Dallas Diary 😊

AI Learning, Beautiful Friendships, and Memories
That Travel Across Continents

Every visit to the USA has its own unique flavour.

While California gifted me unforgettable memories of family, breathtaking nature, and scenic road trips, my stay in Raleigh added a completely different dimension to this USA visit. Raleigh gave me the luxury of uninterrupted time to learn AI, build applications using ChatGPT and Codex, and shape the vision of MuktAI. The unforgettable 30-hour Dallas-to-Raleigh journey through Philadelphia reminded me that every travel disruption carries a hidden story. During my stay, a memorable weekend trip to Washington DC offered inspiring lessons on history, democracy, and civic discipline, while a Sankashti Chaturthi visit to Richmond to meet my former Santronix student Abhi Mahajan took me back to my Pune days of 1996, reminding me once again that life's greatest journeys are measured not by miles travelled, but by relationships nurtured and memories recreated. (Sanjeev Chaudhary)

Most weekdays here are spent exploring new AI tools, experimenting with prompts, building applications using Codex, and preparing content for my MuktAI initiative. It almost feels like a mini AI research retreat. 😊

Weekends, however, have become completely different.

Almost every weekend, Abhishek and I have been visiting one family or another. Looking at our busy social calendar, one of Abhishek's friends jokingly told him,

"Arre... tere papa ka to tere se bhi zyada social circle hai Dallas mein!" 😄

We laughed.

But that one sentence instantly reminded me of Meena.

If there was one person who truly mastered the art of building and nurturing relationships, it was Meena. Her networking skills were on an entirely different level. Wherever she went, she effortlessly made people feel like family. Many of these wonderful relationships that I continue to enjoy today are, in some way, inspired by the values she lived every day.

A Beautiful Evening on 15th July

Yesterday, on 15th July, we visited one more wonderful family.

Interestingly, this was not one of those famous coincidences that often happen during my travels. 😄

This meeting had actually been planned before my USA visit.

Ashwini belongs to my native Muktainagar region and comes from one of our family friends' families. Her husband Veer is from Pune.

And then came the coincidence.

Veer grew up right next to our Rahul Towers Society.

It is amazing how the world keeps becoming smaller with every passing year.

The First Weekend in Dallas

When I arrived in Dallas during the first week of June, our very first weekend was spent with Bhushan's family.

Meeting Bhushan brought back memories that go back more than four decades.

Bhushan is the grandson of Supe Sir, at whose home I stayed in a backyard guest room while studying for my 12th Science at J.B. Science College, Wardha.

Life comes full circle in the most beautiful ways.

Meeting the grandson of someone who helped shape an important phase of my student life, this time in Dallas, was truly heartwarming.

Another pleasant surprise was meeting Bhushan's better half, Shweta.

Like many Indians in the USA, I casually assumed she would be working in IT or Data Engineering.

Instead, I was delighted to learn that she is a Civil Engineer, continuing her profession with great dedication.

It was refreshing to see someone successfully pursuing a core engineering career.

Shweta's parents were also visiting at that time, so we had the pleasure of meeting them as well

Rahul Towers Friendship Reaches Dallas

The very next weekend, we spent a wonderful evening with our Rahul Towers friend Sachin and his family.

There were three beautifully designed picture frames, each representing an important landmark in his life's journey.

Sometimes a few photographs can narrate an entire life story more beautifully than words.

Blessings at Frisco

Our next Saturday took us to the beautiful Karyasiddhi Hanuman Temple in Frisco.

As often happens during my travels, one more unexpected family connection emerged, making the day even more memorable.

That visit itself became a complete blog post:

A Perfect Saturday in Frisco -English

Sometimes one day is enough to create memories worth writing an entire article.

Engineering Friends After Four Decades

Last Sunday, 12th July, I had the pleasure of meeting my engineering friend Sanjay.

Listening to his journey was fascinating.

Immediately after completing our engineering in 1984, Sanjay moved to the USA and built his professional life here.

Every friend has a unique life story.

Some stayed in India.

Some travelled across the world.

Some became entrepreneurs.

Some built successful corporate careers.

Relationships Are Life's Real Wealth

Looking back at these weekends, I realize that this Dallas visit has not been about sightseeing.

It has been about people.

Every family carried a different story.

Every meeting reopened a chapter from the past.

Every conversation reminded me that relationships never become old.

They simply wait patiently for the next meeting.

Perhaps that is life's greatest blessing.

Distances may separate us by thousands of kilometres, but genuine relationships continue to connect hearts across continents.

And maybe that is why every weekend in Dallas has felt less like visiting America...

...and more like meeting my extended family spread across the world. 🤗😊

डॅलस डायरी 😊

AI शिकणे, जपलेली नाती आणि हजारो किलोमीटर दूर भेटलेली आपली माणसं

अमेरिकेचा प्रत्येक प्रवास काहीतरी वेगळं शिकवून जातो.

