1985-90

1985-90

Towards the end of ’85, during Rajiv days the govt decided to prune the departments by 5 %, and the axe fell on the deputation officers from organizations other than the regular cadres. During this time I applied for the post of Director in couple of public sectors, but aspired for schedule A and B PSUs with no luck. Had I applied for C or D there was a very bright chance. Some got and prospered and others were sacked after 2 years. One rose to the rank of CMD and went to jail. There was a period of uncertainty and on 31 Mar 86 was relieved from the govt. I applied for sick leave and tried to retain the house at Kidwai Nagar.

This period was akin to my post matric days, doing absolutely nothing. The elder daughter was meanwhile transferred to Cuttack medical college, and younger one at Miranda doing her MA in English. I revived my casual flying at Safdurjung, and visiting two places one my brother the famous retina surgeon, and other my brother in law, who later became MD of Paradeep Phosphates.

Unfortunately first one wanted to get married to a NRI, at Bhubaneswar and we had to go to Bhub for the marriage. The younger one was left alone for her exams.

Meanwhile I was posted to Nagothane 100 Km south of Bombay as No 2 for Gas Cracker complex. After a long time I stayed as a bachelor in a cool room with attached bath and a perfect canteen costing Rs 450 per month. I took my car by train also for the first time, which I sold after 17 years. This was like marrying a daughter off.The project was very interesting, staff and boss good. The boss was SK Roy one of the finest gentleman, and he used to send me on tour to Delhi or Bombay. During this period my family had to vacate the govt house and shift to a small place at Malaviya Nagar.

In tours I used to stay in this small place, and I purchased a Maruti Van which we kept at my brothers place at Kavery apartment. At site I used to climb all the mountains, and go for shikar once in a while.

Meanwhile there was a requisition for me from NIDC thanks to my friend Mr A Prasad, who became the Jt Secy of Industry. I joined as Chief Engineer in Jan 88 and after a small stint for Navodaya Vidyalaya at Chanakyapuri office, I shifted to SCOPE Complex at Lodhi Road just opposite of Block 14 of CGO Complex. My counterpart was my friend and mentor Susanta Sengupta, who gave a space for my car in the underground parking.Susequently I was promoted to the rank of Gen Mgr with a princely pay of Rs 6000/-

The site was across Yamuna at Lakshminagar Dist Centre, a multistory Office Complex of 1 million sqft space 24 story and work was really interesting. As soon I joined NIDC we shifted to Munirka, a decent house with good neighbors.

I was using my car to travel, and there were 5 red lights on the way which increased to 21 in 3 years. L&T was the contractor, who has finished the lotus temple just then. They did a marvelous job of completing the structural framework -24 floor tower in 45 days and 12 floor tower in 30 days. Other contractors were engaged for electrical and sanitary works.

This building was supposed to be an intelligent building, with computer controlled heating, lighting, fire control, security, car parking, mail dispatch etc. My joke was that if someone smokes a cigar in the room there will be alarm and water will start sprinkling in the room. There was a provision of helipad at the roof, especially for ONGC, who had booked the maximum number of floors.