Second Job – molding steel

I do not remember how I went to this company called Partap Steel Rolling Mills near Hyderabad. I joined them as a Trainee in 1980. The work was simple- maintenance of electrical equipment.

Then I started learning life quickly. There was a strike and the factory was closed under lockout. We, the executives were required to go to our Chairman’s (or who ever) house in Banjara hills, sit in their lawns (I don’t know why we were not sitting in their drawing rooms !!) for 4-5 hours and then go home! One day the big boss without telling us anything packed all the executives and took us to the factory. The workers as usual made a big scene against us entering and the police escorted us in.

Once inside, we were assigned duties to patrol the compound wall in batches through night. It went on for few days. Management wanted to take out production without workers and using only the executives. I don’t know if it is right or wrong, but morally and personally, I thought, I am becoming party to something which I don’t like. One day dad called the office (remember the old days without mobiles!!) and asked me to come for a day as there was some personal work. My immediate boss refused to grant any leave as we are working under emergency situation. I quietly penned down my resignation and asked him to relieve me with immediate effect. He was shocked and told me that I can not come back for job, I am arrogant etc. I agreed and told him that I am leaving. I sneaked out around 1:00 AM walked 5 km to the nearest bus terminal to get into a bus that goes to Hyderabad. I reached home around 4 AM.

The company was good but I realized that maintenance jobs are not my cup of tea. And my sympathy for workers probably was stronger than my views of management tactics to handle workers on strike.

Whatever, this created a steel determination to do something I like better.