A Journey Beyond Dreams: Reflecting on Life's Peaks

DID YOU ACHIEVE WHAT YOU WANTED? Ramana Sista reflects on the answer to the question by looking back at life.

Throughout childhood, the dream of becoming an engineer and visiting England fuelled my aspirations. Inspired by my engineer uncle and the iconic film "Barrister Parvathesam," my journey began with limited resources but unwavering determination. No one talked of going to the US in those days.

My forefathers were landlords. When my father's turn came, lands were gone; only lords remained. My turn was a hard childhood. Parental support for education ended in the middle of class ten when my father lost his job. With the support of a few relatives who provided accommodation and boarding, sharing in four different houses a week, I completed Class Ten from a Telugu medium school. Hopes of further education, let alone engineering, were dashed, but the burning desire continued. I didn't even have two rupees to go back to my native village till I received a money order from my father. After spending a few idle months in my native village, I moved to Hyderabad. I did a few odd jobs as a minor, joined Nizam College Evening classes for learning while earning and completed my Graduation in commerce. 

In pursuit of better opportunities, I traversed across the cities of Hyderabad, Bombay, Delhi, and Calcutta until I finally found my professional haven at IDL Industries Ltd. in Rourkela, which has since transformed into Gulf Oil Corporation. Here, I secured a role that resonated with my career aspirations. During my tenure, I seized the opportunity to enhance my skills by obtaining a PG Diploma in Materials Management from IIMM, Bombay. Additionally, I actively participated in numerous short-term management courses and workshops conducted by esteemed institutions such as IIMs, iIPM, NITIE, and Management Consultants, all sponsored by IDL.

My career graph steadily moved towards the North, owing to strategic moves orchestrated by IDL. These transitions led me from Rourkela to Calcutta, back to Rourkela, and eventually to Bombay, where I gracefully concluded my professional journey as the Senior Divisional Manager upon reaching the superannuation age. The culmination of my extensive service in this dynamic environment marked a gratifying and enjoyable phase in my life.

Embracing the wisdom of Omar Khayyam's philosophy—"Dead yesterday, unborn tomorrows, why fret about it if today be sweet," I adopted a liberal approach to life, generously allocating my resources towards family, children's education, entertainment, and those deserving of support, all while maintaining a comfortable standard of living. This carefree disposition enforced immediate follow-on.

I joined a Chemical Industry in Raipur, assuming the role of Vice President. Being a Certified Lead Auditor for ISO Quality Management Systems (QMS), I was nominated as Management Representative. I shouldered the additional responsibility of designing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving the Quality Management Systems for the entire group.

After an enriching eleven-year tenure, I embarked on a challenging journey as Vice President, lending my expertise to a Task Force dedicated to revitalising a closed Chemical unit in Rajasthan. The success achieved during this endeavour paved the way for my eventual retirement in December 2013 as I gracefully bid farewell to my professional life.

The biggest takeaways from my professional life are:

1) True Friends, made along the way, from business acquaintances, government officials, police, railways, Bollywood, etc.

2) Fond memories of love and respect from staff and colleagues; management's encouragement, support and recognition.

3) Strong, life-long, IDL family bondage, special and peculiar only to IDL. We have an Ex-Idl Google group for keeping track of each other's whereabouts, welfare, activities, and progress of the children. We get together every year on the last Sunday of January in Hyderabad. 

4) Name and goodwill in the Explosives and Mining industries, especially Coal India.

Nothing can be more gratifying. This is what money can't buy.

In my personal life, I found contentment at the age of thirty-six when I married a loving graduate homemaker. Blessed with two accomplished sons holding Masters in Engineering and MBAs, our family expanded internationally. My elder son excelled in a US-based company as Principal Technical Product Manager. The younger one became a Director with Deloitte Consultancy in the UK. He married an Associate Director at Johnson & Johnson. They are blessed with a 13-year-old girl and a three-year-old boy.

But why these thoughts now?

