We'd asked you, dear readers, to tell us what your first salary was and what it meant to you at the time.
Here are some interesting ones we received. You can share your stories too!
Vamsikrishna, 37, Bengaluru tells us how he shared his first salary with his parents:
"It was the summer of 2001. I was studying in a college in Mumbai.
"I worked part time for a marketing company.
"My job was to distribute pamphlets for Cartoon Network.
"My friend and I were assigned to work in Dadar. Our target audience were kids who were excited to hear about Cartoon Network.
"We were paid Rs 600 to work for 4 days.
"I wanted to take my parents to watch Lagaan -- starring one of my favorite actors at the time.
"On Monday before the film released, I travelled all the way to Eros theatre near Churchgate station to book tickets in advance because all the best movies premiered there.
"I had to be there before the ticket window opened so I could get a ticket for the weekend.
"When I got there, there was a massive crowd outside the theatre. Such was the craze and anticipation for the movie.
"Eventually, we watched it at the newly opened theatre called Cinestar in the suburbs of Goregaon and my family thoroughly enjoyed it.
"My salary was well spent with such good memories."
Royden J D’Mello from Thane shared his story:
"When I joined M/s Sandoz India at Dadar as accounts apprentice my salary was Rs 400.
"I worked on Saturdays so my boss gave me a first class ticket fare to travel so I was given extra money (Rs 200x4 =800).
"My total salary was Rs 1,200.
"I gave half of my salary to my mother and kept the remaining for household expenses."
Domnic Almeida from Mumbai started off as a waiter. He says:
"After HSC results were announced, I joined a three star hotel as a waiter.
"My first salary was Rs 300 per month which I received in August/September 1987.
"I gave Rs 250 to mom and kept Rs 50 for myself."
Venkat Iyer was too thrilled about his first salary. He tell us why.
"In 1973, my first job was at Asian Paints as a junior chemist. It was Rs 599.00 (Rs 125 basic plus Rs 474 DA )
"During the interview when I was asked how much salary I expected, I said Rs 350, because it was a reasonable sum for a science graduate.
"When the interviewer said my salary would be Rs 599.00, I nearly fainted.
"I had lost my father five years ago, so as the eldest son, this job was important.
"I rushed home to hug my mom.
Hemant Kanubhai Patel tells us how he got his first job.
"In 1985, my BE (ECE) final year at MSU of Baroda. After the final exams were postponed, it was completed in the month of December 1985.
"There was an advertisement on the faculty notice board for the post of electronics engineer in a small company.
"Immediately after finishing my viva (oral examination), I went to the company for an interview.
"I was hired for a salary of Rs 1000 per month.
"I commenced work on December 22, 1985. Since I worked only for a week, I received Rs 250 in cash as my first salary!
Sridhar R from Sarnia, Ontario, Canada revealed how he spent his first salary:
"In 1989, my first job was as an apprentice engineer in Bharat Petroleum refinery in Mumbai (Bombay then).
"My stipend was fixed at Rs 1800 per month. Since I had joined a few days prior to the end of previous month, my first salary was Rs 2200 in cash.
"That was a huge amount those days for a 21 year old fresher from university.
"Following my parents' advice I kept aside some of the money to offer to our family deity Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala, Tirupati.
"I bought 20 Kisme chocolates on the same day (they cost ten paise a piece).
"I was fond of those chocolates, but my parents never allowed me to buy them when I lived with them.
"I left India in April 2004 and eventually settled in Canada.
"By God's grace and my parents' blessings, I am satisfied with what I earn."
Dear readers, do you remember what your first salary was?
When did you receive it? Which year was it?
Do you have a photograph of it?
What did it mean to you at the time?
Tell us all about it.
What was your first job and salary? And how did you spend it?
Did you buy a sari for your mum or a gift for your girl/boyfriend?
Write in to us at getahead@rediff.co.in (Subject line 'My First Salary') along with your NAME, AGE, LOCATION and photograph, if possible. We will publish the best responses right here on Rediff.com!
