[ Always Plan.]

This plan how do you like?

This Plan is for We both at our Farm House in Hosur, Tamil Nadu,52 KM from Bangalore City..

1= 37.80 sq.ft. ,2 = 47.24 sq. ft. , 3 & 4 = 28.3 sq. ft. 5 = 86.6 sq. ft. Total = 542.50 sq. ft.

10.200 Metres Length. & 4.800 Metres Wide. 1 & 2 = 5.400, 3,4 & 5 = 5.000 Metres.

[ My Stinct in Kothari Textiles for 9 years.]

 

I had come to Coimbatore from south, now I went from north. The mill that I joined was known as the mill managed by Tata's of south India, Kothari's. The Manager was well known as tough technical technocrat. The mill being a composite mill it was interesting to work. This mill had the highest number of qualified experienced good well understanding technical staff. The administration was handled by competent personal and the layout was good for material transport and supervision. The technical staff were taken from their residences by mill car in all 3 shifts as a security measure. The mill had very good new machines in spinning and weaving and it's cloth also was exported.

My first day was a talk with Asst Manager cum Spinning Master who gave me a simple briefing on the work and my duties and responsibilities as a shift in charge. He was also interested in my work in Bombay and earlier work in Madurai and local Mills. He was all smiles knowing why I left Coimbatore and went to Bombay. He had studied textiles in Bombay and he was a classmate of my Mill Manager which he did not tell but I came to know later. This mill had another sister mills in another part of the city on the outskirts and was known as the best mills in south India for it's yarn quality. The mill was managed by another classmate of my mill who was very independent and he had set up the mill in such a way. it was not followed by any mill and no one tried to follow his system. No one knew his system and technique. This was a mill, where there was no stock of his production. However, my mill never tried to introduce his system or practice. We were No 1 Mill always and his mill was No2 Mills always.

Both mills were controlled by Head Office at Madras and there was a General Manager also who was for consultations only on both mill performance and technical matters. The unit managers were more powerful and took all decisions which were mostly approved.

This mill had 40,000 spindles plus 300 looms and the mill in Bombay had 1,25,000 spindles and 3,000 looms. So it was not a tough job to supervise this mills. I also had a Asst to help me in any work and he was a great help. When I was in day Shift there would one Asst Spinning Master in day shift and another to look after spinning preparatory and spinning were was taking instructions from Spinning Master and he was looking after yarn requirement from weaving and other issues. It was a big job for them I waited for a month and made a black board on weaving requirement of yarn and machines running and their numbers and Production. For Warp and Weft. AS I wrote a board Weg people would not talk with Asst Spinning Master as they have to see the board and go. I would personally go and see there is no yarn shortage and the Weaving Master was happy.

Many Spinning Machines were not set to wind the yarn to give full production. I was knowing this problem so when I was In day shift I worked with Maintenance crew and made them set the machines to give maximum yarn wound fully on the spindles and for this work the Asst Spinning Masters did not say anything. It seems this was the main problem and therefore senior Asst Spinning master may have kept quite.

Weaving Department had BC Cheese Winding automatic Machine as I was aware of the problem of these machines, if yarn quality of weaving warp yarn was bad they will have problem with yarn shortage so I increased the spinning machines and maintained and did not ask the Asst spinning Masters. There was yarn shortage for this for reeling section and all the ladies chewing Vethal Pak (PAN) would come and no one liked their presence. Lot of unworkable cheeses were be accumulated in weaving I would ask Weaving Shift In Charge to allow to take few cheeses badly damaged around 300 kg and take 500 kg and give it to reeling. There were few problems every now and then in spinning or weaving or winding I would tackle these petty problems and never take any body's assistance. After some time the Sr.Asst Spinning Master resigned. His post was not filled but there was a Asst Spinning Master who was in Charge of Spinning Preparatory Department he was asked to look after. The 3 shift was called A shift, B Shift and C shift. I was in charge of C shift. C Shift was supposed to be the worst shift with labour problems and production.

I was told that the mill was working only 2 shifts and when a extra shift was introduced aa the bad workers in both A & B shifts were sent to C shift which was not controllable. After several months it was said C shift is better as I had handled the labour better. What I did was to see people who absented only in 3rd shift were not given leave. They would not bother after 3 days of absenting I would fine them 25 paisa they would not bother again they would absent I would again fine them after my 3rd fine I would inform the Labor Officer to take action and he would suspend them for 1 day they would not bother this would be followed for suspension for 2 days and followed by 3 days and next he would be terminated. Now they would go to labour Leaders and they would go to Mill Manager. Mill Manager who had appointed me was happy that some discipline was enforced and he would drag the issue for months. Finally he would say the leader can enroll another worker but he will not take a worker he has terminated. The leader liked this and a bad worker was eliminated permanently. A new worker would be a trainee and called as substitute. He was paid only if was engaged in place of a permanent worker if there was no vacancy he would go home. All such workers going home usually went out with out informing me or shift Asst but I told them to take my signature on their Card and go. Some times I would select few good workers and keep them extra on some extra work. This had good effect and it made some few bad behavior workers come to me and ask me to give work to his person who was a relative I would agree and he would turn to be a loyal worker. Such labour control technic was in practice in Bombay.

My shift was fully under control, my Asst could manage the shift when ever I was on leave, this was not so earlier when another person would take my place from another shift which was in a day shift. Such was the effect that I could feel it after several months of my work. He did not disturb me in my cabin and used to handle all issues himself independently.

I was in my 2nd year in this mill when a letter from my mother called me to go over to my place as my marriage was to be fixed since there was a proposal and I had to see the girl. Marriage was something that had never thought and planed. I consulted few of my close friends they were all happy. A worker in my mill told me that my future is going to be very lucky. No body told me anything but all were happy. I asked another friend my salary may not be sufficient to be married he said you don't worry about that. I took 5 days leave and went home.

[ I also worked as Project Manager.]

This was a very big composite TEXTILE mill where they manufactured fabrics of fibers grown in India. Their production per day was 1,00,000 lac meters . A separate shed in this unit manufactured "Cotswool" a fabric of cotton and wool bended fabric for Indian Navy and school uniforms and shirting's for local apparel. market, further they did manufacture Woollen fabrics also and this was again a separate unit and again a separate unit manufactured Silk Fabrics. All the units were under One Resident Director.in one state and the Registered office, the Board and Chairman were in another state where again a huge textile mill was manufacturing textile fabrics for India and other countries.

The Resident Director of the unit was a technocrat and we knew each other. He was told by some of his known person that I had resigned from my post as General Manager of a big mill and offered me a job as Mill Manager 'in waiting' as the Mill Manager was about to retire. I had still 6 more years to retire. During the interview he told me I could take over the Mill Manager's position after his retirement after 6 months and in the mean time I would be working as Project Manager since the project was to start immediately and Mill Manager would not be able to complete the project. I trusted him and joined him. I was paid the same salary and grade of Mill Manager. He told me I would be located in Mill Office and can enter the mill anytime either by the main gate or Main Office Officer's Gate with the Key.

I joined duty and my first job was to spend my whole day going round the mill, dep't by dep't and meeting all the Heads of all Dep't after I took rounds with the Resident Director. My ambition was to join the mill as an apprentice after I completed my textile diploma course at the local college SKSJTI in the year 1956. Here I was going round the mill as Project Manager and above all dep't heads including my college mates from degree class.

My job here lasted for a year and I had to quit due to trust deficit with the man who hired me. He also left for the same reason after I left. However, during my stay I completed only a part of my Project Work as my term had a abrupt end. My dream of going round the mill was complete and I joined another Mill as General Manager and worked well again I resigned after about 18 months to join another mill as Managing Director.

Read the history of Binny Mills Ltd by courtesy of The Hindu.

[ Back to my Future.]

Having a job on hand I had taken a decision to change or leave a job but now it was a spontaneous decision that I had resigned from a job, it was ringing in my years as to why it happened. My only comfort was if I had said sorry or some sort of an apology perhaps it would have been different. It was hard to comfort myself thinking. Thinking again of my friends where they are I took out my dairy full of notes and any details that may be required several things were written, few things were pasted and few more things including few Rs.1/- currency note were found. I saw a visiting card pasted it was from the merchant who had given me his visiting card in my mill before my trip to Bombay.

A phone call was required to get in touch with him. It was only land lines and no other means to contact a person. I went to a phone booth and gave the number and place to the person in charge of the booth. He saw it and told me it would cost nearly Rs.5/ as it was not a local call. How to spend Rs.5/- for a phone call, better check with a friend whose father ran a hotel, his father was always sitting with a phone at the cash counter in his hotel. He told his father would come home for lunch and at that time he would be sitting at the cash counter and it was possible to make a call but he said only once it can be done. We tried once but it was not connected the line was busy.There was a advocate who would not allow us, there was a LIC manager but he had 3 daughters so it was not possible to go. There was a KEB engineer whose phone would be a gov't phone and private calls he may not permit. So telephone use was ruled out. A Inland letter was better, so a letter was written giving my present jobless state and requested him to let me know any mill where there may be a vacancy.I told everything to my father, he took the phone number and said he will speak to him from his Mill. That was so nice of him. May be he did not like me to stay unemployed.

