TCS employee quit job for 'mental peace', now works as forest official: 'Couldn't be happier'

Manish Kumar, 30, is now a beat officer in Dumka, Jharkhand. (Image credit: Moneycontrol)

When Manish Kumar bagged a job at TCS in Kolkata, he and his family thought it was a good career move, especially because it took him away from his village in Jharkhand's Dumka and into the bustle of a popular tech company. But what they did not expect was for Kumar to give up the job after only a month to prepare for the civil services exams. Now, about six years later, the 30-year-old is a beat officer near his hometown. Not only does he get to be close to his family, but also be in the lap of nature -- something that Kumar desperately missed during his time in the city.

"I realised that the life of a tech employee wasn't for me. There was no mental peace," he told Moneycontrol. Kumar's father was a daily wage earner with the forest guards in the area, and he would often accompany him for "adventures" in the jungle. It led to him developing a deep respect and love for the wildlife.

'I quit in a month'

After graduation, Kumar did a short stint at Shriram Finance and then got a job at TCS. He said, "I didn't think much of it at the time, but within a month, I realised that it wasn't meant for me." He yearned to be close to nature. "I quit in a month," Kumar said, adding that the low salary also made him consider other options.

His parents, who were supportive of his decision, suggested he try his luck in government exams. Kumar agreed and prepared for the exams for about six months before finally cracking the forest guard exams.

As part of his responsibility to encourage tourism in the area, Manish Kumar also manages the government-run Massanjore Eco Cottages in Jharkhand. (Image credit: Moneycontrol)

Protecting wildlife, tribals, and encouraging tourism

In his six years as a beat officer, Kumar has not only protected the wildlife while preventing criminal activities in the area, but he has also worked closely with the tribal populations in the remote regions. Kumar has also been given the responsibility to improve and encourage tourism in the area, and he currently manages a government-run eco-tourism resort by the banks of Massanjore dam.

Speaking about his career transition, Kumar told Moneycontrol that he was glad to have quit the corporate job. "I couldn't be happier," he said. "I always wanted to be close to nature, and my family and I wanted to serve society. This job allows me to do everything I wanted."