Ramesh D Grover

Contributor  :  H R Shenoy

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During my formative years in L&T in 60s, a few people left indelible impressions on my mind for various reasons.  From personality point of view, in Switchgear, two people come to mind. 

One of them is Ramesh D Grover.

He was in PSW for a couple of years.  I do not remember whether he was in SWS or SPE.

May be some two decades ago, before my retirement, I saw an ad in newspapers featuring Ramesh Grover’s photo and the name he was associated with was CMS Computers.  I started wondering, is he the same Ramesh D Grover, RDG as he was known.  He was looking slightly different.

It was pre-internet era (we had only intranet in PSW – Arcnet to start with and Ethernet later, if I remember right); so I had to depend on thick MTNL telephone directory to get CMS Computer’s telephone number.

I rang them up.  I told the Operator “I am Shenoy from L&T.  I would like to speak to your Chairman, Mr Grover.”

No further questions were asked.  The call went through.  First the Secretary and then Mr Grover came on the line.

“Mr Grover, my name is Shenoy.  I work for L&T Switchgear.  You are not likely to remember me, but I think I remember you. Are you the same RDG who was with us sometime in 60s.”

I could sense the smile on his face through the telephone line.

We chatted for a couple of minutes.  Before, we disconnected he told me “If KV Vaishampayan is around and you are in touch with him, please ask me to give me a ring.”

CMS Computers has grown vertically and horizontally, going by a cursory look at their website.

I am writing this because I was reminded of RDG through a full page ad in today’s TOI.  It must be the pressure of giving birth to an organization and nourishing it which must have taken its toll on his health and personality.   The smile is same but the freshness had disappeared.

This day, 5 years ago, he expired at the age of 66.

Thank you, RDG for your deposit in my memory bank.

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HCP's note :

Ramesh was a gem of human beings ; always smiling , always solving problems , always helping out anyone who needed help

I remember that , along with a few friends , he lived in a rented flat in a building close to ( then ) Akbarali Store on SV road , near Santacruz station . I had visited his place , a couple of times . Now that building is demolished and a new one has come up

Once he asked me :

Mr Parekh , can I build you a radio ?

May be he knew , I did not have a good one at my home !

So , off we went to Opera House and bought components ( cabinet / wires / resistors / tuner / board / valves etc ) and some soldering wire , along with a soldering iron

For the next few days , after office hours , we will go to my flat at Shivaji Park and he would busy himself with studying some circuit diagram and solder wires and mount the components on the board

He enjoyed the Gujarati meals that my wife served , after each session

I used that radio for a few years and when friends asked , I proudly said :

It is RDG brand - better than Grundig !

After he left IBM , he got into maintenance of computers of client companies - perhaps the first in the country ( till then , CMC held the monopoly for maintaining / servicing of any make of computers , owned by anyone , in the entire country ! )

I have vague memory that , even L&T Powai gave him a maintenance contract , when SKP ( S K Prabhudesai was our Manager - Computer )

Many years later ( after I set up 3P Consultants ) , I once visited him in CMS office and we talked about the " good old times "

A few years later , I interacted with one of his Vice Presidents , for some kind of collaboration re placement of computer trainees , who were getting trained in a CMS institute

I also spoke to him on phone , a couple of times , in the 90s . Then lost touch with him but continued to follow his progress in papers

Shalom !  RDG,

You will continue to live in our memories 

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Corporate  Culture :

 Helping colleagues / Collaboration  /  Friendliness 

Office Stationary & Reimbursement

Contributor  :  KN

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Office Stationary & Reimbursement

We were given a Ration Card like card, called Stationary Card, when we joined L&T. We were expected to show the card and collect monthly quota – a ruled pad, HB Pencil (yellow with Larsen & Toubro 

embossed on it), pencil eraser, ball point refill, Royal Blue Ink bottle, duster, etc.

No pencil sharpeners. A fist sized machine is fixed to a table centrally, where we were to sharpen our pencils.

For replenishment, we had to show empty refill, worn out eraser, pencil butts, completely used ruled pad, empty ink bottle.

On hindsight, it looks silly. But those were days of controls and restrictions.

We had a group of 3 in SPE, - K D Elavia, Usman Mir Abdul Razzak, K T Shahane - who controlled all these and invariably made fun of (ragging?) new comers

I don’t know where they are now, but I still remember them for one incident.

We are required to fill a printed form called EC (Encashment Chit?) for miscellaneous expenses like conveyance, lunch allowance, stationary etc. on office work, get approved and collect cash from the Cashier.

One day the above ‘trimurtis’ had almost convinced me to fill an EC and attach Cinema Tickets for reimbursement. My wisdom prevailed and I was saved from big embarrassment.  Otherwise, I would have had to seek employment at some Cinema Theatres.

Note from HRS:  EC was also known as Executive Chit, as far as I know.  KD Elavia was the funniest ‘bawa’ I had known.  Usman Mir Abdul Razak (not many people knew his full name) was last with Plant Engineering Department (PD Desai may know more).

As to stationary control, many people had mastered the art of bypassing controls (including me?).  I had totally forgotten about this control system in the early years.  I had forgotten about KDE too.

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Corporate  Culture :

Love for details / Cost Consciousness  / Tendency  to  control small expenses 

Meeting Larsen and Toubro, in person

Contributor : M Subramanian

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Meeting Larsen and Toubro, in person

When I came to Bombay in 1958, I got a job as an Apprentice in Petrol Pump manufacturing firm MIDCO at Sion. A friend of my cousin Haran, who was employed with MIDCO, offered me this. I was placed in the Service Department under him. Within 3 months, I became familiar with servicing of all models of petrol pumps – MIDCO-WAYNE, Gilbarco, Tokhiem to mention a few.

