I do try to tax my brain to its limits. Maybe that's what has kept me sane for so long.
When my emotions get better of me, my rational side takes over and vice versa. If it is good or bad, I stopped speculating long time back.
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