From Dangriguda to Detroit

Preface:

"As I was sitting in my cubicle, I was thinking how I can make use of this notice period which I am going through. Because technically I am having no work these days. So I thought why not pen down something for we kalahandias.

The below story is a pure imagination and does not resemble anybody's real life story. It is not even my story. It is a pure fiction. None of the facts and figures are correct. But as you will read through, I swear each one of us will fit into the character somewhere or the other. As you will go deep you will find that each one of us have been through this phase of life. May be some of us have come half the way, few the complete journey and for few yet to come. This is just an attempt to bring back our old memories and recall how we have come all this way long. I know it is a bit lengthy but somewhere you will be able to relate yourself to it.

Hope this keeps you stuck."

-- Chandan Panda.

"May I have your kind attention please? Flight number AI3207 from Bangalore to Detroit is ready for takeoff. All the passengers are requested to fasten their seat belts”. I became more cautious and checked my seat belt as I heard this from a beautiful lady dressed in red and white saree. I was traveling to Detroit, a beautiful city located in the eastern part of US of A for the so called "Requirement Gathering" for a US based software firm called "FCG services". Oops! I forgot to tell you that I have been working for FCG Services for the last 14 months as a Tech Lead.

I had managed to get a window seat and as I looked at the Bangalore airport, the flight took off with a boisterous noise. I was much more nervous than anybody else in the flight because this was my first trip outside India and believe me it was my first ever air travel. Apart from all these I was quite excited and also had a proud feeling that finally I did make it.

Then as I was looking at the clouds (we were miles above see level now), something struck my mind. All of a sudden I started thinking why am I going to Detroit? Why am I working for FCG? Why do I write java codes? What have I done in life that I have achieved this dream moment? What is that I have done that has brought me so far? So far away from my family? So far away from my home? So far away from Dangriguda? Yes, Dangriguda is my native place. I was born there. All of a sudden I started thinking about my childhood days. It was a complete flashback for me.

I was going 23 years down the lane. Every thing was very clear in my mind as if it happened to me just before I got into the Bangalore airport.

Well! Well! Let me take you through what all was going in my mind as I looked off the window from my seat numbered A-23. Let me take you through my journey from Dangriguda to Detroit.

I was born in Dangriguda, a village in Koksara block in Kalahandi district. “Kalahandi”, Well! We get very nostalgic when we hear of this name. My father was a farmer. A typical kalahandia farmer which people there are very proud of. I have two elder sisters and was the only son. Was brought up in a pretty middle class way. Did study till class 4 in Kusumkhunti School.

Wow! Those were the days which can be cherished for ever. Our "halia" (servant) used to take me and my sister to the school with me sitting in the front seat of the bicycle. I can still remember those days when I along with my friends used to play "chu chuani","bis amruth","nadi ki pahad" etc. All the dust, sand and mud, everything used be so much pure for us. Even more purified than todays Air Condition and mineral water. After playing for hours in the sun and taking a bath in the "chuan" (Well) used be like heaven. It can never match up with todays "showers" and "Steam bath". And after that my "Aai" (Grandmother) used to shout aloud "kahi ana re, kete khara ne khelibulsu ta". And my! my! Those Pakhal with "ambul" and "lia badi".

As I was thinking of Pakhal and lia badi, there was this beautifull princess serving my meals with a smile. As I opened the packed food, I found a burger with cheese, there was bread stuffed with Chicken (Hope so it was chicken) and few potato fries. I had no choice than to eat it but with the flavor of lia badi in my mind. I some how managed to finish it, though i had to take the cheese out of the burger. After that I thought of taking a nap and so I put on my iPod to the beats of Bryan Adams. Remember I was traveling to United States.

But how could I sleep with such good memories streaming through my mind. I put off Bryan Adams and started to murmur "Ekda Ekda". I again went back to my school days. After completing my 4th class in kusumkhunti my father decided to send me to Bhawanipatna. I was admitted to Vimala Convent School and was staying in Hostel. Those were my most notorious and memorable days.

There was a sudden change in my life. After all i was shifted to a more developed place. I started learning English. This was my first step towards Detroit.

Initially it was very difficult for me to cope up with. But then i had friends. Friends who are still with me. And believe me school friends are those who are to be cherished throughout your life. Suddenly my life style changed. I started playing cricket, watched TV and went for movies. Even bunked classes and watched cricket match. But the next day, a doctor's prescription would be ready for the class teacher. Those New Year picnics, those inter school competitions etc. There's nothing that can match those days. That time i never ever thought what I would do to after 10th.I passed 10th with 1st division (luckily).

Then came the devil's period. My +2 in Government College Bhawanipatna. I took science as I had decent marks in 10th. But never knew what it was all about. That time I remember my father saying "Dekh se SBI bank ra manager ra pila science padhi thila, aru ebe engineer ache". That excited me to take science. But the word "engineer" for me gave an idea of building dams and roads.

I took science. This was my second step towards Detroit. Though i went to college but hardly attended any classes. Yes, i used to attend only Physics classes because the theory of “force” and “Buoyancy” caught my interest. I hated math. But, yes we were very regular with practicals, because there used to be few good looking girls in our group. Yes even more prettier than this air hostess. The best part would be, while bunking classes and sitting near the college main gate. Someone would suddenly shout aloud "ae ae side diya..kiye kichi nayi kaiba..morta asuche.." . Each day would pass with loads of fun.