कॅलिफोर्नियाने मला कुटुंबासोबतचे सुंदर क्षण, निसर्गाची अप्रतिम अनुभूती आणि अविस्मरणीय रोड ट्रिप्स दिल्या; तर रॅलेमधील मुक्कामाने या अमेरिकेच्या प्रवासाला एक वेगळीच दिशा दिली. रॅलेमध्ये मला AI शिकण्यासाठी, ChatGPT आणि Codex वापरून नवीन Applications विकसित करण्यासाठी आणि MuktAI चे स्वप्न अधिक स्पष्टपणे आकार देण्यासाठी भरपूर शांत आणि एकांत वेळ मिळाला. फिलाडेल्फियामार्गे झालेला डॅलस ते रॅले हा अविस्मरणीय ३० तासांचा प्रवास आजही आठवणीत आहे. वॉशिंग्टन डी.सी.च्या वीकेंड सहलीत इतिहास, लोकशाही आणि शिस्तबद्ध व्यवस्थेचा जवळून अनुभव घेता आला; तर संकष्टी चतुर्थीच्या निमित्ताने रिचमंडमध्ये माझा सॅन्ट्रॉनिक्समधील विद्यार्थी अभि महाजन याची झालेली भेट मला थेट १९९६ च्या पुण्यात घेऊन गेली. या सगळ्या अनुभवांनी पुन्हा एकदा जाणवले की आयुष्यातील सर्वात सुंदर प्रवास हा केवळ नवीन ठिकाणांचा नसतो, तर जपलेल्या नात्यांचा आणि पुन्हा अनुभवलेल्या आठवणींचाही असतो.

आठवड्याचे बहुतांश दिवस मी नवीन AI साधने शिकण्यात, विविध Prompt वर प्रयोग करण्यात, Codex वापरून Applications तयार करण्यात आणि माझ्या MuktAI उपक्रमासाठी नवीन कल्पना विकसित करण्यात घालवत आहे. हा काळ म्हणजे जणू माझ्यासाठी एक छोटासा AI Learning Retreatच आहे. 😊

पण शनिवार-रविवार मात्र पूर्णपणे लोकांसाठी राखून ठेवलेले असतात.

जवळजवळ प्रत्येक Weekend ला आम्ही कुणा ना कुणा मित्र किंवा परिचितांच्या घरी जात असतो. आमचा हा कार्यक्रम पाहून अभिषेकच्या एका मित्राने त्याला गंमतीने म्हटले,

"अरे... तेरे पापा का तो तेरे से भी ज्यादा सोशल सर्कल है डॅलसमे!" 😄

हे ऐकून आम्ही सगळेच हसलो.

पण त्या एका वाक्याने मला लगेच मीनाची आठवण झाली.

नाती जपण्याची कला जर कुणी मला जवळून शिकवली असेल, तर ती मीना. तिचं Networking माझ्यापेक्षा कितीतरी पटीने उत्तम होतं. ती जिथे जाई तिथे माणसं जोडली जायची आणि कायमची आपली व्हायची. आजही मला लाभणाऱ्या अनेक सुंदर नात्यांच्या मागे तिच्याकडून मिळालेला तोच संस्कार आहे, असं मला नेहमी वाटतं.

१५ जुलैची आणखी एक सुंदर भेट

१५ जुलै रोजी आम्ही आणखी एका कुटुंबाला भेटायला गेलो.

विशेष म्हणजे ही भेट माझ्या प्रवासात नेहमी घडणाऱ्या "योगायोगां"पैकी नव्हती. 😄

ही भेट मी अमेरिकेत येण्यापूर्वीच ठरवली होती.

अश्विनी ही माझ्या मूळ गावच्या मुक्ताईनगर परिसरातील असून आमच्या कौटुंबिक मित्रांच्या कुटुंबातील आहे.

तिचे पती वीर हे पुण्याचे.

आमच्या राहुल टॉवर्स सोसायटीच्या अगदी शेजारी त्यांचे घर  आहे.

खरंच...

हे जग दिवसेंदिवस किती लहान होत चाललं आहे याचा पुन्हा एकदा प्रत्यय आला.

डॅलसमधला पहिला Weekend

जूनच्या पहिल्या आठवड्यात मी डॅलसमध्ये आलो.

आणि पहिल्याच Weekend ला आम्ही भूषणच्या घरी गेलो.

भूषणला भेटताना माझ्या आयुष्यातील चाळीस वर्षांपूर्वीचा काळ डोळ्यांसमोर उभा राहिला.

मी बारावी विज्ञान शिकण्यासाठी वर्ध्याच्या जे. बी. सायन्स कॉलेजमध्ये असताना सुपे सरांच्या घराच्या मागील बाजूच्या खोलीत राहायचो.

