In this series, we will try and bring you the stories of people who chose offbeat careers. When we talk about careers and career counselling, the usual route that is taken is aptitude testing, options, earning potential, etc.
But we, at The Children’s Post, wanted to do things differently. What is life like for a profession?
So, we are speaking to professionals and asking them things that matter – what is your life like? What led you to become this? What has your journey been?
Today, we bring you the story of Miss Shalaka Gangolli, who is the founder and CEO of Curious Kids Library. Curious Kids Library is a books and toys library for children aged 1 to 15 years in Mumbai. Before starting her own library, Miss Shalaka Gangolli worked a consultant in Feedback Reach, senior manager in Indian School of Business, HR manager in Johnson and Johnson Medical and HR consultant in UTV Software. She also graduated from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.
1. Describe your educational journey.
A. I studied in a convent school. I later went on to study my BA in Sociology at Elphinstone College in Mumbai, and I later graduated with an MA in Sociology from Bombay University. After studying for my masters, I worked as a lecturer in Elphinstone College while preparing for the civil services examinations. After attempting the civil services examinations, I didn’t crack them and decided to study MBA, which my father wasn’t very supportive of. I cracked the entrance exam and got in, however studying MBA was harder than getting in.
After studying MBA, I worked in a quantum market research field. While working in that field, I used my knowledge learnt sociology and MBA to do qualitative market research, which is different from quantitative market research.
2. Did working as an HR manager and senior manager roles give you enough exposure to real-life scenarios? Was it easier to start to start your own company after working as a manager?
A.I was an avid reader since childhood, due to which starting the library was my passion. After working as an HR manager and senior manager, setting up the company: No, it didn’t help me much. But, in terms of dealing with people, Yes, It did help! The organisations I worked in were already set up, they had their own rules and infrastructure set up in place. Therefore, I was not exposed to the problems faced while starting an organisation. Therefore, arranging the infrastructure, etc, can be a stumbling block. However, moving to multiple locations, such as getting transferred to multiple locations, can help you understand this issue. Moving to different places allows you to adjust to new places in a lesser period and adapt to them. It helps you set up a new home is a lesser period, such as ten days. That helped me to set up the library infrastructurally.
What I wanted in the library was something I grew up on, and I wanted to make sure my kids had it too. In my area, Andheri West in Mumbai, there were no physical libraries for children. So, it’s either you buy books from stores to read, or you borrow or share books with your friends. A library concept didn’t exist. So, I decided to start a library, since it gives an exposure to so many things. Luckily, I had space to start the library! I grew it for three years from home, and I grew it as a mother who wanted her children to read and as a librarian. I took feedback from the children who came and asked them what they wanted to read and never kept in mind what they should be reading. I never emphasised what they should read or forced anyone to read a particular book. Going along with the child’s interest is a good thing. For example- you could be a ten-year-old, but your interest lies in a seven-year old’s book, and that’s fine. I have recommended books for 10+ and 12+ too. For 12+ books, I keep the parents in the loop. So that’s being the journey.
The MBA helps to set up, and being a sociologist helps to understand the requirement of the people, so in the end I feel it all plays together. While following your passion, everything comes into place.
3. Were there any setbacks you faced before starting your own library?
A. The biggest challenge- time! Having two kids and balancing everything! I was juggling between my kids and my passion. In fact, I started the library with my kid’s books, and with the books that we had that were extra. They were the first contributors to my library. In the number of years I ran my library, I asked people to donate me books and received many books! I even received expensive books and feedback that whatever I was doing was really good, which just made me very happy and satisfied.
This was my time and my passion, which needed me to give in everything I had. There were days where my kids were not well, and I couldn’t open the library. Being in the service sector, we are expected to be available 24/7. So sometimes, it needed more effort.
Another challenge I faced was getting the right people to work for me. I’ve interviewed a countless number of people and everyone who wanted the job said –“Yes we love books and to read!”, but this is the age group that has a mobile in their hand and wifi. I didn’t provide them with a laptop or a desktop because I needed them to be with the books and know what it was. If a child walks in or a parent walks in asking, “my child likes this book, could you suggest something similar” I wanted to make sure they could answer it because unless you’re a reader, you wouldn’t know how to help them. My shortest turn around was one day. This one time a girl joined me, she was very excited and gave all promises, but by the end of the day when I said, “I’ll see you tomorrow”, she asked if she could leave because she got another job. After a point, I started running it on my own because I had certain standards to maintain, and I did not find the people who could help me maintain them.
4.With options such as Kindle and Wattpad, do you feel there’s a difference between reading books on kindle, etc and libraries?
A.I have a confession to make; I read physical and digital books. I enjoy graphic novels as much as I enjoy other books. The younger generation is going towards digital, though my library has books for the age groups 0 to 15, my number of members dwindled after they turned 12. These kids have Kindle, which has better options, which is true because I will not keep a book which only one member can like. I feel as a child a physical book is the best way to read. I even avoid watching movies based on books since they do not let our imagination grow. As a child, their imagination is crazy! As the child grows older, they start understanding the reality and their ideas become compartmentalised. While reading a physical book you can pause and think. I understand it can also be done in Kindle, but it doesn’t have the feel of a physical book.
5. Do you feel starting the library was one of the best things you did? In a society where being in a position such as an HR manager is considered insanely good, giving it up and following your passion is worth it? Should people consider money over following their passion?
A. Setting up a business is a personal choice. Be clear about what drives you. Let me give you two examples. When I got my job offer at ISB Hyderabad, I also got a job as an operations manager at GE in Hyderabad which had higher pay. I chose ISB because I could be with youngsters. Being a lecturer for two years before my MBA, I had enjoyed with them. So I let go of money to join ISB. Choices are individual; an individual must make a choice that’s the best for them. Coming back to my library, after a while, I broke even. Was it a profitable business? No. Was it a satisfying business? Hell yes! My members were the children. When my member’s parents used to thank me for their child’s progress in comprehension and writing skills through reading books I recommended, I felt it was an achievement.
I once helped a yet to be grandmother by identifying and reading the latest books for children. She was very practical and wanted to learn new stories since her daughter was having a baby and she only knew old stories. I introduced her to contemporary stories and new authors such as Eric dahl. After her grandchild was born, she told me her daughter enjoyed the stories more than her granddaughter. It’s the human touch that made the difference for me.
There was another instance where a boy used to come to my library and used to play with the toys in the library because they were colorful and very attractive. He never looked at the books. His mother used to be so worried about the fact he doesn’t read any books, but I felt it was okay because each one has its own trigger. This happened for two months, and I didn’t push him to read books. One fine day he came with his mother, and a book that was equally bright, colorful and interesting grabbed his attention. He looked at me and said, “aunty what’s this?”. I told him to open it. He took it home to read it later. And now, he’s a reader. This gave me satisfaction. For me, money wasn’t something that drove me.
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Through this interview, we can conclude a lot of things. The important thing is- read, read and read! After speaking to Miss Shalaka Gangolli, we can get an insight into the world of reading and how it helps us build our imagination. Reading is a habit we all should dwell in and explore. It will also allow us to learn more about who and how we should be by placing ourselves in the characters’ shoes.