There were more than 500 textiles mills in Coimbatore and they were small, medium, big and huge mills I was hoping there would be some vacancy and the gentleman at Coimbatore who was visiting many mills almost on all days perhaps would find out if there was a vacancy in any mill and get in touch. On that assumption I was busy tasting my mothers meal and sleeping with out any worry. There was no letter and father did not tell if he phoned or what happened, it was not possible to ask him. There was a option to apply to mill in Andhra especially Hyderabad. My dairy had few mills address, I wrote to 3 mills in a inland letter and waited but still when post man passed our house it was a slap on my face. Experiencing all thoughts days rolled. Father used to come home around 5:00 PM and smiled at me it was like a gift now it will be a job in his mill was my thinking. However just before our meal he said Coimbatore man will be coming to meet you he said. He will be here Sunday morning he said. Thank god I muttered to myself.

On that Sunday Mr.B.H.Shah visited us spent some time told my father he will try to get me a job in a local mill at Coimbatore and told me to send an application to an address and left. Next day my application was sent. With in a few days I got a interview letter asking me to go over to the mills for a interview. It was mentioned that I would be paid to and fro 3rd class railway fare for the journey. it was just a insult for me. A letter was sent that they were calling not a 3rd class technician but a first class technician and requested for a 2nd class fare. They did not reply. I told my father and he kept quite. Next day he told me to go and meet the mill manager and what ever they pay you accept. Oh he has talked to Coimbatore and felt relived. I got the job as a shift in charge a post which carried the designation of Asst Spinning Master which I got after 2 years. I continued in that mill for more than 9 years. That Mill was Kothari Textile Mills Ltd, Spinning & Weaving Mill. I was also joined by 3 of my college friends 2 in my mill and 1 in a reputed mill in town.

[ A short stay with sweet and sour experience.]

My parents were happy that I had left Bombay, I also loved my parents and had wished a home nearer would be better in case a need arises that I may have to visit home for most important functions. Most of the domestic help was my mothers as my brother also had completed his graduation in mechanical engineering and had Joined Mysore Kirloskar at Harihar, which was twice the distance from my place. My sisters were helping my mother and we boys were away,this made me feel uncomfortable. However, everything was going fine. I had a home in the town which my friend left it for me when he joined some mills in Ahmedabad and things were comfortable.

The mill that I joined in the holy town of Nanjangud was 70 KM from Mysore. My work was the same as in Bombay. There was a Dy Spinning Master who was from Rajasthan he was a good technician but Mill Manager and General Manager were non-technical and very new in mill management. The mill was a closed unit with American Machines. There was nothing new, even fire buckets were old. The Manager was given to see production and nothing else. The General Manager was a young man managing god knows what.

Most of the staff were from Rajasthan and they were all staying inside the mills in a makeshift old building. They ran a canteen where all preparations were according to their choice made from pure ghee we only 2 technical staff did enjoy the food and snacks and Masala Tea, Workers canteen was again in an old canteen shed kept in a poor condition. Most of the workers were old workers of the closed mill who joined the mills when it was opened they did the work satisfactorily.

The Manager was a man who could not speak the local language and workers were uncomfortable.

The workers knew we had no powers to do anything but keep looking everywhere and spend time and go. This was working fine and it was only a year or less that the mill was started. The weaving shed was closed but few looms were running.

A old textile Mill in the closest city nearby in Mysore was closed due to labour trouble. It was a Govt Owned Mill which was run by a party from Delhi. They had demanded higher wages but management running the mill did not accept any revision in wages and workers went on strike. Some compromise was made and the mill was started.

My mill workers leaders went to Mysore and they got the agreement copy, they studied it and after comparing it category vice found their wages were lower and working conditions were better in Mysore. They started preparing their demands for higher wages in each category, the news went to my mill management. The mill management secretly obtained the labour agreement and secretly worked out and found they paid low wages but their gross wages paid was higher. They thought the number of workers was more and production was comparatively equal when adjusted . I think the General Manager, Mill Manager and Dy Spinning Master discussed this, when the Dy Spinning Master said he will make 2 machines into one where 50 per cent of workers will be reduced. It was accepted by the General Manager and a trial was started. One spinning machine was dismantled workers were not knowing what is happening they asked me I asked the Dy Spinning Master he told me he is joining 2 machines on a trial only and said about power savings, extra space for new machines that were expected, reduced machine downtime, better machine utilization and production.

I kept quiet for two days and even than one machine that was not dismantled work was slow and he showed no hurry to do the work. I asked him why he is taking time when so much benefit could be achieved. He was a good maintenance man so he took me near the machine and showed that there are these parts that had to be taken out, cut, and machined to join and this work can be done outside only as mill has no experienced machinist to do the job nor is there a machine in working conditions. Even if it can be conditioned, it was not of required width. This he said was explained to the General Manager and Mill Manager earlier but they said they will arrange it so and I am waiting he said. Few days I was keeping quiet and the day I did not find him I enquired in the office they told me he has gone to his village and will be coming soon. He never came. Some fitters removed another machine meanwhile to show work is in progress. I knew it is all a drama to confuse the workers. The Dy Spinning Master knew my background and we were on good terms he would have told me if  he was going on an urgent matter but he did not. The fitters stopped their work and were back to their posts working. The place was a mess with cotton lint, fluff and dust on the machine parts that were dismantled. I tried to make the workers clean but they refused. The fluff on machine parts would fly up in the air as long belts running from ceiling created an artificially dangerous fire hazard. The manager not knowing about this and went around the department turning the other way.

One fine night around or after 12:00 Mid Night there was a fire it spread to the whole of spinning Department. Fire Engines were called they had to come but they came and work intensified and in 3 hours the fire was put out. I was present at the spot and water had flooded the whole department workers started to remove water in Fire Buckets which had holes, somehow the holes were plugged and most of the water was taken out of the department.

The Mill Manager was coming he saw me, it was 4 AM perhaps he came direct to me and said start the machines.I told him there is still some water and it may cause electric shock to any worker so it will take some time to give power and start.

Few workers were present in their presence he shouted start the machines. Hearing him shout in dead silence more workers came, when I shouted back, sorry I won't start. There was no one who could start. He stood looking at me, I shouted at workers why are you looking at us remove water near the machines and motors in a local language. He perhaps understood perhaps, but still he was standing. It took a few more minutes when I again shouted start the main motor and run the machine on half belt on one by one. All machines started slowly I could see workers had done a good job. Even the Head Jobber was cleaning as he was in mill quarters and had come. The Mill Manager told me to meet the General Manager in the morning. I told him I will. He told me we are paying you such a high salary you behave like this. I told him do not compare my salary with yours. Where they paid me less behaved better. I will submit my resignation to General Manager and left the Department.

In the Morning I met the General Manager he saw me and asked what had happened I told him everything. He asked me what he should do, he was a young chap I gave him my resignation letter and told him to please accept the letter and left his office.

I went to the Finance Manager and told him to settle my accounts. He was looking at me I sat down and told him I want my accounts settled immediately as I have given my resignation letter. Just then General Manager came. I stood up he said I can sit down and told the Finance Manager to pay my full month salary in their Marwari language and went back to his office.

I got the money came home to put all my things in a gunny bag I paid the borrowed from my Land Lady gave her also my months rent told her I am going for good. She asked me why I told her the weather was not suitable to me and went inside took my things gave the Key to the land lady and came to the Bus Stand and was at home late in the evening.

[ Bombay was also The Textile Capitol of India.]

I and my friend got down at VT now CST Bombay now Mumbai. We had to take a local suburban train as we had to stay in my friends sisters house for a night and then get bunked somewhere till we could get a job in any mill. At that time all mills were making money and profits. Every mill was working with 30-year-old machines mostly Made in England. Few mills showed concern to technology and had installed modern machines of any country other than England as govt of the day did not permit any machine from England as we understood

My friend's sister and her husband welcomed us with hot Gujarati food and we both ate without any shame as we had not taken anything since 12 hours to save money, we were provided with Beds to sleep and we both slept soundly. Next morning after a good breakfast we left for the city of Chimney's and seeing those our hearts were filled with hope that we will work under the shadows of one of the chimneys. My friend had enquired regarding lodging places and had selected a Gujarati Lodge near the local railway station in Matunga. We both settled in the place. The next day I left for my uncle's place in Santa Cruz and landed in his home had settled comfortably. I asked my uncle if I should wait for a job or what?. He said no you will go to any mill every day meet the Manager or MD and tell them you want a job and tell them my name and tell them I have sent you to meet them requesting a job. I asked why can't you give me a letter, he said that is not necessary. For 2 weeks I went daily to any mill Chimney I could see from the local train got down there and met the Managers, they all listened to me some said they will call me if there is a vacancy, Some interviewed and said they need a local mill experienced person. Some wanted an application with my biodata. One mill manager gave me spinning calculations and told me to submit and go but I could not do it and slipped out without making a sound. The Bombay Dyeing Mill Spinning Master said he would take me as a trainee, ONE Mill MD was my favourite cricketer Vijay Merchant who said he is busy and did not allow me to see him for one minute. I was reporting to my uncle every day and perhaps he was fed up. He told me to meet one of his deputy who worked under him, He was a Sizing Master in New Great Eastern Spinning & Weaving Mills Ltd. I met him he told me to meet his brother Mr.Dhandekar who was Mill Chief Engineer in Century Spg & Weg Mills Ltd. He told me to meet Mr.H.P Wadia Spinning Superintendent and he told me to join the mills next day. I asked him for an appointment order. He got wild and said, you want a job or an appointment order. I told him sorry sir I will join tomorrow, he said to come at 11:00 PM shift. I got a shock and was standing he rang a bell and his office peon opened the door Mr.Wadia said to take him to Zenith Spinning Master I slowly thanked him and followed him and met the Spinning Master he was a nice looking man who smilingly said he will take care of everything and I can come at 11:00 PM and tell security that I have called you and meet Mr.Vengsarker in 4th floor at 11:00 PM. I said I will. He said after a few more days the shift will change and I will follow the shift in day shift and that's how it goes. I was happy. I came home and met my uncle.