आज भूषण हा त्याच सुपे सरांचा नातू.

आणि त्याच्या घरी, हजारो किलोमीटर दूर डॅलसमध्ये भेटणं...

खरंच आयुष्य किती सुंदर वळणं घेतं!

भूषणची पत्नी श्वेता हिलाही भेटण्याचा योग आला.

अमेरिकेत असल्यामुळे मी सहज गृहीत धरलं होतं की ती IT किंवा Data Engineering मध्ये असेल.

पण ती Civil Engineer म्हणून आपल्या मूळ क्षेत्रातच उत्कृष्ट काम करत आहे, हे ऐकून खूप आनंद झाला.

कोअर इंजिनिअरिंगमध्येही भारतीय इतक्या यशस्वीपणे काम करत आहेत, हे पाहून छान वाटलं.

योगा योगाने श्वेताचे आई वडील पण होते त्यामुळे त्यांचीही भेट झाली. 

राहुल टॉवर्सची मैत्री डॅलसपर्यंत

पुढच्याच आठवड्यात आम्ही राहुल टॉवर्समधील आमचे मित्र सचिन यांच्या घरी गेलो.

त्यांच्या घरात दाराजवळ तीन सुंदर Photo Frames लावले होते.

प्रत्येक Frame त्यांच्या आयुष्यातील एका महत्त्वाच्या टप्प्याची कहाणी सांगत होता.

काही फोटो शब्दांपेक्षा कितीतरी अधिक प्रभावीपणे आयुष्याचा प्रवास सांगून जातात.

फ्रिस्कोतील हनुमान मंदिर

त्यानंतरच्या शनिवारी आम्ही फ्रिस्को येथील कार्यसिद्धी हनुमान मंदिरात गेलो.

नेहमीप्रमाणे तिथेही आणखी एका कुटुंबाशी झालेली भेट हा त्या दिवसाचा सुंदर योगायोग ठरला.

त्या दिवसाविषयी मी स्वतंत्र ब्लॉगही लिहिला आहे—

"A Perfect Saturday in Frisco."

काही दिवस असे असतात की त्यांच्यावर स्वतंत्र लेख लिहावासा वाटतो.

तब्बल चाळीस वर्षांनी इंजिनिअरिंग मित्राची भेट

१२ जुलै रोजी माझा इंजिनिअरिंगमधील मित्र संजय याला भेटण्याचा योग आला.

त्याचा प्रवास ऐकताना खूप छान वाटलं.

१९८४ मध्ये इंजिनिअरिंग पूर्ण होताच तो अमेरिकेत आला आणि इथेच त्याने आपलं करिअर घडवलं.

प्रत्येक मित्राची आयुष्याची वाट वेगळी असते.

कोणी भारतात राहिले...

कोणी जगभर फिरले...

कोणी उद्योग उभे केले...

तर कोणी कॉर्पोरेट क्षेत्रात मोठं नाव कमावलं.

खरी संपत्ती म्हणजे माणसं

मागील काही Weekend कडे पाहिलं की एक गोष्ट प्रकर्षाने जाणवते.

डॅलसमधील हा मुक्काम पर्यटनासाठी नव्हता.

तो माणसं भेटण्यासाठी होता.

प्रत्येक कुटुंबामागे एक वेगळी कहाणी होती.

प्रत्येक भेटीत भूतकाळातील एखादं सुंदर पान पुन्हा उलगडलं.

आणि प्रत्येक संवादाने पुन्हा एकदा जाणवलं...

खरी नाती कधी जुनी होत नाहीत.

ती फक्त पुढच्या भेटीची शांतपणे वाट पाहत असतात.

बहुतेक आयुष्यातील सर्वात मोठी संपत्ती ही पैशात नसते...

ती आपल्या माणसांमध्ये असते.

हजारो किलोमीटरचं अंतर असलं, तरी मनाने जोडलेली माणसं कायम जवळच राहतात.

म्हणूनच डॅलसमधला प्रत्येक Weekend मला अमेरिकेत असल्यासारखा कमी...

आणि जगभर पसरलेल्या आपल्या विस्तारित कुटुंबाला भेटल्यासारखा जास्त वाटला. 🤗😊

संकष्टी चतुर्थी, रिचमंड आणि १९९६ च्या आठवणी -FB Post

Career Guidance in the AI ERA 

Career Guidance in the AI Era (2026 Edition)

Weekend in Washington DC

Days in Dallas and Raleigh

Dallas to Raleigh - In Matathi FB Post

Dallas to Raleigh -The unforgettable story of journey

A Perfect Saturday in Frisco -English

फ्रिस्कोमधला एक सुंदर शनिवार

California Days- In English

कॅलिफोर्नियातील दिवस

MuktAI.in

My Posts

Frame

खानदेशचा शोध घेतांना -Rural Development

Frame

Frame हा चित्रपट १० जुलै रोजी Zee5 वर प्रदर्शित झाला. त्याच दिवशी Aarti Kore आणि Seema Mahajan ह्यांचा मला संदेश आला, "संजीव, तू या चित्रपटातील काही फ्रेम्समध्ये दिसतो आहेस!"

