Jain Spirit 2003 12 No 17

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 42

YOUTH
Back To Life
BACK TO LIFE
Anish S. Mehta discovered life-changing inspiration during his career break
RECENTLY TOOK A NINEmonth career break, hoping to learn
valuable lessons and to encounter new challenges. During my break from the corporate world, I chose to take on voluntary work in Central and South America and India. I had just finished my CIMA exams (professional management accountancy exams), had also been working incredibly long hours in a foreign place and was succumbing to a lot of social
pressure around me. I was feeling claustrophobic in a city that only exacerbates this sort of ailment. Therefore, I thought it would be best, not just for me, but also for those people around me, that I took some time to remove, refresh and reflect.
I decided to do voluntary work not because I study development or I am a self-professed martyr, not even because I needed to cleanse my sins! My reasoning was that rather than bumming around tourist sites, I could really gain by doing something productive as well as giving back to society in return for what I have been taking.
After rewarding teaching stints in Latin America, I travelled to the earthquake-affected area of Bhuj in India to work for a non-governmental organisation called Veerayatan. This is where my life changed. Working with the Jain sadhvijis (nuns) at Veerayatan
was truly inspiring. Their hands-on and I am looking forward to doing ethic of leading by example is the something new that will be more fun reason why I carry on working with and fulfilling. Veerayatan today, several months after It is difficult to motivate yourself my career break ended. If we had to for things that have very little meaning dig, they would dig too; if we in the larger scheme of things. distributed food, they would be the first However, I have been able to handle to prepare it.
the challenge to re-integrate by using The children helped by Veerayatan tools such as yoga and continuing with are being educated and developed into Veerayatan work- and my true friends! socially aware human beings without I suppose all the experiences I chose to sacrificing their uniqueness. The be involved with during my career sadhvijis do not impose Jainism upon anyone and the children are allowed to practise their own beliefs. These children, some of whom I taught during my time there, were amazing. They had all been affected by the 2001 earthquake, which left them devastated by the loss of family and friends. It is these children that made me realise that
Time for some fun you can always smile, whatever obstacles you are confronted with. I break revolved around the wish to find cannot wait to see them again.
an inner strength to be able to deal well My career break changed my life with any situation that confronts me. I and I am now stirred to encourage
have learnt that what society tells you others to experience what I have. I am is the norm may not be right for you. back in London, but returning to the Therefore, you must have faith in corporate world has been really tough; yourself and go with your own instinct in this economic climate, if you have a to make positive changes in your life. job, you are lucky! I have the My career break certainly reinforced management consultancy job I always my inner strength, and I am beginning wanted, but I cannot help feeling to feel more at ease in the same disillusioned about coming back into environment that I previously could not the rat race. I work with many wait to leave. intelligent and hard-working This is my advice to anyone who individuals and there is still a buzz to would also like to pursue the kind of achieve. Yet I can't escape the fact that voluntary work that I did: "Just do it!" I have come back to climb a greasy Nothing can stop you from giving.se pole to promotion, more pay and more power. What for, though? To work harder for precious little return? To put || Anish S. Mehta is a management someone else down to make myself consultant and budding entrepreneur look good? Granted there is still a living in London - buzz, but I've decided it's not the buzz anishmehta2@yahoo.co.uk for me. So, I have handed in my notice
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Jain Spirit . December 2003 - February 2004
PHOTOS COURTESY OF AUTHOR