Getting down from 3rd Floor of Zenith Mills in Century Mill compound I saw Bombay Dyeing Mill Compound was next to Zenith Mill. Why not join Bombay Dyeing Mills was in my Mind. When I returned to my uncle's home there were 3 appointment letters. My uncle was also at home. I told him what happened at the Century Mills. He was happy and said to go and join them it is best for you. Drop any other offer you have or you may get. That night I attended the 3rd shift in Century Mills spent nearly 3 years working in Zenith Mills and also observing the working of Century Mills which was situated after the huge weaving shed biggest in India. I also saw every department which perhaps was nowhere else in any mill in Bombay. All the technical Staff of Zenith Mills were very friendly and the Spinning Master and Spinning Superintendents were perhaps no comparison to any mill in south India who shouldered heavy responsibility on any of them and worked so well that made me feel as to what are the expectations of a technical man from the Mill Management.

I had visited my parents twice during my visits they would ask me if I would come down to the south. My father did not like me to be working with him since I had not joined a sister mill of his mill and the man who offered me the job was his boss also in his mill. Century Mill management's another arm took over a closed mill very close to Mysore in Nanjangud and when I applied I was offered a senior job by designation but work was same and I was offered Rs.150/- more. I told everybody why I am going and quit the job and came down to Bangalore. My friend who came with me to Bombay was working in Gold Mohar Mills and he continued in his mills. As I was coming to VT station some tears came down my cheeks. I was thinking it will never be another chance for me to enter another mill. My uncle had left Bombay giving me his FLAT free but I could not manage independently I had to come back to my old guest house and stayed with my friend until I left Bombay. I had learnt a lot in spinning working under Mr.H.P Wadia and Mr.Chemburker and Mr.Dighe and Mr.Chandu Bhave.

[ Fed up I resign and go to Bombay.]

My superior was a qualified person but he did not even talk to me. I had no conversation with him ever since I had joined the mills. My father's superior also a Gold Medalist and Textile Graduate spoke to me as a student. The pocket calculator that he gave me was always in my pocket along with a slide rule which I took from my brother. I was also keeping a screw spanner and a pocket screw driver and tester for any needs if I had to work. Spinning calculations needed calculator and also to find square roots. It needed no note book or pencil even though I carried everything in my chest pocket and Hip pockets. However no one was doing any calculations nor asking me to do. Being from another state was perhaps a handicap but I did not know it, people were nice when I talked. I was feeling lonely in the mill but otherwise I was fine.

We friends, all working in textile mills would meet every week and one of them working in a local reputed mill told us that they had a problem with New Local Weaving Machines and a Xman from Bombay had come and solved all the problems and the weaving efficiency of the machines was continuously much higher than imported weaving machines which are looked after by another Yman also from Bombay trained in the imported weaving machine manufactures but could not get the imported weaving machines give higher efficiency or even the same weaving machines efficiency's. When the Management asked more efficiency in local made weaving machines that Xman challenged the management if the imported machines gave more than his machines, he would pack all the machines and take back their machines and pay back money paid with compensation. I shouted what is the name of that person. When he said I had a shock he was my cousin. I again shouted where is he staying, again it was a shock. The Hotel was next to our MD's House.

He (my cousin)was my father's sisters son and brother of my sisters husband. I went to his hotel in the evening and saw him in his room where he kept the door open and saw him reading a news paper he did not see me, I shouted his name he saw me, dropped his paper and came and hugged me in Bombay style. I told him how I came to know he was in Coimbatore and what he had done he was just laughing. I told him that I would like to work under him. He said if you work under me you will have to shed not tears but blood you are a spinner and I am a weaver you know that in Bombay spinners are considered as good administrators, work hard you will come up. If you want to work here you will not learn anything come to Bombay if you want to work he said. I said I will come to Bombay. He said come and said lets go and have food. The food in that hotel was very costly for me so I tasted my meal with my long tongue and enjoyed. I said see you soon and came to my lodge. That nigh I slept very late. I met my cousin several times and finally he told the management that his presence in the mills would be costing if they are not complaining about the looms and if he is being working in the mill. This was to inform them to give in writing if they have any complaints. And his management informed the mills soon, that if they do not write to them any complaints why they have to keep their Chief Erection Engineer, when all and every loom is working with 96% efficiency.

I think the management of the mills thanked them so he soon left.

I continued working forgetting my few IRKS when a Guajarati friend of mine wrote to me that he has closed his weaving shed and looking for a job. I wrote to him to come to Coimbatore as there is a Gujarati Owned Mill with a Gujarati Manager and he will get a Job he visited and got a job. He left to his home town Bangalore (also mine) and wrote to me that it was a small weaving section where there would not be any scope for work and he would find it hard to spend his career so early and would be going to Bombay to find a Job.

The reason he gave me made me think what my cousin had told that I would learn nothing in Coimbatore. why am I wasting my time kept ringing in my ears.

Soon I was to confront the MD of my mill when he visited the Carding Department when every one of the machines was manually stripped of the main parts of the machine from cotton dust embedded in the main parts. I was watching and he the MD was standing and saw every where nothing but cotton fluff and dust he asked me what I was doing when there was so much dirt and fluff. I told him I was just watching the stripping and doing nothing.If you say you are doing nothing come to office and settle your accounts, he said and left the department. I reported to Sr. Spinning Master what had happened. He listened, and told me why did you say anything he knows what happens during stripping, any way see what happens go and meet the Accounts Manager and tell him what happened. What will happen I asked the spinning master. Nothing may happen why can't you meet him it is MD's instructions to settle your accounts. Will he settle my accounts I asked, if MD has told he will, but he will ask you to resign and you have to take my signature and give it to him. He will send it or take it to MD and if MD signs his acceptance he will settle your accounts. I wrote to MD thanking him for giving me an opportunity to work in his mills and accept my resignation due to personal reasons and relive me from duties at earliest ( this was dictated by Spinning Master when I asked him how I should write the resignation ).I went to Accounts Manager and gave him my resignation letter after telling him what had happened he did not say a word but took my resignation letter to MD and came back and told me that he will let me know whether MD has accepted my resignation letter in the morning and I must come at 11:00 AM and meet him. Next day my accounts were settled and I came out of the Mills.

I returned to my lodge and thought of Going to Bombay. I rushed to Post Office and sent a Telegram to my friend that I had resigned and will be coming to Bombay with him. WE both landed in Bombay at 10:00 PM and stayed with his Brother in Law at THANE a small village where the Suburban Railway Station was the only attraction.

[ My Perks & Irks.]

Everything was perfect for a contented spinning supervisor but I was not contented I did not like anything that was practiced or existed in a company which wanted to carry on with 3rd grade technical or administrative heads who had there own standards and not any well managed textile industry of my time and future time also. To me even my dads mills was substandard as they were governed by community and caste who never had any international standard industry in textiles or engineering.

The mill I worked had 2 spinning masters for its size something never existed in any of my friends mills or mills I knew.

The MD of the mill took rounds in a dress banned in textile industry.

The Mill had no canteen, workers had to go out of the gate and eat in unhygienic road side eatery's

It was not a well layout laid or well planed mill it was a weaving mill which put up a spinning unit in limited place in a unplanned layout of all machines.

I wanted to work in a mill like Binny's my home town mills managed by only Englishperson's from UK.

The place I worked was indeed called as South India's Textile Capitol and Manchester of South India in Coimbatore. Indeed there were couple of mills built and managed by people from UK. These mills were captured by the local big cotton merchants and others when all the people from UK left after India got its freedom in the year 1947 and later due to Govt's industrial policy of not to import any textile machinery when no textile machinery of international standards was manufactured in India by Indian machinery makers..