मी या चित्रपटाची आतुरतेने वाट पाहत होतो, कारण २०२१ मध्ये या चित्रपटाच्या एका प्रेक्षकांच्या दृश्याच्या शूटिंगमध्ये मी आणि मीना सहभागी झालो होतो. अगदी काही क्षणांसाठी का होईना, पण नागराज मंजुळे आणि अमेय वाघ यांच्या मागे आम्ही दोघेही फ्रेममध्ये दिसत आहोत, हे पाहून खूप आनंद झाला.

चित्रपटात दिसण्यापेक्षाही त्या दिवसाच्या अनेक सुंदर आठवणी पुन्हा जाग्या झाल्या. शूटिंगदरम्यान मला आणि मीनाला नागराज मंजुळे यांच्यासोबत काही वेळ बसून गप्पा मारण्याची संधीही मिळाली होती.

ही सुंदर संधी दिल्याबद्दल आमचे रोटरी मित्र CD महाजन आणि सीमा महाजन यांचे मनःपूर्वक आभार.

या चित्रपटाला खूप छान प्रतिसाद आणि उत्तम reviews मिळत आहेत. सध्या मी अमेरिकेत असल्यामुळे लगेच चित्रपट पाहता येणार नाही. पण हा चित्रपट माझ्यासाठी आधीच खास बनला आहे, कारण त्यात मी आणि मीनाने एकत्र घालवलेला आणखी एक सुंदर क्षण कायमचा जपला गेला आहे.

Movie Trailor

For review, follow this link

Some moments take years to come back as beautiful memories. 😊

The movie Frame was released on Zee5 on 10th July. On the very same day, one of my friends Aarti Kore and Seema Mahajan messaged me saying, "Sanjeev, you are visible in a few frames of the movie!"

I had been eagerly waiting for this film because Meena and I were part of its audience sequence, which was shot way back in 2021. It was a pleasant surprise to know that both of us are visible, even if only for a few moments, in the background behind Nagraj Manjule and Amey Wagh.

More than appearing in the movie, it brought back wonderful memories of that day. During the shooting, we even got an opportunity to sit with Nagraj Manjule for some time and enjoy a few pleasant conversations between takes.

A heartfelt thank you to our Rotary friends, CD Mahajan and Seema Mahajan, for giving us this unique opportunity.

The film is receiving excellent reviews, and now I am even more excited to watch it. Since I am currently in the USA, I will have to wait a little longer—but this movie has already become special for me because it has preserved one more beautiful memory of Meena and me together. ❤️🙏

संकष्टी चतुर्थी, रिचमंड आणि १९९६ च्या आठवणी -FB Post

Career Guidance in the AI ERA 

Career Guidance in the AI Era (2026 Edition)

Weekend in Washington DC

Days in Dallas and Raleigh

Dallas to Raleigh - In Matathi FB Post

Dallas to Raleigh -The unforgettable story of journey

A Perfect Saturday in Frisco -English

फ्रिस्कोमधला एक सुंदर शनिवार

California Days- In English

कॅलिफोर्नियातील दिवस

MuktAI.in

My Posts

खानदेशचा शोध घेतांना -Rural Development

Sankashti Chaturthi, Richmond, and Memories from 1996 🙏😊

Some days become memorable not because of grand events, but because of the beautiful coincidences they bring into our lives.

3rd July, which also happened to be Sankashti Chaturthi this year, turned out to be one such special day in my life's journey.

Abhishek and I drove from Raleigh to Richmond to meet my old friend and former Santronix student, Abhi Mahajan. Meeting him after so many years instantly took my mind back to 1996.

That was the year I moved from Jalgaon to Pune in search of better opportunities in the computer industry. At that time, Meena was three months pregnant with Abhishek. Along with searching for a job, I was upgrading my skills by learning Oracle, SQL, and Visual Basic. Abhi had come to Pune to study Law and stayed with me in my small flat in Mukundnagar. Although he had come with a different career plan, he gradually developed an interest in computers. Soon, we were both learning new technologies, attending interviews, encouraging each other, and striving to build our careers.

During those days, Meena called me and said,

"Tomorrow is Sankashti Chaturthi. Because of my pregnancy, I won't be able to observe the fast. From tomorrow onwards, you start observing it."

I started the Sankashti Chaturthi fast in 1996, and by God's grace, I continue it even today.