One fine evening in May 2013, my elder son said, "Papa, let us go to Switzerland during the four-day long weekend." We left by car after breakfast. The beautiful four-lane road has thin and regulated traffic throughout. Covered 500 kms. Distance from Luxembourg to Switzerland in four and half hours, passing through 400 km.of France, Basel City, the hub of the Pharmaceutical industry of Switzerland, housing MNC giants Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, and so on. When we entered the Interlaken town of Bernese Highlands, the main tourist attraction of Switzerland, we felt a sudden transformation of the atmosphere as we got a bit closer to nature.

After immersing ourselves in the enchanting landscapes of Switzerland for two days, we embarked on a picturesque journey from Grindelwald Station to Kleine Scheidegg. The train ride unfolded as a captivating blend of Railway romance, Mountain majesty, and dreamy scenery, tracing a mesmerising path through the heart of the Alps. Covering a distance of 9 km, the railway traverses through a tunnel ingeniously crafted into two mountains, featuring two stations within the tunnel itself. Descending at these tunnel stations, we marvelled at the neighbouring mountains through strategically placed windows along the mountainside. The journey spans approximately 24 km, with a maximum incline of 120 degrees, making it a true engineering marvel.

We reached Jungfrau - the Top of Europe - in about an hour. The main complex is accessed directly from the station hall. We began with the Alpine Sensation Round-Tour Subway, always following the "TOUR" symbol, covering the past and present of the Jungfrau Region. The first attraction was "Jungfrau-Panorama - a 4-minute 360-degree cinematic experience, an inspiring audio-visual journey through the Alpine world at 3454 meters above sea level. A world of ice, rocks, snow and clouds. Other attraction halls were Little Dreams of Switzerland, Time Travel to the Early Days of Tourism in Jungfrau Region, Pioneering Spirits of Guyer Zeller, the architect of the Jungfrau Railway, and Ice Palace, covering over 1000 sq. meters. area with countless passageways.

We went to the Glacier Plateau. My wife and I moved to the plateau, braving the slippery ice with childlike enthusiasm despite our son's pleas not to go. At one point, I almost lost control but held on to the rope. My son stopped my wife midway, but I climbed to the top, where the Swiss flag was first hoisted on Top of Europe. It sent my spirits soaring, and I was awed by the grandeur of the majestic icy mountains and felt as if I conquered Mount Everest.

We took the lift to the Sphinx Terrace for a stunning view of the surroundings. They say the view extends to the neighbouring countries, France, Germany, and Italy, in fair weather.

Yash Chopra produced many world-famous movies, and most of the scenes were shot in Bernese Highlands. There is a park where paragliders land, fondly named "Yash Chopra Park", adjacent to a restaurant. Many scenes of Dil Wale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge were shot here. In the park, you will find a notice scripted by The High Commissioner of Interlaken acknowledging Yash Chopra's contribution to inspiring more Indians to visit Switzerland. More and more South Indian movie scenes are being pictured here. 

We strolled in this park after dinner - in bright daylight, it becomes dark only after 10 PM. The following day, we returned to Luxembourg.

I may not have firsthand knowledge of Mount Everest, but a breathtaking panorama unfolded as I gazed downward from the Sphinx vantage terrace at an elevation of 3471 meters.

At that moment, I reflected on the extraordinary journey that had lifted me far beyond the aspirations of my childhood self, a journey that began 56 years ago when I harboured no ambitions for my future. Over the years, I've witnessed the vivid tapestry of life, painted in its diverse and vibrant hues. Looking back, I can confidently assert that I have no regrets about not pursuing a career as an engineer. The path I've traversed has proven that my happiness lies beyond the confines of that profession.

Modesty prevents me from saying that I am proud of my achievements in academics, professional life, personal life, in the upbringing of children, and giving them a scholastic launching pad for rewarding careers. 

"Contentment" is the name of the game in Life's Journey. A discontented man has no right to take away one man's health, the other man's wealth, and the third man's wife. He has to change all in all or not at all.

God has been kind to me.

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