My first job- some
memoirs
By
P.R.Ramachander
It was way back in
1963,I had completed eight years of college education .By that time whatever little savings were
there was exhausted .We were literally fighting a battle of life .It was at this time (I had just
completed 23 years of age) I got
an offer of appointment as a Gazetted officer (at that time equivalent to an IAS officer
) in The arecanut research
station at Vittal , a small
village near Mangalore. Since this was considered extremely lucky, I decided to go and Join
the Institute. I could not afford a new
shirt or new Chappals . So I , who was next in senior
to the Director of that small
Institute arrived there on 19th December 1963.
The Institute had send several staff members to the bus stand to receive me . None of
them recognized me due to my dress as well as my boyish look .At last when night
fell one peon recognized that I
was the only one waiting for the bus stand. He approached me
and asked me whether I am so and so. As soon as I affirmed
I was almost taken in a procession to
the Government guest house , where
a party was going on in honour
of Dr.Pandalai , the
Director of Central coconut Research Station , Kasargode . I was introduced him as
the senior most officer of the
Institute . There was awe and surprise
in the faces of all the
guests. Next day Dr.Mohan Rao who was
the Director of the institute
took me to a dilapidated dark building
near the temple which was the temporary
office .DR,Mohan Rao called the Steno
and instructed the steno to take me to
the local temple and do pooja for my
sake on his behalf. Then he instructed
the Steno to bring his private paper and his private fountain pen
, so that I can sign the joining
report. I was surprised . The first lesson that
I learnt from him was that in all
personal letters including leave
letter I have to write in my
personal paper. Then my work started . That evening Dr.Mohan Rao asked me to vacate the guest house
and move with him as he was living alone . On 25th when I was
sleeping , he woke me up and told that
he normally went to the church
on Christmas .I was terribly surprised . He then showed me his Pooja room
where along with Hindu gods he had kept
a picture of Christ . Next evening
at home he asked me whether
I can afford a not torn slippers and a shirt which is not
torn. I was mere boy at that time and tears
welled from my Eyes. On first
January I got my first salary and he sent me to Mangalore
to buy a slipper and shirt .
Though I knew my father would be waiting for money , I had to obey his wishes. After
about a year , Dr.Mohan Rao retired and
Dr.Bavappa who was elder to me became
the Director of The Institute . He was my very close friend and as
the senior most officer I learnt lot of administration from him. WE shifted to
the new lab after three years. . The work done me and Dr.Bavappa has stood
the test of time .Many of what we have done together are practiced by the arecanut farmers. I left
Vittal in 1967 to Coimbatore to join
IARI regional station there. What a great
Man was my first Director Mohan Rao
and what a great life I had at Vittal.
1 comment:
Sir. Iliked your blog "My first job- some memoirs".It will be quite illuminating and inspiring to the present day younger generation to read your memoirs.May God bless you
Post a Comment