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!
Rediff reader Subir Guha Roy (pictured left), now 52 takes us back in time when he was employed with the Indian Air Force.
"I was 21 when I received my first salary.
"I was recruited as aircraft technician in Airman category in the Indian Air Force.
"I received an amount of Rs 850 in November 1988 as my first salary.
"It may look like a paltry amount today but at that time, it meant a lot for me.
"I spent that amount for my daily needs. I could save a very small amount to send home for family expenses.
"I was too happy to be a part of Indian Air Force family and serve the nation."
Mukul Rawat from Uttarakhand shares his experience:
"I got my first job in 2004 and my first salary was Rs 1,500.
"Usually I request our accountant to give it to me in smaller currencies like Rs 50 or Rs 100 so that I can feel the weight (of the salary) in my pocket.
"Sometimes he'd give me 3 notes of Rs 500, for the sake of convenience.
Mahesh B, 42 from Pune received his first pay cheque in the year 2000.
"I got my first salary in October 2000; the amount was Rs 10,000.
"I withdrew the entire amount from bank, along with my friend Sid. As we walked happily, Sid kept saying 'the entire amount is ours.'
"Since we had 3 days holiday for Diwali followed by week end, I went home and gave my entire salary to my Dad.
"I still remember the joy on my father's face.
Dr SM Sulaiman, 44 tells us what he did with his first salary:
"In 1995, immediately after my graduation I started doing odd jobs.
"Fortunately, I got an offer to work in Saudi Arabia from 1997 to 1999 where I drew a salary of 1,500 Saudi Riyal.
"With my salary along with my father's savings, my parents performed Haj.
"I returned to India in 1999 and got employed in a Hyderabad based pharmaceutical company where my first salary was Rs 2,000.
"I was happy with whatever I earned at the time.
"I am still employed with the same company.
Parashuram Tukkappanavar from Hubli, Karnataka says:
"I got my first job in the year 2006 as data entry operator for a salary of Rs 1,500 per month. I worked there for 6 months."
Sanjoy Ghosh, 49 from Baharampore, West Bengal tells us how much his career has changed since his first salary:
"I started my first job in 1994 with a salary of Rs 2,000 per month.
"At that time it was quite a handsome amount for a bachelor.
"I kept changing jobs and moved to different companies.
"After 25 years, am currently drawing a salary of Rs 1,50,000 per month."
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!
