HISTORY OF REDEMPTION

HISTORY OF REDEMPTION

My life in ICI started with the construction department in 1977.   In the construction section there were many engineers.  Construction of two Plants were under progress  The Bulk Drug Plant under

U K consultant Humphreys and Glasgow and the Gramoxone Plant under Simon Carves.  Early in the morning there will be a convergence of all India engineering talents with the intent of lifting the nation  or National productivity in a single day.   The Engineering department from Calcutta poured bundles of drawings for the gramoxone plant, whereas the Bombay unit showered materials for Bulk drug plant on a daily basis. When the drawings receipt are registered in the book meant for it,  the respective engineers would scramble for the drawings and delay in finding the drawing would create havoc.  The complaint would go the Chief Construction Manager Mr S C Mithra or to the Asst Construction Manger Mr K V Chary,  that the construction cannot be continued for want of a particular drawing from the construction department office.  First two to three weeks struggled to cope up with these different groups,  Mr K Narayanan a soft hearted supervisor sports enthusiast from Calcutta HO affectionately called by all as "dada" consoled me not to worry. An innovative idea to locate the latest drawing from the registry had to be introduced by placing  each drawing on the draft table at shortest notice.   A register for the daily receipt of drawing,  another register chronological distribution section wise with remark of column showing the location of the drawing in the registry.   Maintaining the same tempo while depositing back the returned drawing also was followed with precision.

All were happy for getting what they want in minimum time.  My popularity increased day by day thereafter.  Some Calcutta based Project engineers were open in their compliments.  One year completed in the Construction office and Project engineers one by one bid adieu.  The first one to compliment me in writing was Mr Kamalesh Nanda, Planning engineer who wrote a note to his boss Mr K V Chary. Shortly Mr K V Chary had to leave to Nairobi on deputation.  Before going he officially put a recommendation note to the Construction Manager Mr S C Mithra. Activities in the construction office became shorter and shorter and many were absorbed to the Production unit.  I was transferred to Construction store where there were lot of engineering inventories both equipments and spares and I was asked to list them out for handing over to the Engineering Store of the Production Plants. List I have written down on blank sheets has been accepted as part of official handover documents without detailed scrutiny.   Another turn of fortune was the Construction Manager requesting me to supervise his packing of personnel effects from his Boat Club residence.   Expensive fragile and delicate art items made by Mrs Mithra were among them.  When the packings were over,  Mr Mithra was happy and invited me to accompany the family for a dinner at an expensive Chinese restaurant.  An unforgettable experience in my life.

There was misfortune also during these period.  My mother was suffering with acute illness and was admitted in General Hospital.  I wanted her to see my happy days after seeing me employed in a permanent position.   One day the construction office a phone call that said her demise and was asked to inform me quietly.   I was taken out in company car by Mr Sengupta telling that somebody at home is admitted in GH and was dropped near the Central Station saying that he was on the way for some inspection.  Almighty has devised his plans in  my 'history of redemption'.  The ups and downs in my life are His plans.   After three days leave I was back in office.

Mr S C Mithra before leaving for Calcutta gave a hand over document to GM, Mr P M Thampi in which a letter to consider me for suitable post in the company,  was one of the document.   The work after the handover of construction store fittings and spares to Plant engineering store, coding of engineering items under the stewardship of Mr D K Biswas, Works Engineer started wherein my contract was extended for the codification.  First items selected for the coding was instrument items and spares under the jurisdiction of Mr M N Bhat.  Weekly review meeting were conducted by team leader and other services engineers wherein everyone were asked to speedup their input for finishing work within the stipulated time.  My task also has been increased asking me to work overtime without any pay rise or overtime payment.  The project coordinator was Mr M M Bhandari to whom I have been reporting daily.  In the beginning he denied any overtime payment,  but over a period of time he also had to stay back to see the progress of the work.  Mr K V Chary came to Ennore site while visiting India for a family function. He asked me whether a pay rise was given after the completion of one year and I replied none.  He had a discussion with concerned people , when the work was completed he ordered a 50% rise to my pay scale,  though half of the paybill went to the contractor without any contribution whatsoever.

In the meantime work for selecting me to the S&D department was in progress.  A preliminary interview was conducted by Mr M G Menon and formalities of medical test was done in Vijaya Hospital.  The appointment should have been confirmed after the successful medical test and I was eagerly waiting for the result. Weeks passed,  there was no result.  One day Dr K P Mishra entered into H R Manager's room with a copy of medical report for a discussion with Mr Ramakrishna.  The construction service engineer Mr Sengupta was there in his cabin for some transport arrangements.   Seeing the medical report in hand,  he asked Dr Mishra whether it was the report of Xavier.  The enthusiastic way he queried,  Dr Mishra asked him whether he is interested in this candidate.   That was the turn of the tide in my favour and he frankly agreed that the intention was to reject the candidate on medical ground.  He made some representation through some other Construction team present at that time and said all our construction team was eager to see him through.  Dr Mishra asked me to see him immediately for a check up in the medical centre where he prescribed for a re check up on certain tests with the intention of suggesting some remedial treatment in case the the tests turn positive. Luckily I passed these tests and Dr Mishra cleared by medical results, appointed in November 1979.

God's plan is wonderful,  He takes you through trials and tribulations to make you worthy for the redemption.  I am reminded of Joseph son of Jacob in the Old Testament in Bible where he had to undergo rejection by his own brothers, slavery in a foreign land, jail term and the protection of   God the Almighty to lift him to a position of Governor of the Egyptian Empire and finally salvation of his own brethren from the  famine and death, migration under his care to Egypt.

...................................................................................................................................................................