Was being an IITian not in my Stars?

Let me tell you something about me first. I am a Computer Science graduate from IIT Bombay. I come from a Bhargava Brahmin family of Bharuch. Mine is clan of renowned astrologers and there have been enough anecdotes about my forefathers whose predictions turned out to be true even when they seemed totally implausible at the time they were made.

This was the time when I had just cleared my Class 10 and was stuck on taking PCM (Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics) stream in Class 11 & 12. My father, who is a Doctor but practice astrology as his hobby, had predicted that I will never become an engineer – let alone an IITian. He said, “Don’t let that worry you Manan. I can give you a good platform to you to become a doctor instead. Being an IITian is not in your stars, beta. Why don’t you just accept your fate?”

I had been dreaming of becoming an engineer ever since Class 5. And I used to share all my dreams with my grandpa. When I told dadaji about what papa had said, he responded, “I have known this for five years – ever since you said you wanted to become an engineer. But I also know that the Man is the Master of his own fate.” And then he told me a wonderful story that I want to share with all IIT aspirants:

Around 600-500 BC, a son was born to a great scholar Pani who lived on the banks of River Indus. Lovingly, he named his son ‘Panini’ – the offspring of Pani. One day, a renowned palmist and a close friend of Pani visited his place. He looked at the right palm of the child and seemed distressed by what he saw.

When Pani asked him about what is bothering him, he replied, “My friend! You are such a renowned scholar but this son of yours has no education line on his palm. How will he ever be able to study?”

Pani was grief-stricken. Panini, who was listening to the conversation, asked the palmist, “Uncle, could you please tell me where is the education line on the palm?” The man sympathetically showed him the position. Panini ran out of the home and etched a deep line on his palm with a sharp stone.

This Panini later meditated on Lord Shiva. When Shiva arrived, Panini was deep in meditation and remained unaware of his presence. Hence, Shiva sounded his Damaru. The beats of Damaru woke up Panini from his trance and kept resonating in his ears.

It is said that Panini formulated rules of Sanskrit grammar, came up with its syntax and semantics in 14 verses based on the sounds of Shiva’s Damaru. It is called Maheshwara Sutrani or Aṣṭādhyāyī (which means 8 Chapters).

As it turned out, being an IITian may have not been in my stars but I changed my fate with my perseverance and hard work. If I can do it, you can do it too!

Best of Luck!