That time i used to think "+2 gote sari gale tension jeita". Those were the days full of fun. Going to tutions were the best part. That time i never knew what a burger was, never thought one day i will fastening my seat belt and never thought one day i will be jotting down the requirements in an excel sheet.

Slowly but steadily i was stepping into this new new world. I completed my +2 with a second division. But when i went to my village, my "badma" asked me

"pass kalu kein re.." and in reply i just smiled. Then i realized that as i was moving into this new world and people back in my village are still the same, still so very unaware of all these and still so very satisfied and happy.

After preparing for 1 long year in bhubaneswar finally i did not crack engineering. Moving to Bhubaneswar was my next step to Detroit.

I then took some computer courses and managed to get into MCA.This was again suggested by my father.Not only suggestions but few

examples like..see he got this much marks,he is doing this and that.There was no other option than to listen.

Again I felt that i was moving into different world. Those were the days when we first saw girls in jeans and mini skirts apart from the bollywood movies. The Forum Mart had become a regular hangout place. I stayed in Sahid Nagar (in front of RD women's college). First few semesters were quite interesting. The ragging, then the girls, the canteen and movies during college hours. We were enjoying every bit of it. There used be serious study only 15 days prior to the exam. That time again i used to think.."MCA gote sari gale tension jeita".

But I never knew there was never an end to it. My life style was changing slowly. For the first time i brought a pair of LEE jeans. I got the so called "branded" tag. From "arsa pitha" to "egg chicken roll", everything was changing for me.

I was in my last semester,when we heard of the concept called “campus recruitment”. Companies from Bangalore came to our college campus to recruit students. Then we came to know what an MNC is. Even then i was not serious about what i would do next. We were seeing people getting thru companies and heard about the most juicy part i.e. salary package. I never thought that it would mean so much to we student who would get round 2000 to 2500 from their parents at the start of the month. Only few "good" students got into MNCs.

As I was recalling all these i was literally sweating, even in the midst of clouds. Then again comes the lady. Sorry the beautifull lady with a smile and asks "sir tea or coffe".I opted for tea. The tea reminded me of the famous tea shop in sahid nagar.Yup! not the taste though.

I went back to my post MCA days. I passed MCA but again with a 2nd division. There was tension all around. People did not know what to do and what not to do. I went to my village after that. There people were saying different things..."Padha saralu ken ga...ebe kana.."."Se tar pila ene chakri karuche ken ga..". It was real frustration. One of my father's friends suggested me to go to Bangalore and look for job there. He said "amar gaanr kete pila henke jai kina chakri pelena.."

Finally I decided to come to Bangalore. Probably this as my most important step towards Detroit. Here again I was entering a new world. I stayed at ejipura, near Kormangala. I started giving interviews and not to my surprise i was not clearing even one round. That time i used to think "chaakri gote mili gale life ra tension jeita..". There were lot of people in this field already from our place. All of them were kind enough to guide me. After giving tons of interviews, finally i cracked one. The company name was "IvySoft". It was news in our village. Few others from our village went to Bhubaneswar to study MCA.

Again I was entering a new world. It was complete transformation. From satyam cinema hall to Kesari to PVR. From “mach bhaja” to “roll” to “Mc Donalds”.

I went home after few months. I was literally into tears when handed over 2000 rupees to my mother. After coming back, i got offer from FCG Services and joined as a senior s/w engineer. It was a so called US MNC. Then i used to think "Tech Lead ki Project manager gote hi gale chinta jiba."

After 1 year i was promoted as Tech Lead .Life was changing with the speed of a rocket. Right from reading "bournaboudh" to writing java code. From "dhekisal" to "cubicles", from "kan phus phus" to "client calls" and from “nuakhai to Christmas”.

I had already entered the endangered world of "technocrats”. One fine day my manager told me that i will have to fly to Detroit for requirement gathering for a new project. I could not make out what he was telling and then I went to Google and searched for Detroit and found that it is a place in USA.

There is no description to my excitement at that time. First thing I did was call up home and tell. It was nearly a Diwali for them. Then i got a email that i have to fly in next 4 days. This was my first trip so i had to take a lot of suggestions from lot many people. Then finally i got a chance to enter the HAL Airport, which we used to see from the local buses.

Thinking of all these I went off to sleep. Then all of a sudden I heard a beautiful voice saying "May I have your kind attention please. Flight number AI3207 from Bangalore to Detroit is ready for landing. All the passengers are requested to fasten their seat belts".

Finally I stepped into the land of dreams. The United States of America. As I walked out off the airport wearing a denim jeans and white shirt along with my luggage, there was this executive from FCG waiting for me with a luxurious Toyota.

As i sat inside the car, i was again having a proud feeling. But this time not because i have stepped into my dream land but because during those 7-8 hours in the flight i had traveled a much longer journey i.e. journey from Dangriguda to Detroit. I was feeling proud because I realized that I have not forgotten my basics. I have not forgotten those days of playing "chun chuani" and "nadi ki pahad". Playing in the sun, taking bath in the "chuan", eating pakhal and badi, those high profile lectures from parents and relatives, all were afresh in my mind. I had not forgotten bunking classes and watching cricket world cup, those sitting in government college main gate. I had not forgotten sahid nagar and RD college. I was feeling proud because I had not forgotten my journey from "Dangriguda to Detroit". I was feeling proud because I had not forgotten Kalahandi.

As I enterd the FCG, Detroit office next morning, one thing that struck my mind was "jaldi e requirement gathering gote sari jeita bele tension jeita..".