To work under 2 people heading my side of the mills was not possible and practically difficult. Once the spinning master no.1 rejected a store item with out giving any reason as he was on leave and no.2 spinning manager refused to give information with the result the supplier of the item came to me when I was in 1st shift and requested me if I could tell why the item was rejected. I took him near the machine and fixed the item after stopping the machine and started the machine. The part was wobbling on the spindle and he saw it and asked me how to fix it. I stopped the spindle pressed the bobbin hard and left the spindle it was not wobbling. I told him to take 5 spindles from the mill store take back all the bobbins engage 5 workers and tell them to press 100 bobbins and send for trial the 100 bobbins to mills when it can be approved. He was so happy he gave me his card and told me if I need a help he would be happy to help me. I never met him for any help, but I remembered his name and his company.

I had no hand on experience I could not work in maintenance department to get and in fact there was no body looking after Maintenance exclusively by qualified persons only fitters with out knowing how to read the manuals and maintenance books sent along with machines, it was so in many mills which was managed by a cotton grower or seller who managed the mills by the fact they were Bosses surrounded by Yes Sir, Yes Sir Men every where in the mills. This was known as yes sir yes sir Management.

The only few perks I had were of no value and it was just going out anytime for a coffee break as there was no canteen. If any one comes in search of me I would be informed and I could meet them though I could not show them the mills officially. I could go out to a bank or post office any time on informing the security.

I had the worst irk when after my 3rd shift coming to hotel getting sleep the restaurant opposite to my lodge played local songs loudly and disturbed my sleep playing the same song daily. I was not sleeping in the mill even during recess hours.

I had the worst experience when I was on duty in 3rd shift the spinning jobber came and reported that machines were not working properly I remembered once the spinning master telling the jobber for the same complaint to increase the pinion half a tooth in all machines. The jobber told me that he will have to count the actual number of teeth fixed on the machine and since it was new machines he was not knowing where is the pinion on the machine I must come and show it. I was also not knowing but I know he was testing me. I told him to get the key to wheel room and I will wait for him to come. He left and I dragged the testing boy to dept asked him to show the pinion on the machine. I saw it and came speedily and sat in the room testing the bobbin which showed it was true but not to that extent. The jobber came with the key and we both went to the spinning department. I saw all the machines and told him to check the test report and tell me if we can change the pinion 1/2 tooth he said he will see and come after he left I also followed him as he entered he also saw me. The test recorded book was seen it showed no need to make changes. I took him to the dept and asked him to read the hygrometer readings in all the 4 hygrometers it was OK only in One and 3 showed high temp I asked them to open alternate windows we waited for 30 minutes the breaks were reduced I told him change the wheel and I will sign the book. He changed the wheels in another 45 minutes I asked the workers they said working is good they said. I spent all my time there and kept the jobber also he sat in one corner and I sat in one corner I suddenly got up and came to wrapping room. The jobber also came. I told him dept is OK let's go for a cup of Tea I said he agreed and from that day nothing was not bad.

The incident about a jobber challenging me was not the first. In my previous mill when I was a trainee I was counting the number of teeth in the gear box of a machine under cleaning when the spinning department Jobber passing by stopped and started asking me why I was counting, oh that you wont know I said, he said tell me what is that I don't know. It's called break draft I said. Oh that I will know by not doing what you are doing. I cleaned my hands and gave him my note book and told him to calculate he said I don't need paper and pencil. This was most challenging I asked him showing 2 rollers tell me the break draft. He said close your eyes if I say it correctly what will you give, I said whatever. I don't know what he did but after a second he told me it was 1.25. Oh that is the standard I want actual I said, he said actual may be 1/16th or 1/8th more not less it does not effect the break draft so much. That was a shock. I asked him what was it he demanded he said bring me a Packet of 7 o clock Blade to morrow if you can. I gave him and asked him how he could say it. He demonstrated it. None of my friends could not tell me how to calculate that way.

I did learn from shop floor workers many more such things. The Textile Advisor from JAPAN Dr.T. Hanada who taught me many tips on trouble shooting problems.

[ My Duties and Responsibilities.]

1 - Reporting for Work at Appointed Time.

2 - Be present on all the 8 working Hours including Recess Hours.

3 - Keep all the Departments very clean, all machines super clean.

4 - Keep all the Safety Guards in its place.

5 - Check quality records on tests done and sign the register.

6 - Check personally to see all workers are performing their duties in all departments.

7 - Check the humidity's on hygrometer in all departments and record in the book maintained every 2 hours on temperature and humidity.

8 - Check on all machines on stoppages allowed for production related stoppages.

9 - Keep a watch on any group discussions taking place in any part of the whole mills.

10 -Record anything that is important after seeing instructions given in log book.

11 -Check if Fire Equipment's & Buckets are in their respective places.

12 -Check if the Humidification Plants are working to keep the departments required as per required temperatures and humidity.

13 -Record any defective working of the machines especially driving Belts wear outs.

14 -Check on qualities and quantities of waste removed on machines in all departments.

15 -Workers who have to wear uniforms given, wear it on duty.

16 -Workers engaged in place of absentees perform the work with out making any defects in product.

17 -Record idle productive spindles machine wise at close of shift with reason for being idle.

18 -Take over of shift cleanliness in all departments report as - Good -Satisfactory - Poor.

19 -Report any important message in logbook.

20 -No Visitor or official to be allowed after Main office is closed.

21 -Nothing goes out of Mill Gate after Main Office is Closed.

[ My first Job.]

I went back to the mill after my lunch and had to meet the spinning master, when I met him he said I may join the mill next day and told me to come at 7:00 AM and report to mill spinning master. What the heck I thought, are there two spinning masters, was what I thought.

The mill or any mill the shift spinning supervisor has to report 5 to 15 minutes early than the appointed time. I reported early and the mill spinning master was sitting in the wrapping room, he said Oh you have come, so you know how to take charge I am sending a chap he will take you to the person who will hand over the charge and you can carry on.

I went with the chap who was sent by the mill spinning master, met the out going spinning supervisor with whom we both went to all departments as we discussed few things the people saw me and understood that I was the new supervisor. All the shifts had a shift jobber who was in control of all the spinning dept workers only. That was the set up. As a supervisor I had learnt from my previous mills that we had to see the production and there was no other important work. I sat near the weight recording machine and went on looking at the production of each machine being weighed. Noted some points saw the register where there was a record of the full 8 hour productions took some notes and left the place. I then went from place to place and saw the most modern spinning machines installed in a special building. I had never seen it though I knew it while I saw them in pictures in the previous mill textile magazines which were kept in the main office which was kept for guests. I spent hours looking at the machines imported from JAPAN which eliminated a section of the workers of one department fully including the machines. It was the innovation not a revolution though, of the century in Textile Industry in world.

I continued working in this mill.

[ My first Mill on my first job.]

The Textile Inspector arrived at around 2:15 PM on seeing me he said are you from SKSJTI I said yes. Have you taken a Room here he asked, I said no. If you want One Bed is vacant in my room you can occupy the rent is Rs.25/- per month you get hot water for bath. I said yes I wanted it that's why I was waiting for you. He asked the Room Boy to call the Malik of the Hotel and my entry was fixed. The next day I met the MD and he told me to wait . I was waiting, a cup of coffee was given. After an hour MD came out of the office and with him there were 2 more persons were present. All 3 of us went round the mills and after going through all the departments we came to office, and  all of us were told to sit in the office and he went to his office in another corner.

With in a few minutes all of us were called and we had coffee. MD said that I must say something about the mill I saw and I can say it freely. I told that as per the system taught by us by the Dr. T Hanada of Japan the material flow I saw was not as he wanted. The machine cleaning sequence seems like not like in the textile mills of Japan. There are some changes to be made, weighing the yarn bundles needs change. There are no records of humidity charts anywhere, Speeds of machines need to be checked. Saw few bad habits of workmen in joining broken ends piecing, some places there were no bulbs. Roof Cleaning was not done for a long period quality control studies records were not given to see. Some other tests have been stopped and records of various tests were making test in one go and that was done only at 12:00 to 3:OO PM Some more tests on cotton that were made  was not regular. However I am going to organize SQC so it will be done, also the mill may make a lawn in front of the office so that fresh air can come to office. The test Room must be a Air Conditioned Room if possible or can have wide windows. There are other things that are to be made but these steps need to be done on priority I informed.

I had not seen a man sitting next to MD but he was sitting slightly behind him. he had taken down what ever I had spoken perhaps he was told to go so he got up and went away. After some time as they were discussing what I had said the person who had taken down my saying to MD came and gave the paper the two persons and told them to study and again discuss with him with a report of their action plan.

MD stood up and told me to come with him, we went out and near the car he told me to sit beside him and the car drove off from the mills wide gates opened and kept open only for this car to go by two security men in uniform.

MD never spoke a word till we reached his residence which I used to see on my way to previous mill and never imagined I would be sitting in this big mansion like structure, the car stopped in the portico and I followed him once inside he told me to wait after some time I was served coffee. I drank coffee and was waiting when some body came and told me that MD is resting and I may go. With out a word I left his mansion and walked back to my meals joint.

[ My parents were happy that I was on track.]