Life then took both of us in different directions. Around 2000, Abhi got an opportunity to move to the United States. Around the same time, I also received a job offer from the USA, but after discussing it as a family, we decided to stay in India, and I joined Fluent in Pune. Interestingly, Hasit Seth, another former Santronix student from Jalgaon who had introduced me to Abhi Mahajan, also moved to the USA in July 2000.

Life, however, had many more beautiful coincidences waiting for us.

From 2000 to 2005, my work gave me several opportunities to travel to the United States almost every year. During one of those business trips, while visiting the magnificent Niagara Falls, I unexpectedly met the newly married Abhi and Nutan. Standing together thousands of miles away from India, I once again realized how incredibly small the world really is.

Over the years, I also had the pleasure of meeting Hasit Seth on three different occasions in the USA—first in Concord, New Hampshire, then in Detroit, and later in New Jersey. Our New Jersey meeting became even more memorable because Hasit, Abhi, and I all met at the home of another former Santronix student from Jalgaon, Manish Narkhede.

Looking back today, I realize that these were not merely chance meetings. They were milestones in a lifelong journey where a teacher continued reconnecting with his students across continents. True relationships are never limited by time or distance.

And then, exactly thirty years later, on the same Sankashti Chaturthi, I found myself sitting in Abhi's beautiful home in Richmond. Sitting beside me was Abhishek—the same son who was yet to be born in 1996 when this Sankashti journey had begun. It truly felt as if life had completed a beautiful circle.

It was heartwarming to see Abhi, his wife Nutan, and their two wonderful sons enjoying a happy and fulfilling life in Richmond. The evening was filled with old memories, laughter, heartfelt conversations, and gratitude.

One more thing made this meeting even more special.

The role of a teacher never really ends.

Thirty years ago, we were discussing Oracle, SQL, Visual Basic, and the latest computer technologies. This time, I had the opportunity to introduce Abhi and Nutan to the possibilities of Codex for AI-assisted software development. Technologies change with time, but the joy of learning together, sharing knowledge, and helping each other grow remains timeless.

Moments like these remind me that life is not merely a sequence of events. It is a beautiful web of relationships, decisions, opportunities, and coincidences whose meaning becomes clear only when we look back.

Back in 1996, a teacher and his student were sharing a small rented flat in Mukundnagar, dreaming of a better future without knowing where life would eventually take them. Today, meeting again in Richmond after three decades reminded me how beautifully the Universe connects the dots across time.

Perhaps this is how life really works.

We make decisions based on the knowledge we have at that moment, but the Universe quietly writes a much bigger script. Years later, when we pause and reflect, every struggle, every relationship, every opportunity, and every coincidence finds its rightful place in that story.

The more I travel through life, the more I realize that success is not measured only by careers, wealth, or destinations. It is measured by the people we meet, the relationships we nurture, the values we live by, and the memories we create together.

Life truly rewards those who continue learning, embrace change, remain grateful, and trust the journey.

Sometimes, the most beautiful stories begin in a small rented flat in Pune... and come full circle three decades later in a beautiful home in Richmond.

संकष्टी चतुर्थी, रिचमंड आणि १९९६ च्या आठवणी… 🙏😊

काही दिवस मोठ्या घटनांमुळे नव्हे, तर आयुष्यात घडलेल्या सुंदर योगायोगांमुळे कायमचे स्मरणात राहतात.

३ जुलै, जो यावर्षी संकष्टी चतुर्थी होता, असा माझ्या आयुष्यातील एक खास दिवस ठरला.

मी आणि अभिषेक रॅलेहून रिचमंडला माझा जुना मित्र आणि सॅन्ट्रॉनिक्समधील माजी विद्यार्थी अभी महाजन याला भेटायला गेलो. अनेक वर्षांनी त्याची भेट झाली आणि मन थेट १९९६ सालात जाऊन पोहोचले.

हेच ते वर्ष होते, जेव्हा मी संगणक क्षेत्रात नवीन संधींच्या शोधात जळगावहून पुण्याला आलो. त्या वेळी मीना अभिषेकच्या तीन महिन्यांच्या गर्भारपणात होती. नोकरीच्या शोधाबरोबरच मी Oracle, SQL आणि Visual Basic शिकत होतो. लॉचे शिक्षण घेण्यासाठी पुण्यात आलेला अभी माझ्या मुकुंदनगरमधील छोट्याशा फ्लॅटमध्ये माझ्यासोबत राहायला आला. त्याचा मूळ उद्देश वकिलीच्या क्षेत्रात करिअर करण्याचा होता; पण हळूहळू त्याचाही ओढा संगणक क्षेत्राकडे वळला. मग आम्ही दोघे नवीन तंत्रज्ञान शिकू लागलो, मुलाखती देऊ लागलो, एकमेकांना प्रोत्साहन देत आपल्या करिअरसाठी प्रयत्न करू लागलो.

