Page 17 - Sands of Time Special Issue on Tata Motors Diamond Jubilee

16 VOL. XVII, ISSUE 2, 2020 VOL. XVII, ISSUE 2, 2020 17

EXCErpTs frOm ThE OraL hisTOry sEssiOn
WiTh RAM hUDliKAR

tata Central archives (tCa) conducts oral history sessions of various tata personalities.
presented herewith are excerpts from the oral history session with ram hudlikar,
Former Manager administration, tata Motors.

tCa: Can you tell us about your the sub-editor of TELCO Parivar
experience on the first day you and was with the magazine for 10
joined Tata Motors? years. The magazine had won many
rh: I am a second-generation Tata awards. Later, I moved on to the
employee. My first day is etched in my Sports department and then Public
memory. I was made to go through Relations. In all, I had put in 32 years
some final tests and just before you of service with the company.
know, checking in, I was told – “Now
that you have finished all these tests, tCa: what was your role like while
etc., and it’s almost lunchtime go and you were handling public relations,
have lunch.” I said, “Okay, where do visitors’ section? any anecdotes
we have lunch?” The person looked that you remember and would like to
at me and told me - “At the canteen share with us?
of course.” So, I went in the direction rh: I was mainly in charge of
that I was shown. I came to a main welcoming visitors (the information
road and there was one kilometre of part), taking them round the plant, w Mrs. Leela Moolgaokar at the 100 Blood Donation by S.S. Dalvi at St. george hospital, Mumbai.
th
road and trees you know, on either w ram hudlikar with Dr. a.p.J. abdul Kalam. telling them about the same, etc.
FROM THE
side, not a person in sight, because Visitors would include school children tCa: we have heard a lot on anniversary every year. She was the discomfort, did not show it even once.
it was not shift time for any lunch or In fact, we realised that there was so to special dignitaries. Yeah, there was the affections showered on the inspiration behind this effort. In fact, he obliged all.
anything like that. And who do I ask much talent within the company. A this visit by the British delegation employees by the Moolgaokars. Can Mrs. Moolgaokar was closely
now? Where do I go? I continued large number of our employees and led by Prince Andrew. He was you share some anecdote with us associated with the Red Cross tCa: any other story that you would
Society. She valued every drop of
to walk looking at the trees and the their children have proved themselves accompanied by Vicki Treadell who on this? COLLECTION like to share?
birds, etc., and then finally I smelt as very good actors. To cite a few was then Deputy High Commissioner rh: Yes. They were big hearted blood and knew its importance in a rh: Sure. This incident will tell you
OF THE
the food and realised I was close examples - The lead actress of the in Bombay. Subsequently, she and gelled with the employees crisis situation. Hence, she worked how a product has a deep impact on
to the canteen. When I entered the famous play Ghashiram Kotwal also bought a Nano! So, after we as a family. There was this boy towards founding the Blood Bank the life of an individual. This was the
canteen, I asked somebody just out was Swaroop Khopkhar who was exchanged pleasantries, we had this called Gowda who worked at their at St. George’s Hospital. Earlier, time of the formative days when the
TATA CENTRAL ARCHIVES
of curiosity as to how much food our employee. She won the Golden tradition of giving out caps with our bungalow in Lonavala as a gardener whenever a person donated his idea to launch a mini pickup vehicle
they cooked. They said for 25,000 Bear Award for the Best Actress. logo on it to every visitor. This to and doing sundry odd jobs. Once, blood, he was given a half day to compete with the unstable three
people per day. So that was the time There was Arun Apte also whom I keep them protected from the heat when he was called over, they found paid leave with an aim to give him wheeler rickshaw pickup.
when I realised the enormity of the had interviewed. He has left now. and their hair intact. When I asked him very fidgety, dropping things some rest and feel better. However,
company that I had joined. This was He became a singer. There was a Prince Andrew, if he would like one, down and not paying any attention with the passing of time this rule Mr. Ravi Kant was the CMD then. So,
Pune. This was just one factory. Okay, Marathi serial by the name of Swami. he had said that he would take one, to what they were speaking. He was was abolished as they found the they actually started by surveying
there was Jamshedpur, Lucknow, etc. The title song was sung by him. but would be happier still to wear asked by Mr. Moolgaokar as to why rebuilding of blood to be a natural on ground the reactions of drivers
They made over a lakh of chapatis Then there was Ramesh Bhatkar the crown instead. This led to a lot of he was so inattentive. He said that process and required only a few and others. They would go to the
and over a lakh of vadas and idlis who was a leading Television actor. laughter. Most of these high-profile he did not enjoy the work he was hours for the same. dhabbas (small eat outs on the road),
and 7000 to 8000 litres of milk were Subsequently, I went on to become visits were well orchestrated. doing in the bungalow. On enquiring octroi points, etc. and ask the drivers
used every day! In 1986, I had to pay about his education levels, he said tCa: any interactions with questions like – “kya yeh jo aisa three-
five rupees a month - this included that he had studied up to SSC. Mr. ratan tata? wheeler aap ko diktha hai, tho iske
a morning tea and snacks, one meal Mr. Moolgaokar told him to rh. Yes. During one of his visits to badle mein hum char wheeler layainge
and an afternoon tea to get rid of the accompany him next day to the the Pune unit, I accompanied him to tho kaisa chalega?” In one such
effects of your meal. Nowadays they Plant. He told him to go around the Conference Room and saw that incident one driver who was owning
don’t pay. the Plant and check for himself he was comfortable. Having travelled, a three-wheeler actually pleaded with
what work he could do. He was so much, I asked him if he would like the staff to get out a four-wheeler
tCa: take us through your career directly put into employment in the to have something to eat. He then soon as his lady love was refusing to
graph in the company? Production Engineering Division, said that he would be happy if he get married to him because she did
rh: Initially, I was hired as an where over the years he qualified could get a glass of water. He was so not want to get married to a rickshaw
assistant to the editor of the in- himself to becoming an electrician. humble. I distinctly remember the day driver. The vehicle he owned was a
house magazine of Tata Motors of his retirement when he turned 75 three-wheeler rickshaw. He pleaded
called “TELCO Parivar.” In a sense tCa: one has heard about the years. He decided to have his lunch saying kindly make a four-wheeler
this was truly an in-house magazine famous Blood Donation campaigns with the workers in their canteen. pickup van because then she will
because it was meant for the people, that were being regularly held on He was flanked on both sides by the consider me as a truck owner and
irrespective of your rank or position the factory campus. Can you throw Union and its members. Everyone get married to me! The Ace did come
in the company. It covered stories, some light on this? wanted to sit next to him which was on to the roads much earlier than its
interviews, etc. of all employees rh: Blood donation campaigns are impossible. So, they started clicking stipulated time and was a big hit.
across the gamut and included the w ram hudlikar explaining the layout of the pune plant to anil Kapoor during his still being held regularly on photos with him by standing behind
Directors to blue collared workmen. visit to the plant as part of the promotion of the tV series 24, featuring the tata Safari. Mrs. Leela Moolgaokar’s birth him! Mr. Tata, although put to a lot of Edited by Shobha ramesh

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