IIT, IIM alumni parents say children should be free to choose their own careers

Some parents who studied at premier institutions such as the IIT and IIM no longer want to pressure their children to follow the same path. They believe a big-name degree is not the only requirement for success. In their view, children should be free to discover their interests, learn skills and choose the career they like.

Many parents today want their child to study at a leading school, score well and later get into a reputed institution such as an IIT or IIM. For this, children begin preparing for studies and competitive examinations from a young age. But is it necessary for every child to take this route to succeed? Is a degree from a top institution the most important thing for a good life? These questions have set off a fresh debate on social media. Notably, people who studied at the country's top educational institutions are themselves taking part. They do not want children to be pressured about choosing a career of their liking. They want children to enjoy life, learn the skills needed for work and build their future as they wish.

The discussion began after a post by entrepreneur Abid Hasan. On the social media platform X (Twitter), he described a conversation with a friend who studied at IIM Ahmedabad. The friend said he did not want to pressure his children to get into an IIT or IIM. If his children enjoy life and choose a path they like, he would be happy too.

Hasan looked at this from a different angle. He felt that one benefit of studying at top institutions and advancing in a career could be that a person reaches a stage where he no longer needs a particular degree or job to make decisions about his life. This thinking made people on social media ask whether true success means nothing more than a big degree and a good job.

Another IIM Ahmedabad alumnus also shared his views in the discussion. He said an MBA degree is not necessary to start a business. He cited several people from his batch who went on to start their own businesses. This raises the question of whether one must study at an expensive institution to start one's own venture, or whether one can also get ahead on the strength of the right knowledge, skills and experience.

He said he learnt many important things in the field of medicine-related modern skincare from experiences other than his BTech and IIM studies. He first chose engineering because he felt career options were limited for students who liked mathematics. Later, by choice, he did an MBA at IIM Ahmedabad. The main message of his remarks was that every person should be free to choose studies and a career according to their own preference. He said, "The freedom to choose what I like is what I like the most." The decision on what to do in life, in other words, should come from one's own preferences and needs, not from the expectations of others.

In India, getting into institutions such as the IITs and IIMs is the dream of lakhs of students. Many who study at these institutions get good careers and job opportunities. But that does not mean every student must take this route to succeed. Some like to take a job, while others want to run a business. Some children want to build their future in the arts, sports, technology or another field. Expecting the same thing from everyone can become a pressure on them. It is important that they get the chance to identify their interests and understand different fields.

Some people in the discussion also said that financial security gives a person the freedom to do work of their choice and pick new paths. They added that looking after children's physical and mental health is equally important. Playing alongside studies, spending time with friends and doing things they enjoy are also part of their development.

Parents often encourage children to choose the career that they themselves like best. Some want their children to study at an IIT or IIM as they did. But every child's interests, abilities and dreams are different, so the path parents prefer is not necessarily right for the child.

The aim of the entire debate is not to run down the IITs, IIMs or good education. Studying at these institutions has its own advantages. The real question is whether it is right to treat one particular degree as the only measure of success. Giving children a good education, teaching them skills and helping them make sound decisions is an important responsibility of parents, but it is not necessary to decide every decision about their future in advance. For one child, success may be a job in a big company; for another, starting a business or working in a field of their choice.

Ultimately, success does not mean only a high post, a big salary or a degree from a reputed institution. Being satisfied with one's work, enjoying life and having the freedom to make decisions of one's choice matter just as much.