My father saw me from opening the compound gate as I saw him, he saw me too and came and opened the door the door had expanded metal grill. I entered stood for a few seconds and told him that I would be joining a new mill in the heart of the city and would be staying almost near the mill itself. He asked me some technical questions and gave a slap on my head and told me to tell my mother. I almost bumped in to my mother as she came out to meet me hearing my voice. She pushed me to the Dining Room and sat in a chair and I also sat on another dumping my hand baggage on the table. She asked many questions and wanted to know if I had a permanent job, if people in the mill would co-operate and if I will say something resign from the job and again come here to tell another storey. I kept my hand on my heart and told her that the job I had was in a vacancy and it is permanent if I work to the spinning master's satisfaction. OK take bath do puja and come to breakfast I want to talk more she said.

During breakfast my mother wanted to know what happened to my friends Murali, Vasant, Narasimha, and Gopinath. They are all in the same mills and they are still on training in the same mill. They may join some mill in or around Coimbatore as supervisors, there are always supervisors in demand since many mills are interested in keeping technically qualified persons than promoting worker level fitters as Jobbers and that was the advise from South India Textile Research Associations strong recommendations to all Mill Owners. So there is good scope as more than 90 Textile Big, Large, Standard and Small mills I informed. She saw my appointment letter, she said I must send Rs.10/- per month from my salary, She told me that in 2 years my salary had increased 300% and I must not spend lavishly. I told her I have to eat what Murali eats you know it is the minimum. I don't want you to take any loan from your friends. If you need anything write to me and I will buy and keep.

I stayed for 3 days and my sisters were happy just that I am not there to quarrel and fight with them but they were really charming in our family. I used to demand their blank papers and Dot Pens Rubber and anything I need. My departure a day early I would take them to a Hindi film.

I wanted to join the mill on Thursday so I left my home on Tuesday came to Coimbatore at 9:00 AM and went to a hotel next to mill asked for a room. They said they have only 1 room occupied by a Textile Inspector he goes to mills and comes for Lunch at 12:30 PM they said. I sat in the hotel as I had known some textile committee inspectors who were working in my previous mill. I saw the Room he was occupying and wanted the same Room as it was good. The Mill Gate was just at the other end of the Hotel Compound it was the best. The Rent was Rs.50/- PM and there were 2 Beds.

[ Coimbatore better than Bangalore but.....]

My spinning Master smiled when he saw me the next day when I reported for work. I had put on white half arm shirt and had tucked my shirt inside the white pant with a brown belt and wearing brown shoes I was happy since his smile meant that I was OK,  he was in testing room and asked me to understand how to operate on the Yarn Testing Machine. There was the regular guy who was working on the machine who never talked to me, he was sitting operating the machine that was running. I told the spinning master yes Sir I will but sir I have worked out the bundle weights and would like to show you. He said OK give it to me but go first learn how to operate the testing machine I said yes sir and looked  at the guy operating the testing machine. The guy stood up opened his drawer took out a book gave it me  and left the testing room with out a word. I did not understand till I came to know he was sent to shift . The testing room was separated by a glass partition and any one could hear the voice of the spinning master. This news spread and people started looking at me with some guess like look I don't know what was their guess until the person taking bobbins from the dep't to testing room told me that I was removed from shift as I was messing every where all around the mill even when there was no light inviting trouble as there were snakes in some places that I was going while in my 2nd and 3rd shift.

This guy who was not very friendly even though I tried to make him look at me never bothered to give a smile. He was a qualified technical man good looking and had a smiling face person but I could not be friendly. The changes that were made by the spinning master had further has upset him perhaps. The changes had made me to meet several persons who worked in the office only in day and they told me the guy never talked to any body. I had never met the Manager whom I first met on the first day never came to the dept and was always in the office or would go out. However I met him near the office and wanted to know how I was getting on in my work.

I went several times to take some studies in another sister mill one kilometer away from our mill on the highway. The looked very good from out side, here sat the group's chairman relative who was son in law of the group's chairman's sisters son in law. Most of the group's mills were in the hands of the group's chairman's very close relative. Our Mill Manager was also a relative of group's chairman. May be if I married any of his relatives girl I would have also been a Mill Manager of some mill. That was only a thought my parents were more dearer to me and I could never tell them that I want to marry a non Brahmins girl.

I continued to work cursing why I could not work in few mills that were running well but the mill worked with out recruiting anyone in technical posts who belonged to other community. Most of the mills who were owning textiles mills belonged to two communities and one or two to other communities. My transport up and down would be nearly 10 KM and it was boring. I had no choice even my attempt to apply to some mill for the post of a supervisor never replied. I had no problem to work in my present mills but the distance I had to travel and the noon meals ate in prime hunger time in that village, the breakfast in a hut on the road to mills, the Idli's, Sambar and Chatni's made me sick there was nothing other than IDLI to eat at 6:30 AM no DOSA or VADA SAMBAR.

Every technical post carried experience with qualification. I had to get experience certificate orally if not in writing. In writing they would ask me to show the appointment letter if there was no certificate. My big mouth started asking every one I knew if they know any vacancy in any mill inside the town. Friends who were few would tell me that they also are looking for suitable salaried job. My concern was distance to travel and no other demand. I had to get experience working in the mills to get in to another mill for better pay while promotions were based on experience to get in to another mill. I even tried in a local machinery manufacturers agent office for the post of erection engineers they wanted experience in erection of particular machines. Jobs were plenty but every job needed experience. My concern was to put those donkey years in my job application.

My parents were happy that I had a job, my father was perhaps happy that I am getting the experience required to get in to his mills group. My mother wanted me stay on job, she knew I have the guts and needed skill required to be the leading man. I was thirsty for change and god sent a message when I heard one of my friend tell that there was a vacancy in the local mill for shift supervisor's post. I took time to write a application nicely and waited for a letter from the mill. This was a good chance I could just walk in to the mills in just 5 minutes and it had modern Japanese textile spinning machines. Such an experience in spinning could only be in this city which is labeled as Manchester of South India. There no such chance of me getting a job at this stage in Bangalore but still it was my home town to work and enjoy my bachelor life in my charming city where people from almost every country are residing.

Few days after my letter was posted I came home my lodge and saw a postal cover sticking to my room door. I felt it was the letter I was waiting. It was indeed a letter from the same mill that I was expecting. I was asked to come for a interview on any week day between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM for a interview with the MD of the Mill. He was a well known mill owner in Coimbatore. I felt elated and touched my Guru's Padukas and fixed my interview on my guru's day Thursday. I had 2 more days, the next day I applied for my casual leave and spinning master wanted to know what I was doing on the day him everything and he agreed on my bicycle transport and food problems and signed my leave application.

I got the job when MD after knowing my work said you can join any day. I resigned from my job the next day after seeing my letter Mill Manager wanted to know why I am resigning and I old him the truth. He said nothing except telling me "Wish you all the Best".

I went to accounts dep't and requested them to settle my accounts since my resignation was accepted by the Manager and told the few people in the office and mills that I am joining a new mill asked spinning master few tips on how I can impress myself with the new spinning master and at 3:00 PM went to office, they told me to come in the morning and take a certificate from the Manager collect the amount due to me. I had to go again to the mills, give a application to the Manager for a certificate on my service which he did sometime in the noon. After collecting my amount I came out of the Mills and that was the end of my first JOB.

Next day I boarded the train in the evening when all my friends (3 only) came to see me off  and was home in the Morning, it was a Sunday, I remember well my father was sitting in the Veranda reading the News Paper .

[ Yarn Bundle Weights Data.]

Now that I was to look after SQC, Standards, Testing and another mill also, time had come to operate on the yarn testing machine which showed yarn quality with regard to thick places, thin places and weak places and total defects. I had seen the reports but could not study them as they were all in place and in files that only spinning master could see. I was sure that he would hand me the file sooner or later. I had to go to day shift again and was wondering what work would be allotted to me. I had received my salary which was 50% more than what I was getting from Gov't through the mill working as a Gov't of India Trainee,and had been to a temple though not in Perur which I had postponed. So my next job was to send my mother Rs.10/- by MO and then to buy the book STATISTICS. It was in the evening on my pre holiday, my friend and myself went to various book stores to find the book 'Statistics' we could not get it, no book store was keeping any book on statistics. We thought it is best to get it from Bangalore from who so ever goes home and returned to our hotel took meal and came to lodge. The next day was a holiday for me but my friends would go to mills and I would be alone. The data I had collected was not much it was only for a few days. What was the idea of collecting the data I thought I opened the book on SQC and found that 'Data collection is the process of gathering information which could answer questions' that was what that man from Japan had said in my training. I had to know the question to get the answer. I asked the question myself What was the quality in a yarn bundle. There were no test records only spinning master wanted the weight of the yarn bundle. My tough brain told me ask STUPID  the worker who packs. . I thought I would do it first thing in the morning when I would weigh the yarn BUNDLE for . The BUNDLE QUALITY.

