For an ordinary person like me, hailing from a small village (called Kalakad in Tirunelveli district) the corporate experiences gained would have been very rare. In my case I am much fortunate, with the grace of His Almighty, that I have many - be it at SPIC, the coveted conglomerate till mid 90s, a good organization spoiled by a few people as well, about which organization, even now, I am proud to be saying that I am an ex-SPIC ian, be it at many other corporates with which I am now associated as a HR consultant, after my resigning from SPIC, way back in 1996.

The myriad experiences of mine with various cross sections of people noted for their differing values, beliefs, attitudes etc will be portrayed, with the above caption from this issue. Readers can get a flash back of their own official lives (personal as well, since both have mutual effects) while going thru this feature. They may be reminiscent of their own experiences-be it pleasant or pungent, tasty, testing or torturing. Unique experiences, of course, are common, in respect of certain people. I also consider in presenting this feature as a mouth piece of those like minded people, falling in line with my thoughts.

I am reminded of my first company, worked with - Coats India at Madurai, the then Madura Coats, with which I had a small stint of six months, before joining SPIC,

I joined as a tester in their Central Testing Laboratory. There were only five employees in the chemical lab. I had a cut in my finger, on the first day itself, while cutting a cloth for testing. The reason attributed to that, was my joining on 13th, the inauspicious number of the western culture. I had no mind to reply for this, since I was fully engrossed with the pain due to the cut. I simply nodded my head. While we may not start a new thing on certain timing of different days like Rahu Galam etc, being a part of our Hindu traditions, the more so from Southern India, we adopt western culture too, for our own conveniences and advantages. We may follow bed coffee culture from western but not follow their culture of brushing of the teeth on the previous night - a unique contradiction.

The same customary experiences, I had glimpsed in IEL Kanpur too, where I was deputed by SPIC on a project assignment with 50 people. We transferred not only the technology but also our southern culture, the more so the Tamil Nadu, the culture about Rahu Kalam Yama Kandam, the inauspicious periods in each day. New things will be started - be it starting of pumps or other machineries or a new system etc. on the auspicious periods taking into account of these rahu or yama periods. The then project director, Mr Dutt was jokingly terming on that as the transfer of technology from SPIC. He even went to the extent of saying that all these details about the rahu, yama should be displayed in the notice board and we were scrupulously following that time schedule, whether or not we followed the project time schedule. Irrespective of the cadre or the educational level of people in the organization, many have fear (or faith if you name it) on the un controllables, with which they don’t want to take risks. This practice also is reminiscent on the act of surrender to God (despite my familiarizing with this concept, of course, of late, only, after losing my better half).

I was told about the artifacts of Madura coats culture, in which an interesting episode about the company was mentioned by our seniors. During the start of BDF (bleaching, dyeing and finishing) division of the company at Papanasam, in Tirunelveli district, the division could not be started in time, due to the shortage of water, in the River Thambraparuni. The top bosses - Harvey brothers were appraised about the Varuna Japa (invoking Rain God for bringing rain) and they agreed for that, despite their disbelief on that practice. They were also present on the banks of the river at the upper dam of Papanasam, the starting point of the river. They were on their barefoot, like a staunch devotee. Whether they believed or not, it was raining cats and dogs immediately after the Japa. The two brothers were dancing like children in the muddy land with their fullest spirit. Their joy knew no bounds and they were completely overwhelmed. Despite the advancement of technology, there are many, that are unexplainable by our rational thinking. Except the Lord, who builds the house they labour in vain who actually do the job of construction, as told in Bible.

Whether it is a family or business organisation, people are people, with their inherited beliefs values or assumptions, wherever they are. They follow their own way of doing things, dictated by their culture, beliefs. I have learnt that, not only people should be respected, but their sentiments as well, arising out of their underlying beliefs, customs, irrespective of your acceptance on that or not. People may forget what we tell them, what we do to them, but they will never forget the way we made them feel especially with sentiments. This is the valuable lesson I have learnt in my life, the more so from the Harvey brothers of Madura Coats. Whether I have realized that or not on that first day of my career – I have learnt it later. Though a late realization, it is definitely worthy. Better late, than never.

---



Designed and maintained by AKR Consultants