MB13: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙢𝙖 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙏𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙈𝙚 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚'𝙨 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨.

[MemoirBlogthon #13] After failing to secure post-graduation entry, my father pushed me to enroll in a business management diploma 25 km away, requiring a 50 km daily commute by cycle and train. This memoir details the logistical challenge, my father's ingenious solution of securing a guest house room for rest, and the experience of writing my first thesis on Andhra Pradesh handicrafts. It’s a testament to the value of continuous learning, dedication, and the relentless parental effort required to instill professional discipline and resilience.

50 Kilometers for a Two-Hour Class: A Logistical Challenge

In 1976, having completed my Bachelor of Commerce, my initial plan for post-graduation was thwarted by a low academic ranking. Determined to maintain my educational momentum, my father gave me a new directive: join the Diploma in Business Management (DBM) evening classes at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Guntur, a town 25 kilometers away from our home in Vijayawada.

MB13: The Diploma In Business Management from Bhavan's.

The immediate challenge was the commute. I faced daily travel covering 50 kilometers, often returning late at night, all for a two-hour class. My father, living by his quote—“Continuous learning is the minimum requirement for success in any field”—meticulously structured a plan:

In the morning, focus on the postal coaching for the Company Secretary (CS) course.

Afternoon/Evening: Cycle to the Vijayawada railway station, take the 50-minute passenger train to Guntur, attend the evening classes, and catch the 9:30 p.m. train back, reaching home past 10:30 p.m.

The Commute and the Comfort

I quickly realized the stress of the travel: I was spending four to five hours commuting for only two hours of instruction. This left me physically weak. Even then, I was impressed by the quality of the education—the co-students were dedicated, and the part-time lecturers, who were working executives and professionals, shared valuable, enlightening experiences.

My father, recognizing the strain, made an intelligent, resourceful proposal: he leveraged his contacts to secure permission for me to use one of the nearby department guest house rooms for a few hours daily. This provided a private space to rest and refresh before the classes began, turning an exhausting wait into productive downtime.

The Thesis and the Triumph

The DBM required me to write a thesis, a new and important experience that would prove essential for my professional career. I chose to research "Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Then and Now," covering everything from artisans and subsidies to export opportunities. My father reviewed the draft, offering suggestions to refine its presentation.

The course culminated in a viva-voce, where the examination team highly appreciated my detailed, typewritten thesis. A grand function, presided over by Sri Avula Sambasiva Rao, the Chief Justice of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, followed, where I was presented with the diploma certificate.

The Legacy of Determination

The crucial contrast in this story is the difference between academic ranking and sheer determination. My father's commitment to my education went beyond simply paying fees; he provided logistical ingenuity, guiding me through the most difficult days, whether cycling in the rain or preparing for the viva.

More than the diploma itself, my father took great pride in my second class award, which marked a significant improvement in my academic performance. The manager of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mr. Rama Kotayya, praised my dedication: "Suryanarayana has got a lot of determination, never skipped classes, and never complained... but admired my shuttling between Vijayawada and Guntur for nine months."

This DBM experience, demanding daily sacrifice and resourcefulness, taught me how to handle the realities of professional stress and strain—a valuable life lesson imparted by my father well before I became a responsible professional.

MB#13: Quiz

MB#13: Question: What subject was the author's first professional thesis written about as part of the diploma course?

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• A. Rural banking strategies.
• B. Industrial machinery maintenance.
• C. Andhra Pradesh handicrafts.
• D. Public sector administration.

MB#2: Quote

"The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it." – Arnold Schwarzenegger