That night I sat alone and did some thinking about the Bundle weight, The 30s count bundle had 30 knots, 40s had 40 and 60s had 60 knots and each bundle weight was 4.5 Kg's or 10 lbs for all counts. How much yarn was there in one lbs and how many yards of cloth would one 1 lbs of yarn can make. The formula was Oz's/ Sq. yard = 45 GSM of cloth say of 30s count 45/34 = 1.3235 Sq. Yard. so for 16 Oz's = 21.176 sq. yards  or 1 lbs of yarn of 30s count must produce 21.176  sq. yards converting of yarn to cloth will have some yarn as hard waste which is perhaps 5% in which case the cloth will be  21.176 Sq. Yards - 5% = 1 yard and the weaver will OK the yarn quality if he gets 20.176 sq. yards for 1 lbs of yarn. The weavers would buy bundles from yarn merchants, (I was told by a yarn merchant who was our college mate but did yarn business and never worked in a mill.) In case he gets short of his calculations he will complain to the yarn merchant that yarn quality is not up to his requirement. We were making 30s count,40s count and 60s count, you can work out on this basis for 40's & 60's.

The spinning master was also looking at a book which was called as wrapping book. Here there were several readings of yarn tests which showed what was the count of yarn that was made continuously all 24 hours was tested each day and recorded in that book. There was also tests that were done on other machines and they had to keep correct wrappings to get correct count of yarn.. The Spinning master would  go through all the readings and write in his green pen a number and sign the book and visit various departments what he was doing in the dept he was talking to jobbers and fitters mostly. We supervisors could not ask the jobbers and fitters what was that the spinning master was talking

I talked to my friend in his room and told him about my problem and I told him what the spinning master had told. I asked him his opinion as I was going in first shift in the morning and how I needed his help . He said note down all bundle weights and we will find out if there is any significant difference by working out the correlation coefficient which is a coefficient that gives a quantitative measure of some type of correlation and dependence.

The Data collection I has was not sufficient and I had not made the process of gathering and measuring information on targeted variables in an established systematic method he said and he showed a picture and explained how the values can be seen of the Data he had collected and explained to me to do the same immediately so that I can try to impress the spinning master. I asked him to explain the picture below and if he had done it . He said he had seen it some where and showed me where he had kept it.  He said it was called as scatter diagram and the average values obtained  were plotted showing on X & Y axis the upper and lower values that deviated from the average values by (+) or (-) than the average values. How significant the results were was shown for yellow dots as 0.89/0.88 and for blue dots as 0.51/0.48. I told him how I can I explain this to a weaver since most of them can't read, he said he does not know.( I had done a better arithmetic to know what the weaver can understand if my arithmetic is correct.) 

[ Who was pushing and promoting me?]

I had to bike daily 5 KM up and down at early morning to reach the mill and come back to lodge at 3:00 PM again after 6 days take a holiday on Thursday as all textile mills were working with staggered holidays due to power shortage. When everybody is enjoying a holiday on Sunday I had to work, that had upset my mood on all Sunday's. It was only when I was in my 1st shift that I was free in the evenings, when I could meet my college friends who were all on training would see me. However, when I was in 2nd and 3rd shifts it was not possible. This worried me.

One day when I was in 2nd shift when the officers had all gone usually the office building had no lights except a light in the portico but on that day I saw lights were burning. I went there to find out why the lights were burning. I saw Standards Engineer that I had met at the previous mills sitting in the office going through a ledger. I went there and wished him. He smiled at me and told me to come and take a seat in front of his table. He asked me some questions and I asked him many and came to know he was a college mate of my another senior textile deputy weaving master to my uncle, knowing that my uncle was a weaving master he told me that, he had specialized in Standards and had worked for some time in Indian Standards Institute known as ISI a gov't organization. He told me his work in our mill was on how 'Standards' can help improve mills performance. It was very interesting. He also gave me a book on "Standards" now I had 2 books not available in any book store. One was on 'Statistical Quality Control' given by the textile Magnet Dr. Hanada of Japan and "Standards". There was another book 'STATISTICS' which our college Principal Prof: Sri Nagabhushna had told all students must read but I had not purchased. I thought as soon as I get my salary the first thing I would do was to buy that Book.

When I was in 1st shift again I saw him talking to our mill spinning master, I could not wish him nor talk to him knowing my predicament he called me and told the spinning master that my uncle was a weaving master in a mill in Bombay. The spinning master asked me my uncle's name and when I told him he was surprised and told me my uncle was his senior in the college. He was pleased and told me that I will be in 1st shift from then on to work in Standards, Quality Control and Testing in another mill also a short distant from our mill group. I knew no joy better and owed to visit Sri Perumal Temple at Perur as soon as I had my salary.

When on my Sunday as usual we were walking after our evening meal. I told my friends that I had a lift and would not be going to 2nd & 3rd Shifts it was a surprise to all but one of them said his uncles are promoting him and pushing him. I was shocked and speechless. I said if you want to know I said, go and climb a wall. I am running not standing to get pushed or lifted for promotion. No body wanted to say anything they knew it was useless.

[ My 3 shift duty's and adjustments.]

I was about to complete one month in day shift in few days when spinning master told me that I must start rolling in all 3 shifts from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM & 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM.

My second shift was thrilling as I was in charge of the happenings in the entire mill. I told my friend he was happy, but he had to go home after his training since his mill had no vacancy and his application to various mills in the city he did not get even a reply. He also told me that now my steps to the top had started. This gave me some motivation to work with interest. I could write in the log book everything. No body wrote about any information other than any issues except machine problems. Once I wrote that a light bulb near the toilet was not burning to Mill Engineer. Next day the spinning master asked me since how long the bulb was not burning in log book. I wrote in log book that I was in shift only from yesterday and I saw it when I took my rounds out side the mill. The next day he said don't reply to me in log book come and see me. I said I am sorry sir. I told my friend about it. He is right you should not do it. I kept quite. I told my friend that coming from mill after 11:00 was scary he said don't come sleep in mills only. Near the lake on my road was a devil women who will come naked with oil smeared all over her body grab you and empty your pockets she will attack men and no one knows how to catch her since she smears oil all over her body and she may target me when I come after my 2nd shift with my pay at the month end. This worried me so I slept only in mills on a table, no pillow nor a bed sheet. When I asked a staff he said I must take a Room in the Village and cook myself. Another worry.

My 3rd shift also started when I realized that coming to mill at 11:00 PM was a lonely bicycle ride in a lonely road at 10:00 PM which gave me some shivers so I asked my colleague how he was coming he said he had to come early and wait near the hotel where he took food and he was just a kilometer from mills and it was no problem. I started doing it. My 3rd shift was another problem as I was not expected to sleep. I did not care and slept for a hour during my shift break. Some times I did not get up and my junior staff would wake me up. I asked him if others were sleeping. He said sometimes and not like me. This was my worry. The food I ate where another supervisor was eating was another worry as rice was so big that I count every grain I had on my plate and Sāmbhar was watery which I had never even seen let alone eat.

My thinking about working in shift was very different actually there was no responsibility of any sort. Every body worked and I did not find any body sleep. If there was any problem you just write it in log book. Due to some good reason if machines randomly worked with heavy breakages the Jobber would make it alright with out even telling me. I informed the spinning master about this and he asked me to analyze the weight of yarn bundles and find out if I did notice any change in yarn bundles weight. That night I sat in the testing room and took out the note book, there were more than 100 readings which the spinning master had seen and signed with some figures underlined. The packing department did not work in 3rd shift so there was no one to tell me what did the figures mean. I wrote figures which showed + or - 20 there were few only. I wrote + or - 30 grouped them 'A' and the rest as group 'B' group 'B' was more than group 'A'. I showed it to spinning master he said what does it say. I said group 'B' weighs more than group 'A'. He said when will you learn and went away. I did not say anything but was disappointed with myself. I took advantage of spinning master who spoke my mother tongue was also his. He said you are coming to first shift from next week and you will learn everything.

I do not know how I spent that week but worked grinding my teeth.

[ My first day on taking charge.]

I came out of the mill holding my rented bicycle, there was a road to my left from where I had come and saw another mill gate and wanted to see the name of the mill what I saw was the name of a mill which was a sister concern of the mill that was near my lodge. I knew it was not possible to get in to that mill since it was a mill of different type where you had to know how to read and write the local language. I knew only how to speak. I had to learn a lot of what really is the work in a mill and it was my full time work.

Learning the local language to read and write was not my priority. There was no one to teach and I had no interest to learn. I had to work in a big mill was my agenda.

I had to bike for 45 minutes to reach my lodge and I did not feel it as I had a long holiday. My friend had already had come as I could see his bike. I changed my dress had a bath and wore fresh clothes. Sat in my room and was wondering how I can learn in this mill. I had seen the electronic yarn testing machine which was in my mill earlier but we as trainees were not allowed to touch it. To get my hands on that machine was my first priority. I was out at 3:00 PM but the person who was working on that machine would go at 5:00 PM only. My next item was as to why I had to weigh yarn bundles. I had to collect data. I was taught how to collect Data by the Japanese by using SQC technique. (perhaps I would know). Asking the Spinning Master would show that I was not knowing the reason for test nor knowing anything at all about the test. The Japane'y had presented a book on SQC methods to test quality of yarn. One test among others could tell if the variation in data for a particular test was significant and if it shows the test as significant action was to test if the input material had the same significant showing tests results. My friend entered my room and saw I was reading a book which I had closed, he asked me what was that I was reading, he was a first class student. I had lost my first class by just 1 mark because I had taken a picture of a girl who was speaking on a debate in our college in a debate competition. I did not show him anything but told him that I had no good meal in the noon lunch nor good coffee and we should go to have our evening meal and I would tell him after our meal.

