Page 19 - Sands of Time Special Issue on Tata Motors Diamond Jubilee

18 VOL. XVII, ISSUE 2, 2020 VOL. XVII, ISSUE 2, 2020 19

rEmEmbEring sumanT mOOLgaOkar There was so much that we
learnt from him. His reputation in
A TRibUTE TO A gREAT TEChnOCRAT AnD A WOnDERFUl hUMAn bEing industry was built on his genius as
a technocrat, but we who came in
by Ms. KhORShED R. JAVERi (EX TAS) contact with him in other ways could
not help but admire his immense
I was Assistant Company Secretary managerial and administrative
in Tata Steel when Mr. Sumant qualities. He worked by a special
Moolgaokar entered our horizon as system under which the several
Vice Chairman. His reputation and persons dealing with important
standing were well known in Bombay matters would all meet him at an
House - the Tata headquarters. He appointed time every week. Each
was the undisputed head of TELCO person had to report on his subject
(now Tata Motors), highly respected in a timespan of a few minutes. He
and feared (he was known not to could, at the most, take the help
suffer fools kindly). His strikingly of a half-page note to assist him
good looks, tall, grey, blue eyes and in doing so. Can one imagine the
serious mien did nothing to diminish training this imparted? Teaching the
that impression. We learnt that he verbose to limit their speech and
had been inducted into TISCO (now write the bare essentials! And yet we
Tata Steel) to give much needed realised he was quick to appreciate
technical guidance to the Head Office. a good turn of phrase, and I felt he
was mentally assessing our skills in
His entry in the Company coincided this direction. Once, while reporting
with a time when I was at the one matter, I said, “this man is a
crossroads of my career. The compulsive litigant”. He stopped me,
Company Secretary had retired “what’s that, I have never heard that
a few months earlier. I had been phrase before!”, and laughed for a full FROM THE
Assistant Secretary for several years minute.
and had taken over his work after
his retirement. The next step in any When he was to address the Annual COLLECTION
organisation would have been to General Meeting of TELCO as
appoint me as Secretary. At that time, Chairman for the first time when Mr.
TISCO went by its own traditions and J.R.D. Tata stepped down, he asked OF THE
rules. I was considered too young - in me if I would write for him something
TATA CENTRAL ARCHIVES
fact I was in my thirties, old enough he could say on the occasion. His
even by the standards prevailing then request was made in a manner typical
to be on the Board of a Company. I of him, “You write so well” he said,
had to experience the humiliation of “give me something I should say at
seeing strangers sitting in the waiting this time”. I wrote something I felt
room outside a Director’s office, suited his personality. I went to the
waiting to be interviewed for the post w Sumant Moolgaokar. meeting as I wanted to hear him. He w Leela and Sumant Moolgaokar.
of Secretary. did not change a single word. Later,
I poured out what was uppermost in a little embarrassed at the end. He when I started writing regularly - my Medical Scheme was introduced in crime? We all knew him to be quite
After anguishing over the situation, my mind - the humiliation of seeing did not say anything, but he looked monthly column in the Economic TELCO, much ahead of most other harmless, a middle aged single Parsi
I came to the conclusion that help persons interviewed for the post visibly upset. Then he said what will Times, my several books on law, and companies. He must have applied who lived with his widowed mother.
could best come from someone which should have been mine. I was always remain etched in my memory, short stories, and even today my this simple test to TISCO matters I then recalled his telling me that he
outside the narrow set-up of and which I later realised was articles - his words of praise ring in also, because whenever I took him loved writing; he had even shown me
the Office, and so I sought an characteristic of his personality: “I my ears, “You write so well”. He had some proposal for benefits to staff, some articles he had written. They
appointment with Mr. Moolgaokar, don’t like it. I don’t like it at all. Leave seen a spark in those soulless pink his reaction was “But of course, is were about freedom, and liberty, and
which he readily gave. I had never it to me. I will see what I can do”. Notes of mine that I had occasionally there any reason why we shouldn’t he hoped to publish them some day.
seen him at close quarters. I had The candidates for interview stopped put up on office matters! have this?” What a wonderful world The efforts of a lonely man trying to
imagined a stern looking person. The coming immediately, and a few days it would be if all corporate heads felt pass his time. This was the reason
face that looked at me was calm. He later an Office Order was passed So much else about him was and thought like him! for his detention! A conference was
had obviously set aside his work to appointing me Company Secretary. admirable. His belief, and practise held as to what we should do to get
see me. “You wanted to see me?” he of it, that employees must be given An incident in TISCO, during the him out. It was agreed that I should
asked as I entered. I had rehearsed Over the years that he was Vice- the best that the organisation could Emergency, in which he played a vital request Mr. Moolgaokar to speak
what I would say to him - how I Chairman of TISCO, and I was afford. TELCO employees in Bombay role illustrates his human side. One to the Chief Minister on his behalf.
had worked for so many years as Company Secretary, my respect and House were the envy of employees morning, we learnt that one of my I spoke to Mr. Moolgaokar. He did
Assistant Secretary and then done all admiration for him grew, and though of other companies. Their salaries Assistants had been picked up by not seem to think it at all strange
the work of the previous Secretary - he never said it, I felt he thought well were higher than their counterparts the police from the railway station that I should have done so. His only
all the relevant facts. of my abilities and respected me. in other companies. Several of the while on his way home and was taken question was, “You know this man
I always did my best to ensure he Company’s Officers were provided straight to jail and locked up. There well and can vouch for him?”. On
I did not equip myself well. The retained that impression and never flats in a very well - appointed was consternation in the Office that assuring him that I did, his response
rehearsed speech was forgotten; and w Ms. Khorshed r. Javeri. tried to take advantage of it. society. A comprehensive Annual morning. What could have been his was typical, “Let me see what I can

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