W A S I T FAIR ?

This episode dates back to the period October 1959 when I was about to start my career in what was then and perhaps still is one of the largest of the Multi National companies engaged in manufacturing and marketing of Soaps, detergents, Toilet preparations Hydrogenated fats and the likes in the company's
largest plant at Sewri a suburb in Bombay (now called Mumbai)The company's new R&D unit was also being set up at the same location before being shifted to a western suburb in Bombay. It was thus a period of a high buoyancy for the company's growth and fresh graduates and Technologists like me looked forward for a suitable job opening in such a highly reputed company known well for its professional management
So when three of us ,two of them seniors to me, were asked to attend an interview for the opening of RESEARCH CHEMIST in this company based in Mumbai for the forthcoming Dairy project in a backward district in Uttar Pradesh in India I tried to control my excitement hoping against hopes that I would get selected long before I actually attended the Interview.
On the day of the interview however, when I met the other two aspirants I realized that the other two were not only seniors to me by age but also had a better academic record than mine and also had 1 to 2 years of Industrial experience whereas I was a total fresher with a moderate academic background and nil exposure to industry. On the face of it therefore it appeared as though I stood no chance of getting selected. I therefore naturally felt tense and depressed and prayed to God as HE alone could save me from this predicament.
I was indeed fortunate I was the last one to be called for the interview on the scheduled day 12th October 1959 by when I had a fair idea of the mind of the Interviewer who had told my two seniors that the company was looking for a person looking for a career in R&D and that while any past experience would be helpful it was not a necessity. Although this eased my tension to some extent I was not quite certain of fitting into the company's requirements as I felt my strength lies in manufacturing and certainly not in making a career in Research. So much so after seeing the fate of my two seniors, I was almost certain that I would get rejected even before the start of my interview. I was almost certain that I should play a different ball game as I was called in for my interview.
I was pleasantly surprised when I was informed of my selection and related to the following four critical areas of my response to the Interviewer's queries which as I understood were different and more acceptable to the company's needs as against what was told by my two seniors earlier. What actually transpired was as follows.
Dr APM (Interviewer) Given a choice between Research and Production, which would you prefer?
SELF Research without any doubt.

Dr APM Why? Any specific reason ?
SELF While Production is mainly a routine function, In Research you work towards unknown and this makes considerable value addition and so should be more challenging than production.
Dr APM What if you were moved to production at a later date? How mobile are you?
SELF In fact I will look at it as an opportunity to make use of Research Discipline in manufacturing. So far as mobility is concerned I am quite mobile and would be willing to move to Timbuktu if so required by the company.
Dr APM What if you don't get selected for this opening?
SELF I will try other companies and if nothing materializes in the next one or two months shall pursue M Tech by Research in the same Institute where I did my B Tech
And so when I was informed of my selection felt thrilled from the recess of my heart and thanked the Almighty with tears in my eyes. I formally joined the company on 19 October 1959 in R&D in Bombay (now called Mumbai.)
With this my formal career began as I had dreamt it to be in a well reputed and professionally managed company. While it was a good beginning for starting of a career for a fresher like me, I was clear in my mind that I should switch over to Manufacturing at the earliest and was looking for an opportunity to convey my thought at the earliest to the Corporate Management.
Such an opportunity came on my way sooner than I expected when I was called by the R&D Chief to review my performance at the end of the first year of my joining the organization. My Reporting Senior had earlier reported favorably on my work but had expressed some reservation on my job comfort which needed further probing.
After reviewing my performance the R&D Chief Dr SV expressed satisfaction of my first year performance and agreed with my Reporting Senior's report. Dr SV immediately switched over to the aspect of my job satisfaction and enquired my views on the same. As I was waiting for this opportunity to present my views I confirmed that I am more Production oriented and that R&D in the long run cannot be my cup of tea and would be obliged if I can be considered for any suitable opening in Manufacturing in either the Dairy plant or the Dehydration and Convenience Foods plant coming up outside Mumbai. Since I was involved in R&D pertaining to these products, it may be possible to consider my candidature.
Dr SV on hearing my plea got stunned for a moment and the subsequent conversation that took place between the two of us in presence of my Reporting Senior was as follows----
Dr SV I see your point. Since mobility and location are not your constraint I am sure one can consider at the right opportune time. But tell me Ram (my abridged official name) as I find from your Personnel records only a year ago at the time of your interview with Dr APM he appears to have specifically asked you that given a choice between R&D and Production, which one would you prefer, you seem to have opted for Research and wanted to make Research your career for growth. What has made you change your stand now?
Self Quite frankly Doc. even at that time I knew I would be more comfortable in Production but then I also knew the vacancy was in Research. So I thought I should first join the company and then choose my line. As a fresher looking for a job I had then no other option.
Although this response from my side was equally unexpected Dr SV appreciated my predicament and became instrumental in moving me out to Production at the earliest in consultation with his other Technical colleagues in Corporate Management. The speed and the commitment with which the change was brought about even before the end of the second year of service speaks volume of the swiftness with which the company Management acted to ensure Job satisfaction to its employees.
How this change made a positive impact on my Career growth both within Company where I spent two decades of service (1959---80) and later on my moving out seeking my fortunes elsewhere (1980--2000) is a story that can wait for another day to reveal.
In the meanwhile although I achieved what I had wanted to at the start of my career, one question that bothers me even today long after Retirement is whether it was fair on my part for the stand I took at time of selection. Although the ends may justify the means, should it not be the other way around? Is it not necessary for the means to justify the ends? Can any Reader of this write up enlighten me on this predicament?


Written by ------Baiyu---------London---------September 2010















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