How to take leave in a work place?

This relates to the period 1969-'70,when I was posted in the Garden Reach Factory in Calcutta(now called Kolkata) of what was then and probably still is one of the largest Multi Nationals in India engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of International brands of Soaps, Detergents and Toiletaries besides a host of other consumer products in Foods and hydrogenated oils and fats.I was indeed fortunate in my having had the rare opportunity of spending the formative days of my career in a highly professionally managed large company like the one referred to in this write up.How this exposure helped me to accelerate my own career growth in my later days as I moved out of this company to seek my fortunes elsewhere is another story that can be reserved for another day's reading.

Now for the moment coming back to 1969-70 era of my days in the Garden Reach factory in Calcutta,I had just moved to the Toiletaries division of the company after spending nearly a decade earlier in the Foods Division of the company in their plants at Ghaziabad (Near Delhi)and Etah (UP)after an initial induction in R&D in Bombay.My move to Garden Reach in Calcutta and subsequently back to Mumbai was a well planned movement adopted by the Corporate for its promising managers of the company for both job enrichment and career growth of the individual.In line with this practice I was moved to the Toileteries division of the Garden Reach plant reporting to one DR Pande,a thorough technocrat,highly commited and very knowledgeable with no Nonsense approach to work.The objective for me was to undergo training in manufacture of Transparent Soap besides products in Toiletaries range like Dental/hair cleansing/shaving Preparations/skin creams under the stewardship of Dr Pande and after working for sometime on these products at Garden Reach move to Bombay Factory alonwith DR Pande to duplicate the plant for these products in the Bombay factory and eventually take over the responsibility for routine nanufacturing of these products in Bombay.How many of the Indian companies undertake such career plannings for its managers?

One day during this period of my stay at Garden Reach I told a collegue of mine,Chaterjee by name (Real identity not revealed) that I need a day off the next day for some personal work and that I am feeling delicate to ask Dr Pande for leave
so soon after joining.My collegue interrupted me and asked me in Bengali, the local language,"Aare Khi Bolchi Thume?(Translated in English will read "Hai,What are you saying?Then realising he was speaking to me, a non Bengali,quickly corrected himself to speak in English and said---"You mean you want to tell Dr Pande today that you want leave for Tomorrow?How long have you been in this company so far?"When I told him "around 12 years or so",My friend said---"Still you do not know how to take leave?I will tell you.Whenever you want leave,no need to tell your boss the day before.The day you are not coming just telephone your boss to inform him of the same and give some reason for your absence.If he agrees,say thank you and put down the receiver.Instead if he asks you whether you can come for the afternoon session atleast,just sayHellow,Hellow over the phone and put down the receiver.Your message has reached him and he will think some problem in the telephone line".

I am sure the Reader would be interested to know whether I followed Chaterjee's advise.I am afraid I have to disappoint you.Much as I liked the humour part of my friend's advise,I was in no mood to practise it as it did not gel with my conscience Besides I felt no need to try it out as Dr Pande was quite willing to grant my request.As I settled down and we worked very closely in the coming days both at Garden Reach and later in Bombay he became my Guru and I confess whatever little I know in the fields of Transparent Soaps and Toiletaries I learned from him for which I am ever indebted to him.

As Dr Pande is no more I submit this writeup in the memory of the departed soul.May His Soul rest in peace.