Change

One of the things that man is most afraid of is the idea of change. Once he is in a comfort zone, he finds it very difficult to apprehend change and the thought of a new surrounding or environment surely causes unknown fear. This fear of change becomes more pronounced as one advances in age. The human psyche is so set that it becomes difficult for a person to apprehend change and to appreciate the fact that change does have a positive angle. This resistance to change makes our behaviour on par with that of our four legged friends. Like them our minds become conditioned and we too become victims of the Pavlovian Theory.

When on a fine morning, two individuals who were at the threshold of their middle age took a decision to bring about a total change to their lives, it goes without saying that a lot of apprehension and fear accompanied this decision. It was thus that in November 1994 that my husband and I decided to call it quits in Saudi Arabia and decided to get back to Chennai, India. Having completed his tenure with a leading airline, it did not seem the right thing to do to take up a new assignment in one of the far too many travel agencies that were present in the Kingdom. With absolutely no clue as to what lay ahead we decided to pack our bags and to bid adieu to our lifestyle of 23 and 18 years respectively. When both of us first landed in the gulf we were young and ready to take on the world as it came. We were like putty that could be moulded in whichever style. During our tenure in the Gulf States we had evolved and become a couple with a good set of friends and all the other things that went along with it.

Having built a dwelling in Chennai and since Chennai was the only city I knew in India, it was decided that we would come back to Chennai. It worried me a lot that Kumar may feel totally out of place as he did not have any friends in Chennai. Yes he had worked there for a couple of years prior to our marriage, but then that was more than two decades ago and in his field of work, two decades meant a lot of change. I felt that I could reconnect with my school, college and family friends and start life afresh.

Thus we landed in India on the 15th of March 1995 wondering as to what turns life would take. Many nights prior to our arrival were spent in pondering as to what our future would hold. One thing was sure and that was the fact that Kumar would not stay idle as he was too young for that. He was sure that he would have to work, but the question remained as to how to find a job when youngsters with much more dynamism were around. I don’t know how to term the interview call he received within a week of our arrival, may be the ideal word would be destiny. That was the time when a couple of private airlines had started to operate and one of them offered him a job as a station manager. The job was fulfilling and challenging although the remuneration was low when compared to the income in Saudi Arabia. The silver lining was that there was something to occupy his time and the income was welcome to the kitty. However this opening was very short lived as the airline went through a deep financial crisis and had to close operations.

With the downslide of the airline, Kumar started looking out for other openings. A few acquaintances came forward with business proposals. The prospect of business scared me as we have never had a business man in our family and it was a well known fact that a Nair male, rarely excelled in business. Also Kumar was a shy person who found it difficult to reply in the negative to anyone. I did not think this was the mindset needed from a business man and hence tried to dissuade him. After a lot of pondering and may be closed doors, he decided to give business a go and thus with our lives savings, decided to open a travel agency. Since he has been an airline professional for many years, I was confident that he knew what he was getting into (in terms of the job involved). And thus Magellan Travel Services (P) Ltd was born in September of 1997.

Now when I look back at the 12 years since it birth, I can proudly say that Magellan has been a grand success. I take no role in its success except the fact that I christened it. Kumar evolved into a fine business man and his hard work and perseverance has really paid off. What started with 4 employees has blossomed into an establishment with 40 employees. The office is run in the most professional manner and he knows every single thing that is happening there. He seems to be enjoying whatever he is doing and is in his elements. I never knew of this side of his personality. He always feels that his cabin is his temple and that he gets extra strength when he goes there. He has proved himself beyond doubt and has made all those near and dear proud of his achievements. He talks, walks, sleeps and even dreams Magellan because many a night I have seen him get up and have heard him speak into his Dictaphone which is with him 24x7. He is always on the look out as to how he can improve on the profile of Magellan and has already made it an ISO 2000:9001 and has also got the Magellan logo patented.

Kumar is a fine example of how to cope with change and make a success of it. I think the best attitude towards change is to welcome it and to look for hidden opportunities. Change is surely a part of growth and now I endorse this stand vehemently. The only trouble with change is that it takes for many doors to close before a new one opens. My closing advice to youngsters who read this blog would be, keep hard work and optimism as your leading motto and no change will be hard to overcome.

PS. My life remained more or less the same as what I had predicted; with good friends, some social service and family commitments. However like all tales there was a twist in mine too and that was ofcourse the unexpected bonanza in the form of my daughter Sridevi. Now I wonder as to whose life changed more his or mine??