I am also hungry let's go he said, we went by our bicycles to the town a mile away and on the way I told him everything. He said give me that book I want to read it. I also do not know why you have to weigh yarn bundles. What book it was my Note book with yarn bundles weight I said. He said I will find out if they do it in our mill and why do they do it. (first class student I thought.)

The hotel would serve meal on paying a lump sum of Rs.30/- per month and by paying they would give a Meal Ticket Book which had 30 tickets. One ticket was to be torn and placed on the table, the person who serves the side dishes would collect them while the serving starts. The meal was good. After our meal we both would go to railway station keeping our cycle in the hotel cycle stand and watch any train that comes and return to our lodge. On returning to our lodge I thought he would want to see the Note Book but he did not ask. We said good night and went to our rooms.

There was a watchman near the gate close to my Room not as our security but to stop any one who would vacate his room and run away. I told him to wake me up at 5:30 AM don't worry you will wake up he said. I went to bed and woke up when I heard boys shouting and came out to see there was a rush at the toilet enclosure and the big bath room. I went with my bath towel finished my morning toilet at the at the toilet enclosure and my shower at the shower center came to my room dressed in my mill dress and saw that my friend had left, I took my bicycle came near a tiffin shop took my heavy breakfast of 4 idly' s and coffee costing Rs.0.75 and came to the mill at 6;45 AM seeing my 2nd hand wrist watch 'ROMER' and adjusting the speed of the peddle. I saw workers standing here and there as I entered the side gate. The 3rd Shift supervisor was standing near the mill cycle stand waiting for me. He came to me and said everything is OK and he had stopped 3 machines for labor shortage and there was no breakdown of any machine and wanted to know if he had to come with me inside. I told him please come I want to hear from you how to take charge. He said OK and told me that taking charge was to show how he had kept the departments. Which I had to write in the log Book kept on the table in the test room, he came to the test room and asked me few personal questions and left. The discussions was mostly in local language only.

That's how my first one month I had to spend initially.

[ My first day on my 1st Job.]

The Spinning Master was walking slightly in front of me and we did not say anything till we reached his room. Once inside his room he told me to sit. He asked several questions personal and technical and finally told me he was also a student of our college. There was some doubt I had, that he may be by his talk but he pulled out a book and was seeing it when another person walked in. He looked like a technical person immediately he got up and told me let's go to the department. I also got up and followed him. We simply walked in the department till we reached the yarn packing department. He stood near the weighing machine and a worker brought a bundle of yarn and put it on the weighing pan of a weighing machine, the spinning master noted the weight of the loose bundle of yarn and another bundle was weighed and like that 10 bundles were weighed. He gave the list of bundle weights and told me that everyday when I came to the Mills the first thing that I should do was to do this exercise and give the list to him when he comes to the mill. We then went from Dept to Dept where I was told what I had to see and report in a note book which he would see daily. I listened with out any question because I had no question to ask him. He said that I can spend my time as I thought and report to him at 3:00 PM and said that if any one asked any question to reply in local language that you are a new supervisor watching all the Dept's and left me standing in the spinning department.

I walked slowly till the end of the spinning department and saw a fat man wearing a khaki half pant and white half shirt looking at me he asked are new supervisor. I said yes. Few more questions and after my answers he said that if I need any help I can meet him. I thanked him and entered the next department, there also I saw another man and before he could open his mouth I asked him who was he and looked at the spot where I was standing earlier which was in view of my present place where I was. He said he is Head Jobber and made his face big which I understood. He said he is shift Jobber. I went to all the departments and took few more Q's & A's when I saw a person carrying on his arms yarn bobbins coming towards me as he saw me he smiled and I also smiled. He walked on I knew why he was carrying those bobbins and stood watching. Another person came and he was giving every worker a card. I knew what was that Card. I followed him to a office where another person was sitting with more cards and a big book. I knew that also. They asked me if I was the New supervisor I said Yes. I asked some information and they told me. Now a loud shrill whistle blowed which was that it was 3:00PM and workers were coming out and those who had to go in had gone. I sat on a stool near the table and wrote my report. I came where the Spinning Master was standing with few workers, he saw me and told me that my duty was over and had to come next day at 7:00 AM and take charge of the shift. I gave the report he saw it and told me to go and that he will meet me next day.

I came near the cycle stand holding my bicycle I walked out of the mill Gate.  My 1st Day officially as a Spinning Supervisor had began.

[ Enter the Dragon.]

I entered the Mill Manager's Room, the room of the person and persons who are managers who control the entire operations of production and responsible for everything and anything that happens inside the mills all 24X7 hours of working. He is the only person held responsible even if one worker does not perform his duty with in one's prescribed working hours. Every one in the Mill is under scrutiny by some one or at one point in any spot. The rules are simple and if you follow it, you are rewarded. The man who is the Manager is very respected if he is not respected he is feared. If he is not efficient he loses his job if not somebody will replace him if not a General Manager is appointed, only if he is related to some one in the management. Textile Mill is not like any other industry. It is said that it is the mother of all Industries. The mill employees all professionals like no other industry. Textile sound means the sound of brotherhood of all men who work side by side in hundred of places all over the entire mill and to maintain that sort of disciplined atmosphere is the duty of the Manager of the Mill. How busy he can be you can just guess.

I entered the room of such a person. He was wearing a white half arm shirt and white trousers. The same dress my father used in his mill and his 'Spinning Master' but my fathers mill was huge it was perhaps 4 times the size of this mill I could guess as I was able to see the most of its structure of all around  the compound that I could see from the Main gate walking to the Manager's Office. There was a General Manager in my father's place where my father worked and above him was a Mill Director. They were not the employees of the mill they worked but of the Management who employed them at Bombay. I had seen from a distance only once, they also were wearing white coat over their pant and shirt. They were Parsis and looked different. I was seeing the Mill Manager who was sitting in front of me he smiled 25% only, and as he was looking at me I said Good After Noon Sir.

You are S K G Rao he asked, yes sir I have the transfer order letter and gave him the letter.

He said yes I saw the copy of that letter and took my letter from my hand.

I have a letter to you given to me from your friend sir, I said (took that letter from my file given by Spinning Master of the Mill where my father works.) and gave the letter to him.

He looked different but took that letter and read it. How do you know him he asked.

My father works under him and he is Jr. Tech Officer in charge of Carding Department.

Have you taken training in Carding Department under your father he asked.

No sir it is the policy of the mill not to employ employee's siblings. He smiled 25%.

He asked about our period / duration of our course, who taught us, where we took our training in practical's, Who was our Principal, what I had learnt in Mills attached to HO,

I answered all his questions. He smiled 10% picked up the phone and said to some one can you come to my office and kept the receiver.

I was still standing, when he said we will give the appoint letter to you as spinning supervisor and you will work for one month in day shift after words you can work in shifts. That's OK sir but I want designation as 'Dept Asst'(Spg) please sir, I requested.

That's not the system in all the 18 Mills of our group. It is a major change. Since you seem to know Spinning Superintendent you can try through him but I suggest you just do your work let me see how you work. I said it is OK sir.

I am giving you Rs.50/- Extra per month, it is for 1 years and then there will be a review he said and added that was instructions from SS from HO.

A gentleman who came may be 45 years entered the room and sat down in a chair opposite to Mill Manager. glanced at me with 25% smile.

The Mill Manager said showing his hand to-words the gentleman that's our Spinning Master he will brief you on your duties and he will take care of your work he said. I assure you I will work hard and learn well what ever I have to learn in Spinning I said, the Spinning Master Got up and said come let's go.

[ Textile Capitol of South India.]

I had 7 days to report for my training in the next mill which was also my first mill to enter in to my professional career. The first thing was to go by train as interstate buses were not operating and roads by state high ways was not a priority for the gov't either by the state or central gov'ts. However, trains to other states was there built by the British Rulers not for us but for them to travel all over the country, they Perhaps had no idea or idea about road construction in India and did not take it up. After we got our independence no body had any idea on roads or they had other ideas more important for them and not for their country.

I did my research in the railway station and found there was a train going from my place to Coimbatore it was called Island Express. I further researched if my place was a island and found that the island was in a state next to the state I was entering. The train had several class for the traveller. There was 3rd class, Inter class, Sleeper Class, 2nd Class, and 1st Class there was no a/c class. My journey was over night travel so I booked my ticket in sleeper class took my ticket kissed it and kept it in my pocket safely. I don't remember how much was the cost it was perhaps Rs.20/- or less. I came home gave it to my mother and told her to keep it near God so I can travel safely.