After a year, I became a fitter and was transferred to Assembly and workshops. One J.E.Zilka was the Foreman. (The first Jew I came across in my life).  I was put on all jobs and quickly I learnt what was needed to be learnt. After a year Zilka was sent on foreign training. 

One of my colleagues joined L&T in the Petrol Pump Manufacturing Department.  One day he came to me and said “L&T is also manufacturing Petrol Pumps and they have got an order for servicing

petrol pumps and majority of them are MIDCO pumps. They want skilled persons familiar with petrol pumps.”  He took my application to L&T. Within 10 days I got an interview call. KR Shenoy (no relation of HR Shenoy) and Ethirajan took my interview. I was told that I was selected and will get an appointment letter shortly.  I was very happy and told everybody that I will be joining L&T very shortly.

But unfortunately, I didn’t get any letter.

Knowing that I had started applying for jobs, by the time one Thakkar has joined as Works Manger and he took a special interest in me. He asked me to work as an acting charge hand. He increased

my salary also and trained me in all jobs like lathe, drilling, milling etc., He trained me in welding also. I had become a full pledged skilled fitter who can work on any job.

After a year, I shifted my residence to Dombivli and I sent a letter to L&T informing my present address as c/o Madras Café,  Dombivli East.

One evening while I was having my coffee, Madras Cafe

owner’s friend, who used to have coffee in the evening, there was a telephone call asking for one Mr Subramanian.  He enquired “Who is Subramanian here?” Since everybody knew me as Mani, the owner was a little confused. I said I am the person. The friend said “I am Venkatachalam (he was secretary to VKAlexandar) and working for L&T. You have got an interview call. Tomorrow morning you meet me at Dombivli station, I will take to L&T.

Next day I went with him to Powai. I was interviewed by Chandrasekhar. It was just a formality. No questions were asked.

He said “Due to some technical issues, I could not be appointed earlier. Now you have to join Audco (Audco started in Powai C building Stage IV) and after 3 months you will resign from Audco and will be joining L&T. If it is alright with you, we will send you an appointment letter. I agreed to that and I got my appointment letter within a week.

When I resigned from Midco, they were not willing to relieve me

and offered me better salary etc., but I decided to join Audco.   On the last day at Midco my boss said “Though you are leaving us now, anytime you feel like coming back, you will be taken back and your absence will be treated as leave without pay.”

In August 1962, I joined Audco and I was the only third workman there. Audco just started manufacturing valves; I was asked work on lapping machine.

Lapping compound used to spill all over my dress and hands, and it used to take a lot of time to clean.  In this process I was missing my bus and had to walk up to Sakinaka, take a bus to Kurla (a private bus) and reach Dombivli very late by 8 in the night.

After 10 days, I was to attend my friend’s marriage reception and in order not to miss that I washed early and carefully worked so that  I could rush to catch the L&T bus. Just after 10 minutes, Chandrasekhar entered the Shop floor; he fired me for washing my hands well before the shift time. He said “This not MIDCO and you cannot do these things here.” I told him that my intention was not to stop the work earlier but to catch the bus in time.  I narrated to him that I had been missing the bus for the last few days and  had to attend a marriage that day.

He said “You should have told me this earlier.” He took me to his seniors (I think AV Fernandes and Roy Chowdry). They discussed and we all went to the regal Gunnar Hansen, who was the General Manager (Manufacturing). Again it was explained to him. He

called the transport person (Raman or Sashikant, I don’t remember), and said “Our buses should leave only after 10 minutes of shift closure. You also look out for this person before leaving the bus.”

After that I was told to change the dress and come back quickly.  I was shocked and thought that I will be sacked. I was cursing myself for not only missing the bus but losing the job also. When I came back I was surprised to see a car was arranged to drop me at Kurla Station!

After a month, we were told that SK Toubro was going to visit Audco, and we have to keep all the machines working.  As there were few operators, I was assigned the 1st machine and once SK Toubro goes to the next machine I must quickly go to 6th machine.

When SKToubro came, as soon as he left the 1st machine, I quickly went to the 6th machine and started that. When he came to the 6th

machine, he looked at me for a few moments, and asked whether my brother is working here. I said “No Sir”. He said “I saw a person like you operating the 1st machine.” Sir, I am the same person and

this arrangement is made to show you all the machines in working condition.” He smiled at me and patted me on the back.

October 1962, I resigned from Audco and Joined L&T.

Afterwards whenever he visited Powai, he recognised and smiled at me.

Before my retirement, I took an appointment to meet Henning Holck Larsen. When I met him at his residence, he asked what for I wanted to meet him. I said “Sir, I want to convey my thanks and gratitude to you. Along with L&T, I also grown up and today if I am somebody it is due my employment with L&T.” 

He said “No. I must thank you people for making L&T great.”

He spent about half an hour with me had tea. Though initially he refused, afterwards I took a photograph with him.

I may be one of the few employees who interacted with both the founders of Larsen & Toubro.

A sweet memory to remember and to be proud of ! 

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Corporate Culture  :

Easy accessibility to Top Management  /  Loyalty  /  Pride of Association /  Concern for personal problems of Employees  /  Recognition of an employee's contribution to Company's growth / Shop-floor Discipline