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
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