The next research consisted of my stay in Coimbatore. It was necessary for me to go to my college and find out who were the students put up under training staying in Coimbatore. I got to know 5 of our students who were under training or employed and was informed they all of them stayed in front of a lodge opposite to the Railway Station. I was told that the train would stop on 1st floor and I had to come down from the platform to go to the lodge. The lodge they told was very big and there were several lodges and could find our college students easily. I was confused as to how to go to a place where the train would go up on first floor which I had never heard. I did not tell my mother this RED information but told her our college students are there working hence she need not worry. My mother wanted to know where was that lodge and its address. I bluffed saying its woodlands Lodge, Opp to Railway Station, Coimbatore Town, Madras State. She wrote it on the calendar that was hanging on the wall, in prayer room very slowly.

My mother was very bold she could remember what she wrote and I thought she might as well come with me to leave me in Coimbatore and return by next train. I thought it was important to get the address of the students working in Coimbatore. Next day I went back to the college to find out some boy's  address. After talking to few staff members the despatch clerk of the college office told me to wait, went through a book and gave me the address of one student who was staying in a lodge far away from railway station. My mother saw me writing a post card. She wanted to know to whom I was writing the post card. I told her it was to my college student who was working in Coimbatore. I got reply after 5 days. I had to travel next day she only received the letter from the postman read it and gave it to me. That letter guaranteed my mother that I would be safe at Coimbatore.

The next day I was ready to go to catch the train at 19:00 Hrs and my friend had said he would be at the station to receive me. He had also told that I must bring Rs.100/- and 2 Bed Sheets and 2 Towels along with my other things and if possible my bicycle also. My mother was happy there was a fellow to guide me and I saw her unpacking a bag. So I was sure she would not come with me. All this care was on account of my going alone as my previous out station journey was along another student who travelled with me in my previous journey and he was known to her and she did not bother at that time.

It was 6th day and overnight travel that would land me on 7th day morning and I had to report on that day. I did not worry much as I had a letter to Mill Manager. I had my meal, my father was at home and after their blessings I went by a Jutka to railway station and got down next day morning at my station.

Coimbatore Textile Capitol of South India. My senior at the college had come to take me to his lodge.

The Lodge it was a old Tailed house perhaps a haunted house with full of Boy's from any where. My senior friend took me to a man sitting behind a wooden Table on a wooden chair in a common portico which was all around the house, I asked the man in-charge who was looking at me and senior friend in local language if I could get a single room. He said come and see. It was a nice room like a room in a hut in a village it was out side the main house at left side of the Main Wide Gate . I asked him what was the rent. He said Rs.10/- per month ( Common Toilet - Common Bath Room ). I said OK and paid one months advance rent, this was perhaps a Watch Man's Room of the Owner of this big house.

My senior friend said OK now I have to go. I said wait, how will I go to My Mill. He said OK I will wait, you get ready I will bring you a bike and tell you how to go and left.

I was ready and he came. I told my senior friend about the toilet he said he told you it was a one toilet for everybody. One toilet where 25 people sit at a time and one bath room with a tap over head at 3 feet interval spaced in a bid open top less roof where water pouring over your head never that stopped.

My senior friend took his bike told me that I can keep the bike and pay Rs.30/- per month Rent and as it was his account there was no security deposit. We came to the main road where we saw the gate of our time famous textile mill. He said here you turn left and go up to a bridge on the road take a right turn and I would get to my mill which was the last mill on the road.

I got the mill almost at the end of the road and got down near the Mill Main Gate which had a small gate I stood there and a Watchman came and I told him that I was sent from Head Office and I was under transfer to this mill and would be working in the mill from today. He told me to wait went inside and came to me in few minutes and told I can go and meet the Manager and he also said that I was expected.

I went inside kept my bike in the stand and entered the portico and saw the Manager's office the office boy opened the door and I met the Mill Manager.

[ My mother's pet dog 'Russia' signaled my presence.]

My mother's pet dog she had named as 'Russia' after seeing a circus by a Russian Circus troop as she loved those people who did the circus she had not seen. She came near the main door and looked at me for a moment and seeing me happy she said 'what happened'. I told her everything in one breath, she was not worried but I thought she was thinking some thing. She said go take bath, do puja and come for breakfast. When I came in my underwear's she said dress up and come. I put on my pant, shirt and wore socks and walked in to our dining room where she was sitting with Idli's, Sambar and chatni on the table which made my mouth water as she served the same in a plate and kept it near me sitting opposite to her. With out looking at her I started pouring Sambar on the Idli's and I started eating. After I had taken few spoons she said go to the Mills and inform your father what has happened. I said OK and finished my Idli's had Coffee and was off to my fathers mill which was few kilometers away from home. My father was a technical officer in the mills under the Spinning Master of the Mills. The Mill was managed by the owners of another Mill at Bombay.

I was not a stranger in the mills but I had to tell the security and the Time Keeper and if there was no body who had come to inspect the mill from Bombay I would be allowed to go to the place where my father would be present. On my way sometimes I would meet the Spinning Master but he would just glance at me and show his hand to where my father was. He knew that I was a trainee in a mill but he was not prepared to take me as a trainee under him as my father was working under him. I met my father who was standing near a machine which I saw was a routine overhauling and told him what had happened to me at my mills. He asked few questions and went in the direction where I had seen the Spinning Master and I knew he will inform him so I followed him and stood close to the place where he could see me and started to observe a running machine.

All the workers knew me so the worker who was walking by saw me and started talking to me. After some time my father came to me and told me to go and meet the 'Spinning Master'. I had to do what ever he say's, that's how we his children grew up. I went towards the place where the 'Spinning Master' was and he looked at me and smiled and said your father has told me your progress so which mill they have posted you, who posted you, what is the name of that mill and who is the manager of that Mills he asked. I answered all his questions, he said both the persons who transferred me and the person who is in charge of the mills were his class mates. I stood still not knowing what to answer. He said he will give a letter to the Mill Manager where I am posted as also write a letter to the Spinning Superintendent of the Mills who transferred me. I was just looking at a small pocket calculator he was holding. He knew that I wanted it so he said you can go now. I will send the letter through your father which you can give it to your Mill Manager where yo are going and will post the letter to my friend from where you came, both of them will take care of you and you must work hard he said, I just gave him a smile. He then gave the calculator to me and said use it. I went back to my father told him everything showed the calculator, he smiled ( I don't know when he had given me that most beautiful smile ) and said now go home and get ready to go to Coimbatore.

[ I saw all of them standing smiling waiting to know what happened.]

It was a sad feeling to leave a close knit people of same profession who never expect to leave the group and suddenly you are out of the group. This mother group in our life in this mill which had no care for a job after 6 months and now there was a rumor that all 6 of us would be to form a separate group to take up some project on 'Standards Engineering' under a team to undertake another training on hand who will guide us in implementing the project and a new 'Expert Industrial Engineer' will be appointed for the group of mills. All were thinking differently and were eager to know if I was chosen in some position to be in the group. I answered their questions and told them the whole episode from the day I took leave and went to my home it was indeed a big relief to all that no such thing would take place was informed to them. All my friends wanted to know what happened in the Chairman's office which I told. I also told them that Chairman has all the data of our activities and he may be having an idea to give you jobs.

The thinking was on that basis as to why after training 6 qualified textile technologists should be asked to go away when they need men who were in their care. After discussing at length we were not sure anything would happen. But I would be the first to get a job and salary not a stipend anymore. SS had told that my training which was mandatory to get my certificate would be from Kamala Mill from Coimbatore. I told them that we will be trained in Standards Engineering mostly and you must study this subject and not waste their and time till the last day of their training.

I went to the mill the next day met all the staff and workers with whom I was pestering for little favors since mill was not providing and tools to learn / fixing machinery parts which were not in order. I used to do it as there was no objection in that regard. One staff would give me any number of blank sheets to write my reports. No one was asking but the Japan Man was looking at it deeply. I got a certificate from the Japan's SQC trainer submitted my report and he was happy it was done but not fully recorded so he told me to send it from Kamala Mills and get my training completion certificate. I made up my mind to do it as I could add a certificate in my profile so I did that final statistical results on tests done with in 4 months at Kamala Mill and got my Certificate.

The next day I went to the Mill and met the Mill Manager and told him everything he was happy and he said you have to take a certificate for the period of your service you did in the mills so before you go come here and I will give you the certificate. I was so happy I thanked him. There was a gentleman sitting in the office listening to our conversation, I introduced myself to him and he told me he is the new "Standard Engineer' just joined. I said in that case I will meet you sir I said and came out. I told my fellow trainees that New 'STANDARD ENGINEER HAD Joined and they all better come wearing uniforms ( we had Khaki Pants and half arm white shirts ) and their files. I collected the certificate from Mill Manager and Met our SQC trainer to whom I informed that I am transferred to the sister unit, he was happy and game a certificate that I took mentioning that a 3 month SQC training that I underwent in the Mills.  

All my fellow trainees and few mill trainees came to see me off at the Railway Station their faces showed grim and I was at home next day at Breakfast time.