त्याच काळात मीनाचा फोन आला. ती म्हणाली,

"उद्या संकष्टी चतुर्थी आहे. गर्भारपणामुळे मला उपवास करता येणार नाही. उद्यापासून तुम्ही हा उपवास सुरू करा."

१९९६ मध्ये सुरू झालेला हा संकष्टी चतुर्थीचा उपवास आजही अखंडपणे सुरू आहे.

पुढे आयुष्याने आम्हा दोघांना वेगवेगळ्या वाटा दाखवल्या. साधारण २००० च्या सुमारास अभीला अमेरिकेत जाण्याची संधी मिळाली. त्याच सुमारास मलाही अमेरिकेतील नोकरीची ऑफर आली होती; पण कौटुंबिक चर्चेनंतर आम्ही भारतातच राहण्याचा निर्णय घेतला आणि मी पुण्यात Fluent कंपनीत रुजू झालो. विशेष म्हणजे, माझी अभी महाजनशी ओळख करून देणारा जळगावचा सॅन्ट्रॉनिक्समधील माजी विद्यार्थी हसीत सेठ हाही जुलै २००० मध्ये अमेरिकेला गेला.

पण आयुष्याने आमच्यासाठी आणखी काही सुंदर योगायोग जपून ठेवले होते.

२००० ते २००५ या काळात मला कामानिमित्त जवळपास दरवर्षी अमेरिकेला जाण्याची संधी मिळाली. अशाच एका व्यावसायिक दौऱ्यात नायगारा धबधबा पाहण्यासाठी गेलो असताना तिथे नवविवाहित अभी आणि नूतन यांची अनपेक्षित भेट झाली. भारतापासून हजारो किलोमीटर दूर उभे असताना पुन्हा एकदा जाणवले—हे जग खरोखर किती लहान आहे!

याच काळात हसीत सेठचीही अमेरिकेत तीन वेळा भेट झाली—पहिली कॉनकॉर्ड (न्यू हॅम्पशायर) येथे, दुसरी डेट्रॉईट येथे आणि तिसरी न्यू जर्सी येथे. विशेष म्हणजे न्यू जर्सीतील भेट अधिक संस्मरणीय ठरली. कारण जळगावच्या सॅन्ट्रॉनिक्समधील आणखी एक माजी विद्यार्थी मनीष नरखेडे यांच्या घरी मी, हसीत आणि अभी आम्ही तिघे पुन्हा एकत्र भेटलो.

आज मागे वळून पाहताना जाणवतं की त्या केवळ योगायोगाने झालेल्या भेटी नव्हत्या. तो एका शिक्षकाचा आपल्या विद्यार्थ्यांशी काळ, अंतर आणि देशांच्या सीमा ओलांडत पुन्हा पुन्हा जोडला गेलेला सुंदर प्रवास होता. खरी नाती वेळ आणि अंतर यांच्या मर्यादा कधीच मानत नाहीत.

आणि मग तब्बल तीस वर्षांनंतर... त्याच संकष्टी चतुर्थीच्या दिवशी मी अभीच्या रिचमंडमधील सुंदर घरात बसलो होतो. माझ्या शेजारी होता अभिषेक—ज्याचा जन्म १९९६ मध्ये अजून व्हायचा होता आणि ज्याच्या गर्भारपणात हा संकष्टीचा प्रवास सुरू झाला होता. त्या क्षणी आयुष्याने जणू एक सुंदर वर्तुळ पूर्ण केल्यासारखे वाटले.

अभी, त्याची पत्नी नूतन आणि त्यांच्या दोन गुणी मुलांसह त्यांनी रिचमंडमध्ये उभे केलेले सुंदर आयुष्य पाहून मनापासून आनंद झाला. जुन्या आठवणी, मनमोकळ्या गप्पा, हास्य आणि कृतज्ञतेने भरलेली ती संध्याकाळ कायम स्मरणात राहील.

या भेटीत आणखी एक सुंदर जाणीव झाली—शिक्षकाची भूमिका कधीच संपत नसते.

तीस वर्षांपूर्वी आम्ही Oracle, SQL, Visual Basic आणि त्या काळातील नवीन संगणक तंत्रज्ञानाबद्दल चर्चा करत होतो. यावेळी मला अभी आणि नूतन यांना AI आधारित सॉफ्टवेअर डेव्हलपमेंटसाठी Codex या प्रभावी साधनाची ओळख करून देण्याची संधी मिळाली. तंत्रज्ञान बदलत जाते, काळ बदलतो; पण एकत्र शिकण्याचा, ज्ञानाची देवाणघेवाण करण्याचा आणि एकमेकांना नवीन दिशा दाखवण्याचा आनंद मात्र कायम तसाच राहतो.

