Saying with proud “I am a software engineer”
The mood created by Saarang (the cultural festival of IIT-Madras) is so enthralling that people forget what IIT stands for. Wandering about the campus, I chanced upon an opportunity to meet a couple of guys who are supposedly musicians. It was time for introductions and our common friend helped us with introductions. And when the time came for us throw some light on our respective occupations, I felt a little uncomfortable mentioning that I am a software engineer. I felt very bad for becoming self-aware of the fact that the profession as such has been diluted by a sudden surge in the employment opportunities created by the IT sector in India. A course in a popular computer center and you walk-in with a job from some software company. Of course, those days are gone. But the impression created would last a longer time. Also, software engineers are not very popular among the general public (save the situation when they search for brides or bridegrooms) the reason being the dwellings of a typical software engineer turn out to be hateful because of that extra disposable cash he earns(supposedly). It has been a common practice to blame these unfortunates for inflation and what not. And above all, for a layman, there is just no difference between an IIT graduate and course completer at a local computer institute both working as a software engineer.
Considering all these, I was pushed to introduce my profession in a rather cryptic way which they never understood it. For clarity sake (heaven’s sake), I finally told them I am a software engineer. And I got the prompt reply, “90 in 100 tell us the same thing”. Ah what a coincidence. The last thing I wanted was to be stamped by the general public as a stereotypical one. But then, pondering deeply, one would also find it interesting to note that, this same society envies the so called software engineers. That disposable income gives us an extra edge and we the software engineers can walk our heads held high. Atleast higher than those belonging to the non-software group. All those glitzy parties, shining technology parks, pickup and dropdown service and above all those beautiful babes dressed in unimaginably fashionable clothes, you have just walked into a software company.
If you cut the crap, the life of a software engineer is above par. And the life of a brilliant software engineer is much better. Well if you think otherwise, you have no idea!
And for heaven’s sake, atleast when you are inside IIT campus, show the courtesy to respect engineers.
