There is a saying in Bengali, 'Baaro maashe tero parbon'!
Belonging to a quintessential Bengali family, celebrating festivals has always been a significant part of my life. My favorite among these myriads of festivals was, of course, Durga Pujo. No surprises there! You see, it is just not a five-day festival for us. Every year, on the day of Doshomi, you would find most of checking the calendars for the next year's date. Most Bengalis wait with bated breath for their favorite festival, and when it arrives, boy do we celebrate!
When I think about my childhood days, the first memory of Durga Pujo that I can remember is my father handing me over a navy-blue dress with white polka dots. I was a four-year-old kid then, and I vividly remember how happy I was that day. Since then, every year, my parents have made sure that I had a new piece of clothing to wear on the five days of Durga Pujo. The festival has been a medium of my style transformation all through these years. I have grown up from being a tulle dress person to a saree person. For those who don't know, new clothes are an integral part of this festival. I still remember my friends and I discussing the number of new clothes we had collected for the occasion. It does sound shallow, but the exuberance we felt was inexplicable.
The first time I stepped out of the comfort of my home was after my graduation. I had just joined a corporate, and amidst all the glitter and glam, the thing that I missed the most was my family. As time passed and Durga Pujo approached, I realized I would not have enough time to shop with my parents in my hometown. I also decided that since I was earning, it was my turn to make my family feel special. Just a week before I was to fly to Kolkata, I went to Pantaloons on the weekend. I brought a Cotton Kurta from Indus Routes for my father, an A-line Kurta from Akkriti for my mother and a T-shirt for my brother.
My parents scolded me for bringing them gifts. They were just happy that I was home during the festival season. I brushed them off and insisted them to try out the clothes. While my mother and brother were thrilled, I couldn't figure out how my father felt.
'Don't you like the Kurta, Baba? Aren't you happy?'
He smiled and said, 'You have no idea how happy I am, and how proud you make me feel every day. Today, you made me realize how much you have grown up. A few months back, you left home as my little daughter, but you aren’t the same anymore. You have already started taking responsibilities for our family in your little ways. You may not realize this, but these clothes that you gifted us, they signify that you are turning over a new leaf. I want you to invest in yourself and start a new chapter. You have the potential, and I know you can achieve greater heights. I will be the happiest when you find your true calling.'
I knew what he meant. I was always apprehensive of taking a leap of faith when it came to new decisions. This time, however, his words made an impact. The thought that my father thought of me as a grown-up instilled in me a sense of profound assurance. I wanted to bell the CAT, just like so many other engineers in India. I have always been an above average student throughout my education, but I have failed to perform in competitive exams, consistently. It was a sore spot for me.
The first time I gave CAT, I failed miserably. It seemed like my worst fears had come true. I had fallen, managed to get bruised all over again. I didn't want to give up, though. It was my dream to get into a premier B-school and drive my entire career from there. I knew I hadn't put enough efforts. The next time, I put all my heart and mind into it. I took cues from the mistakes that I had done earlier. I learned how to juggle my work and preparation together, to manage my household work along with it. It wasn't easy. I had sleepless nights; I gave up on weekends, I reduced my visits to home as well as their duration. I even gave up on attending my favorite Durga Pujo last year as I wanted to put my best shot to win this one.
All those months of preparation, hard work, time management, and a system of continuous self-performance review has led me to where I am today- IIM Ranchi.
I still remember the day when I received the Admission Offer. It was a mundane day and while I was watching Masterchef Australia, I was wondering what I could have for evening snacks. The irony of it! The moment I saw the notification, I rushed to open the mail. While I read the mail, I felt a sense of satisfaction. I had finally made it.
Later that night, I asked my father, 'Are you happy today?'
He smiled and said, 'I am not happy. I am ecstatic today. Do you see the larger picture? You proved to yourself that you could win any battle if you put your mind into it. You, my daughter, are a warrior. I will not gift you an armor, but will gift you an Allen Solly blazer instead. This world, my dear, is your oyster!'