Life before joining iVolunteer

This is my first blog posting :)

I was born and brought up in a very beautiful place Dandeli in mid of nature (http://www.dandeli.com/)... Lots of memories from my childhood till my graduation period with my family, friends and all the lovely people of the town!!!

After completion of my graduation (B.Com) I came to Bangalore to pursue my further studies. I was in a very confused state whether to go for MBA or CA or M.com or..... Finally decided to join CA course which was cheap and the best assuming I could do it with ease because I was one of intelligent students but ignored the very important minus point that when it comes to studies I am not a hard worker but a hardly working person... Cleared all my Sunday tests i.e. entrance tests (with help from my friend Mr. Santosh Hegde who was Gold medallist in our graduation days and who taught me all topics in bus and at home before tests) at one shot but couldn't get through CA Inter exam. Started my articleship at with Gulecha and company and successfully completed my Articleship with lot of good memories at Sathish and Ravi Associates, where my bosses Mr. M. Ravikumar and Mr. Sathish Makhija helped me a lot to grow personally as well as professionally. Thanks to them for supporting me at every step with their all time guidance. As I wasn't putting the efforts required for CA Course (though I did put a lot comparatively :)) I finally decided to change the field. I don't think I wasted 3-4 years because I got a chance to learn a lot, gained good knowledge and got lots and lots of good friends...

After deciding to change my field(course) I applied for PGDBA Correspondence at Symbiosis. Got the admissions done (http://www.scdl.net/), while I was in my first sem, decided to take up a job at some MNC, fortunately IBM was looking out for people with Finance as background and I got a job in IBM as Senior Procurement Specialist. Got a chance to visit USA twice for training purpose. Met lot of wonderful people. While working at IBM me and my friend Pradeepa (who joined IBM on same day) decided to do something worthwhile during weekends. We contacted Anna at iVolunteer whom I knew since my CA days. She connected us to Samarthanam Trust for disabled where we used to go every weekend and teach a visually challenged very intelligent and confident boy Suresh Reddy who was doing his BBM. Teaching him in turn resulted as a benefit to me. I used to teach him some commerce subjects one of which was Income Tax. As he lost his eyes when he was in 7th standard, I actually used to teach him some formulae on his hand. He cleared his exam with good % and we were very happy that we did something good and worth it!!! Later after my return from US trip when I had missed almost all exams I thought let me give a try for 1 paper left that is Income Tax... Can you believe without any studies I just glance the book appeared my exam, actually started recollecting all that I taught to Suresh and just did it very well. When results were out many people flunked in Income tax and to my surprise I scored 83 marks... Lesson learnt: Helping others is a great help to self!!! Then formed a group at IBM and started spending some time with slum children through Makkala Jagrithi where we met this wonderful Trustee Joy Srinivasan who's now one of my good friends:)

Dad retired as Manager (Research & Development) at West Coast Paper Mills, Dandeli and then underwent a bypass surgery... Parents moved to Bangalore. I got attracted a lot to the little social work I used to do and wanted to spend some time with my parents, so decided to change my field itself and quit my job at IBM where I grew a lot professionally and added many good friends to my list...

Have been very lucky to have such a wonderful family who has supported me at each and every step and has helped me come up in life with confidence and determination that yes I can do it:) I thank God to infinity for giving me such wonderful family and friends. The belief that my family and friends showed in me and support that they gave me has resulted in me taking next major step of life of moving to Social sector....

When it has come to family I can't miss telling you guys about my sweet little family... My Dad - is currently a Vedic Maths author (http://www.vedicmathsindia.org/other_associates.htm), dad has written books on Vedic Maths and these days he keeps himself occupied by giving lectures at various places in Bangalore and other parts too, recently gave one lecture in US:) ( http://picasaweb.google.co.in/unkalkar/VedicMathsSessionsUSA )(http://vedicmathsindia.blogspot.com/). Mom is a spiritual student, was a Maths teacher and now also to keep herself occupied takes few tuitions:) Have an elder brother and sister, both are married and are in US currently. Sister has a 3 year old cute little son. Brother, sister and brother in law are Software Professionals. Brother in law works 24/7 (even 24/7 is less). Sister in law is a good painting artist and works too:) All are fond of music, my dad and sister are too good singers, I hope so am I:) Both of them play too good casio, not learnt but in born talent:) My brother is a good cricketer and resembles Rahul Dravid a lot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNxfKs-HswY).

This was my story in brief before I joined iVolunteer:) Wait for my next post on how my life changed after joining iVolunteer!!!

P.S: Haven't named any friends as such because I have got so many good friends in every walk of life and I take this opportunity to thank each one of you, for, you have touched my life in some or other way!!! Special thanks to all!!!