असे क्षण पुन्हा एकदा जाणवून देतात की आयुष्य म्हणजे केवळ घटनांची मालिका नाही. ते नाती, निर्णय, संधी आणि सुंदर योगायोगांनी विणलेले एक अप्रतिम जाळे आहे, ज्याचा अर्थ अनेक वर्षांनी मागे वळून पाहिल्यावरच समजतो.

१९९६ मध्ये मुकुंदनगरमधील एका छोट्याशा भाड्याच्या फ्लॅटमध्ये एक शिक्षक आणि त्याचा विद्यार्थी उज्ज्वल भविष्याची स्वप्ने पाहत आपल्या करिअरसाठी प्रयत्न करत होते. पुढे आयुष्य कोणत्या दिशेने नेईल याची दोघांनाही कल्पना नव्हती. आज तब्बल तीस वर्षांनंतर रिचमंडमध्ये झालेल्या या भेटीने त्या सर्व आठवणी पुन्हा जिवंत झाल्या आणि निसर्ग काळाच्या पलीकडे जाऊन किती सुंदरपणे धागे जोडत असतो याची पुन्हा एकदा प्रचिती आली.

कदाचित आयुष्य असेच असते.

आपण निर्णय त्या वेळच्या समजुतीनुसार घेत असतो; पण निसर्ग आपल्या सर्वांसाठी एक खूप मोठी आणि सुंदर पटकथा शांतपणे लिहित असतो. अनेक वर्षांनी मागे वळून पाहिल्यावर प्रत्येक संघर्ष, प्रत्येक नाते, प्रत्येक संधी आणि प्रत्येक योगायोग त्या कथेत अगदी योग्य ठिकाणी बसलेला दिसतो.

प्रवास करताना मला एक गोष्ट वारंवार जाणवते—यश हे केवळ करिअर, पैसा किंवा आपण कुठे पोहोचलो यावर मोजले जात नाही. आपल्या आयुष्यात भेटलेली माणसं, जपलेली नाती, आपण जपलेली मूल्यं आणि एकत्र निर्माण केलेल्या सुंदर आठवणी—यांतच खरे समाधान दडलेले असते.

आयुष्य सतत शिकत राहणाऱ्या, बदल स्वीकारणाऱ्या, कृतज्ञ राहणाऱ्या आणि आपल्या प्रवासावर विश्वास ठेवणाऱ्या माणसांना नेहमीच भरभरून देत असते.

आणि कधी कधी... आयुष्यातील सर्वात सुंदर कथा पुण्यातील एका छोट्याशा भाड्याच्या फ्लॅटमध्ये सुरू होते आणि तीस वर्षांनी रिचमंडमधील एका सुंदर घरात येऊन पूर्ण वर्तुळ पूर्ण करते.

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Career Guidance in the AI Era (2026 Edition)

Career Guidance in the AI Era (2026 Edition) 

Should my child choose Computer Science in the AI era?

In 2026, this question is no longer only about choosing the “safest” engineering branch. It is about preparing a child for a future where technology keeps changing, AI becomes a daily partner, and lifelong learning matters more than any single degree.

💡 MuktAI Insight

The AI Era Has Changed Career Planning

My Formula for Meaningful Career Success

Career Building Block	Why It Matters
Degree	Gives the student a foundation and a formal entry point into a field.
Domain Expertise	Helps the student understand real problems in a specific area such as manufacturing, healthcare, commerce, law, agriculture, or infrastructure.
AI Skills	Enable the student to use intelligent tools to learn faster, automate routine work, and create new solutions.
Communication	Turns knowledge into influence by helping students explain ideas, collaborate, and lead.
Problem Solving	Helps students identify meaningful problems and design practical solutions.
Continuous Learning	Keeps the student relevant as tools, industries, and job roles evolve.

The future does not belong to one branch. It belongs to students who combine domain knowledge, AI fluency, communication, problem solving, and the habit of continuous learning.

When I Started My Career...

When I completed my Engineering in 1984 and started Santronix Computers in 1986, learning programming was itself a major challenge.

We learned programming languages, operating systems, and software packages through books, training classes, and continuous practice.

If you wanted to build software, Computer Science was naturally the preferred path.

Today, we are living in a completely different world.

AI tools can explain programming concepts, generate code, suggest improvements, and even help build complete applications.

During the last few months, I have personally experienced this while building my own MuktAI platform with ChatGPT and Codex.

While building the MuktAI platform, I experienced this shift personally. I did not have to master every programming framework before creating something useful. ChatGPT helped me think more clearly, and Codex helped me turn ideas into working applications. That experience convinced me that today’s students can learn software faster than my generation did, but their real advantage will come from combining AI with strong domain knowledge.

