It was in March 1996. I scanned the local newspaper for a job. and this ad caught my attention,” How about joining the Millionaire’s Club?” It was for a Project Manager’s role. At that time, I didn’t even know what it entailed. I was forty-two and had just completed a basic computer applications course.

Completing the course was a wonder. I was back in the classroom after a gap of twenty years and that too after studying and working in a totally unrelated field. I graduated in BSc Nursing in 1975 and worked as a Lieutenant in the Military Nursing Service for five years. The computer course itself was a special one under the NORAD scheme, a Govt of India undertaking along with the Norwegian Government for empowering women. The course duration was one year, free, and to top it each student received a stipend of Rs 250 every month. On the entrance examination day, the large auditorium at the Engineers Institute was filled to capacity! The paper consisted of GK questions and we had to write an essay on the image portrayed on the screen. It was of a girl working on a computer. I spun a story around this girl, and how she rose from the ashes to achieve something in life. The results were declared a month later and I was thrilled to be one among the eighty selected candidates! It was only midway through the course that I learnt that the cut-off age was 35, but the Selection Board had waved this aside for me!

“How about joining the Millionaire’s Club,” played on my mind the whole day and I set out to create my resume on my home computer. I added a whole lot of ‘useless’ info to my one-page resume like winning a prize in the local garden contest and even added some page art to it! Then I noticed a FAX number on the Company’s profile and faxed my resume. There was an email ID, but I wanted to test how FAX worked from my computer. My children and I had a good giggle over my antics.

Two days later, I was elated to receive a call from HR, Mrs, Chitra Parthasarathy, and attended the interview. She said, “well, you’re not qualified to be a Project Manager, but you can become a writer instead”, and asked me to write an essay on any topic. I thought for a few minutes and submitted this essay:

COMPUTER GRAPHICS
by Jean C Rao
Sabita could barely reach the height of the bed I was sleeping on, and she waited patiently till I stirred from my deep slumber. I was pleasantly surprised to see a colorful little card thrust into my hand. It was my birthday, and my 5-year old daughter must have spent hours making this ‘1 x 2 inches’ masterpiece. (I still treasure this gift). Now nine years later, she can make the most elegant and pretty cards in a jiffy on the Home Computer. There are a variety of ways of using the graphics available on the computer. If a definite size is required it is best to do it on PageMaker, and then use the readymade art present in the software, or one can also import it from a different source. Sometimes problems arise when the software is not able to support a different kind of image. Some of the different kinds of images are Bitmap, WinMeta file pictures, and others.
All these problems are sorted out with the Fine Artist, a CD which teaches children about Page-making and drawing. It's so easy on the Fine Artist. You just type in a greeting and then with a couple of clicks, the matter can be transferred into a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, or combinations. Borders can be chosen. Pictures can be pasted or drawn with a wide variety of drawing tools and colors added. A separate CD is also available with 1000 clip art pictures on it. The clips can be viewed according to the category listing and then picked and embedded onto the page. A printout is then taken and HEY PRESTO, a lovely card is made without even soiling your fingers!
Of course, there are more complicated graphics involving calculations and that have 3D effects. Industries make good use of this to design their products and save a lot in the bargain. Computer graphics are here for good and form an integral part of technology.

Well, I progressed to the next round, an interview with the MD, Mr. Kishore Mandayam! I remember Kishore asking me three questions and I didn’t know the answers! But he still hired me as a Documentation Specialist. I was on cloud Nine!

I’m forever grateful to these wonderful people for giving an opportunity to a 42-year-old “fresher”!

My experience in the industry was unique. Almost all my colleagues and team members were half my age or lesser, but that didn’t bother them or me. About ten years later, I was seated with other managers at a conference, when a colleague met me at the food counter and said, “why are you sitting with the oldies, come sit with us.” If only they knew, I thought, and grinned.

In 2019 after working for twenty-three years, I retired from Oracle India as a Senior Manager Documentation.

Did I become a millionaire?
Of course, I did, a hundred times over!
For who can count the many blessings and experiences showered on me through my life!

Jean Rao