Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Work, Meaning and Life....

So what do i really want to do in life? It is one question that is bugging me day in and day out. I am really confused between choosing from options as varied as engaging in developmental research (what i am currently doing) or perhaps going back to being a psychologist in a clinical setting. Perhaps one day i'll be able to merge the two and do something meaningful. I 'm not saying that the work I am doing now isn't meaningful ...it is....but there is such a huge gap between the research undertaken and the policies that are formulated and subsequently implemented...that it often throws up questions regarding the utility of the research . It is sad, because much of what we do is significant ....it is about indepth analysis of the causes of the prevalent conflicts in the region. There is an attempt on our part to understand the reasons why people are angry and frustrated with the State. Like i mentioned in my previous post, the policy of subsidies can only smoothen the wrinkles on the surface , it cannot weed out the anger festering within.

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The other day, i was watching a programme on CNN about cutting edge technologies changing the lives of people with disabilities. The programme featured a scientist from Toronto who had sucessfully developed devices for children afflicted with muscular dystrophy so that they could speak, play a musical instrument and learn to use their prosthetic limb. It also featured scientists from Japan who had developed a robotic suit that could be worn by individuals suffering from muscular dystrophy. The robotic suit could send impulses to the brain thereby activating the muscles in the legs.....which in turn could enable the individual to take steps. The third segment featured a factory manufacturing prosthetic limbs in Hanoi (Vietnam) using technologies from the US. The narrator tried to portray that as the manifestation of forgiveness on the part of the Vietnemese ppl post-War ...something like US-Vietnam Friendship....which i thought was a bit too sugary sweet!!! But that apart, what i liked about the programme was the work that was being done. There is no joy as the one u can get knowing how Your work can touch the lives of people. Thats the kind of stuff i'd like to engage myself in ..... more one to one interaction with the people....

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A job in the clinical setting perhaps...awaits me... :)

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