That experience has changed the way I think about careers.

What Has Changed in the AI Era?

Twenty years ago, software development required years of learning programming languages before you could build useful applications.

Today, AI can assist us in writing code, explaining concepts, debugging programs, and generating complete application structures.

This does not eliminate the need for skilled engineers.

Instead, it changes where human value lies.

The competitive advantage is shifting from remembering syntax to understanding problems, designing solutions, and collaborating effectively with AI.

AI has taught me something unexpected. No matter how much experience we have, there is always something new to learn.

 

Does That Mean Computer Science Is No Longer Important?

Absolutely not. Computer Science remains an excellent choice for students who genuinely enjoy algorithms, programming, software engineering, computing systems, and the logic behind technology.

But it is no longer the only gateway to technology. If a student’s curiosity is in mechanical systems, electronics, civil infrastructure, commerce, medicine, agriculture, or law, they should not ignore that interest just because Computer Science appears more fashionable today.

The better question is not, “Which branch is safest?” The better question is, “Which field will keep this student curious enough to learn deeply, and how can AI strengthen that journey?”

A motivated Mechanical Engineer, Electronics Engineer, Civil Engineer, Commerce graduate, Doctor, or Lawyer can now learn software development and AI far more easily than before.

AI can write code. Only humans can decide which problems are worth solving.

Then What Should Students Focus On?

This is the advice I now give to students and parents: do not choose a branch only because it is currently fashionable or appears to offer higher salaries.

Choose a field that genuinely interests the student, then build strong domain expertise during the degree.

Then continuously add:

●      AI Skills

●      Programming Skills

●      Digital Skills

●      Communication Skills

This combination will create far more opportunities than depending only on a degree or chasing a short-term trend.

Think About These Combinations

Domain	AI-Enabled Opportunity	Practical Example
Mechanical Engineering	Smart Manufacturing	Predictive maintenance systems that reduce machine downtime.
Electronics	Robotics and Intelligent Devices	AI-enabled IoT devices that sense, learn, and respond intelligently.
Civil Engineering	Smart Infrastructure	Systems that monitor bridges, roads, buildings, and utilities.
Agriculture	Precision Farming	Tools that help farmers optimize water, fertilizer, and crop decisions.
Commerce	Business Intelligence	Dashboards that help organizations understand sales, finance, and operations.
Medicine	Healthcare Innovation	AI-assisted diagnosis, patient monitoring, and decision support.
Law	Legal Technology	Tools that help organize case material, research, and compliance workflows.

Every domain is being transformed by Artificial Intelligence. The future does not belong to AI alone; it belongs to people who combine professional expertise with intelligent digital tools.

One Important Lesson I Learned

While working with ChatGPT and Codex, I learned one important lesson: AI can help us build faster, but it cannot replace human judgment.

AI can generate code, suggest formulas, and even help build applications. But only humans can understand why those applications matter.

AI cannot replace a deep understanding of how a factory works, how an electronic circuit behaves, how accounting principles function, how a farm operates, or how a hospital serves patients.

That knowledge comes from years of learning and experience. When students combine that knowledge with AI, they become much more valuable.

A Message to Students

If you are a student standing at the crossroads of your career, don't worry too much about finding the "perfect" branch.

Instead, ask three simple questions:

·       What kind of problems do I enjoy solving?

·       Which field excites me enough to study deeply?

·       Am I willing to keep learning throughout my life?

If your answer to the last question is Yes, then your journey has already begun.

Because in the AI era, the most successful professionals will not simply be those who know the most. They will be those who continue learning, adapt to change, and combine their domain knowledge with the intelligent use of AI.

Technology will change. Tools will change. Careers will evolve. But curiosity, adaptability, and the willingness to learn will never go out of fashion.

My dream through MuktAI is to help young minds prepare not just for their first job, but for lifelong learning in the AI era.

Advice to Parents

Please do not choose a career for your children based only on today’s market trends, social media discussions, or the fear of missing out.

Spend time understanding their natural interests, strengths, curiosity, and learning style.

A student who enjoys learning in a chosen field will always have a stronger foundation than someone who follows a popular branch without genuine interest.

🌱 The MuktAI Philosophy

We teach people to:

·       Think clearly

·       Solve real problems

·       Build useful applications

·       Use AI wisely

·       Create value

Final Thought

Do not prepare only for the first job. Prepare for the next forty years of learning. Choose a degree for the domain you love, then build your career by continuously adding AI, communication, and problem-solving skills. Your degree opens the first door. Continuous learning opens every door after that.

— Sanjeev Chaudhary
 MuktAI – Awareness Intelligence

www.sanjeevchaudhary.com

© 2026 Sanjeev Chaudhary | MuktAI | www.muktai.in

You can download pdf of this document at this link

Career Guidance in the AI ERA 

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