In India, the forces that shape career choices run deeper than salaries or job security. While paychecks matter — especially in a country where economic stability can still be a privilege — there’s a far more powerful and often overlooked motivator at play: societal validation.

We don’t just choose jobs. We choose identities. And in a society like India, where community, family, and perception carry tremendous weight, what’s respected often becomes what’s pursued.

Let’s explore how societal validation silently governs our professional ambitions — and why it might hold the key to solving one of India’s most persistent talent problems.

We Want to Be What We See Admired

Humans are deeply social creatures. We take cues from our environment — not just on how to behave, but also on what’s worth aspiring toward. This is particularly true in India, where family units are tightly knit, neighbors matter, and career decisions are rarely taken in isolation.

It’s not just about what we want to do. It’s about what our parents can boast about to relatives. It’s about what earns a nod of approval from our tuition teacher. It’s about what our neighbors proudly announce to guests:

“Sharma ji ka beta NASA mein scientist hai!”
“Verma ji ki beti IAS ban gayi!”

What we see being admired, we begin to aspire to. And over time, regions across India have developed powerful microcultures that shape career paths — not by market forces or aptitude, but by the sheer gravitational pull of collective respect.

The Haryana Wrestler Phenomenon

Why do so many of India’s best wrestlers — and increasingly Olympic medalists — come from Haryana?

It’s not a coincidence. Wrestling, or kushti, has long been a matter of pride in Haryana. Every small town and village has an akhara, or wrestling pit. Local champions are treated like heroes. Families proudly raise their kids to train before sunrise, and communities chip in to support their pehelwans.

In this ecosystem, wrestling isn’t just a sport — it’s a status symbol. A ticket to pride, fame, and even government jobs. Kids don’t just dream of the Olympics — they dream of being respected. And when society respects athletes, children naturally gravitate toward becoming one.

This is societal validation in action.

We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.

Kurt Vonnegut

American Author & Aatirist

Bihar and the Civil Services Obsession

In Bihar, the most respected title isn’t CEO, doctor, or scientist — it’s IAS. Generations have grown up hearing the names of toppers, reading interviews of UPSC rank-holders, and seeing streets named after bureaucrats. Coaching centers in Patna and beyond run like factories, churning out aspirants who aren't necessarily chasing high salaries — they’re chasing status.

In a place where private sector jobs remain scarce and governance still determines much of daily life, civil servants are local celebrities. They command power, prestige, and importantly, respect — from the streets of small towns to the drawing rooms of families who see the UPSC as the holy grail.

It’s no surprise, then, that Bihar consistently produces more UPSC aspirants per capita than any other state.
 

Why Gujaratis Gravitate Toward Business

In Gujarat, running your own business is not just normal — it’s aspirational.

Here, business acumen is passed down like family heirlooms. Success stories of traders, shopkeepers, and industrialists are part of daily conversation. Children grow up learning the importance of margins and cash flow long before they learn algebra.

Business is respected. Entrepreneurs are looked up to. And a salaried job — even one with a big MNC — often ranks lower in societal value than owning a mid-size firm that creates jobs.

The result? A culture that naturally pushes more people toward enterprise than employment. Not because business always pays better, but because business is admired more.
 

ISRO and the Myth of "Not Enough Pay"

Now consider ISRO — India’s pride in space exploration and scientific achievement.

Over the years, ISRO has lamented that many of India’s best scientists and engineers choose to go abroad or join high-paying MNCs instead of joining the national space agency. The assumption is: “We just can’t pay enough.”

But is that the full picture?

Let’s look at how India celebrates its heroes. Cricketers are gods. Bollywood stars are royalty. Politicians command prime-time debates. And even start-up founders now get TED Talks and LinkedIn stardom.

But how often does a brilliant ISRO engineer trend on Instagram? How often do schoolchildren dress up as Dr. K. Sivan or Ritu Karidhal on costume day? How many movies or web series glamorize the grind of a space scientist?

Now imagine a world where ISRO scientists were celebrated like sports stars. Where newspaper covers, movies, ad campaigns, and popular culture revered them with the same energy we reserve for IPL players and film celebrities. Where parents proudly introduced their kids with “She’s studying to work at ISRO someday.”

You’d see a flood of talent. Not because the pay improved — but because the respect did.

Reputation is a Better Recruiter Than Salary

The most magnetic careers in India aren’t always the highest paid. They’re the most celebrated.

This explains:

• Why students with job offers from MNCs sometimes quit to prepare for the UPSC.
• Why young boys in Haryana lift weights at dawn.
• Why children of successful Gujarati business owners rarely crave an MBA job at a bank.
• And why, unless we change how we respect our scientists, ISRO will continue to lose talent.

So What Can We Do?

If we want more scientists, teachers, artists, environmentalists, or any underrepresented profession to thrive, we don’t just need better policies or salaries — we need better narratives.

Respect breeds aspiration.

Let’s:

• Showcase lesser-known professions in media and pop culture.
• Celebrate unsung heroes — not just in crises, but in everyday life.
• Create regional pride around positive, diverse career identities.
• Encourage families and schools to highlight different kinds of success.

India is rich in talent. But talent flows where respect goes.

Final Thought

Career choices are more than economic decisions — they’re emotional investments. And in a culture as collective as India’s, they’re deeply influenced by what society chooses to respect.

So the next time you see a young child dreaming of becoming a cricketer or IAS officer — ask yourself, who did they see being celebrated?

Now imagine if the answer someday was: an ISRO scientist.