Meeting with Air Force officers at Air Head Quarters

Yes, I have mentioned earlier that my TD to New Delhi was for 3-days but, the first meeting at Air Head Quarters set the rend for an uncertain future. The problem was a technical one and it pertained to the engine but, the officer who had come from HAL Korput preferred not to intervene. His Russian specialist also played dumb kept looking towards for a solution – and I had not the faintest idea about engines.
It was all a blame game. While Air Force blamed HAL, the manufacturers, I along with my Service Engineer took the stand that the problem was not that great and was being exaggerated.

The Air Force officers did not appreciate my insinuations and, one of them even threatened that he would complain to my Managing Director about my attitude.
We broke for lunch and the Russians went to their hotel. This hotel in Delhi catered mostly to Russians and they felt comfortable to dine with Russian music floating in the air and Russian cuisine on the table.
As to me I went to our Guest House and was lucky to get my General Manager on the line at the first attempt. I debriefed him on the meeting at Air Head Quarters and he smiled off the threat. He assure me that he would keep our MD informed and ended by saying – Ghose, you are now the GM of Nashik in Delhi. Take your decisions, we will stand by you.
That sort of an assurance does great things to one’s morale and boosts his confidence sky high and I felt I could really pull off this mission with success. (to be continued …)


Another interesting blog - Violence and atrocities

Another interesting blog - Citizen Journalist


A few more must reads -

Nashik Kumbhmela 2015 – a once in 12-years pilgrimage

Trip to Nashik should take in Shirdi and the Ajanta and Ellora caves

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the epic Ramayana

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the Mahabharata

Kumbhmela 2015 in Nashik – guided tours to wineries and vineyards

Nashik transforms from a place of pilgrimage to an industrial hub


Teenage girl of Brighton sat on a needle in a bus and is now getting her blood tested for HIV

Stray dogs attend funeral of Mexican woman who fed them

Nationwide ban on cow slaughter on the cards says Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh

Health tips – lose weight without dieting

Auckland girl sweet talks thief to return stolen mobile phone

Anchovies can boost good cholesterol and reduce risk factors of the heart

A whirlwind tour to AF Station Kanpur where MiG-21s were stored

It was a whirlwind tour to AF Station Kanpur where MiG-21 aircrafts used to be stored and, coming back to Kanpur was a sort of homecoming for me – I had worked here for two years.
The reason for my coming was because the Commanding Officer was facing difficulties. He had approached Air Headquarters in New Delhi and, from there, a phone call had come to our General Manger. He was a Punjabi and a bit overweight – but, still, he managed to climb the steep flight of stairs to the upper floor office in the hangar to meet my Boss.
My boss was the Wing Commander who wore a wig. He had just reached his office when the General Manager walked in. He told my boss to send someone immediately to Kanpur because a high-level Air Force delegation was supposed to come down to Nashik and the problems of MiG-21 storage aircraft in Kanpur would be in their agenda for discussion.
The General Manager wanted his rep to be in Kanpur before the team landed up in Nashik and my boss decided that the rep would be yours truly.

This was the first time that I had to move out on short notice. I managed to wrangle a reservation in the Punjab Mail through a travel agent. I was supposed to be in Kanpur for three days and, on arriving at Kanpur I booked a return journey ticket in First Class. I was No 1 in the Waiting List. Then I took a cycle rickshaw and went to the Air Force Mess.
It was a much changed Kanpur – I had left it in 1966 and had returned to it after 20-years. Obviously many of the landmarks of Chakeri and Lal Bungalow were missing.
In between my interactions with the Commanding Officer of the storage depot, I managed to contact a couple of my old friends and met them to revive a few memories.
When I came to the railway station for my journey back to Nashik, I was in for a surprise – my Wait List number was still No 1!! Therefore, I had to plead with the TTE to allow me to remain in the First Class compartment. I assured him that I would sit on my suitcase in a corner of the corridor and would not be a hindrance to other passengers.
He had pity on me and agreed. When I landed back in Nashik, I was suffering from loss of voice. The words were just not forming. I had an infection in my throat. Therefore, after reaching home I had to run to the hospital and the duty doctor prescribed a course of SP or Strepto-Penicillin. (to be continued ..)


Another interesting blog - Violence and atrocities

Another interesting blog - Citizen Journalist


A few more must reads -

Nashik Kumbhmela 2015 – a once in 12-years pilgrimage

Trip to Nashik should take in Shirdi and the Ajanta and Ellora caves

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the epic Ramayana

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the Mahabharata

Kumbhmela 2015 in Nashik – guided tours to wineries and vineyards

Nashik transforms from a place of pilgrimage to an industrial hub


Teenage girl of Brighton sat on a needle in a bus and is now getting her blood tested for HIV

Stray dogs attend funeral of Mexican woman who fed them

Nationwide ban on cow slaughter on the cards says Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh

Health tips – lose weight without dieting

Auckland girl sweet talks thief to return stolen mobile phone

Anchovies can boost good cholesterol and reduce risk factors of the heart

Computerization is fun - to get any data anywhere

My first adventure into the world of computers encouraged me to venture further. As expected, my boss was happy with the computerized outputs of the monthly statements to Corporate Office, Bangalore. It may be noted that Mig-21 fighter aircraft were the lifeline of the IAF and there were hundreds of them operating in various bases. Some of these bases were near the sea, others near deserts and, others in mountainous terrains where the temperatures plummeted to below zero degrees Celsius.

Obviously, the wear and tear on each of the aircraft was different.
Therefore, whenever information was received about any accident or incident to any MiG-aircraft, the General Manager would want to know the history of the aircraft. Such information gets transmitted very fast to senior formations of both the IAF as well as HAL who are the manufacturers or who have carried out the overhaul and the GM wants to be ready with all possible answers.
Until the aircraft data had been computerized, this information would have to be retrieved by going through the respective aircraft file and then the data would be typewritten on a sheet of paper and sent to the office of the GM.
With the computerization of the data, it was possible for the General Manager to see the data of the aircraft on his own computer screen. But, then, new questions arose. If an accident had taken place, was it a first-off or were there previous similar accidents? Has any improvement has been thought of? Does it involve any special kits? Has IAF placed orders for these kits? Has HAL supplied any kits?
The questions were many and, there was a need to extend computerization to other related areas and make the data more comprehensive. (to be continued …)


Another interesting blog - Violence and atrocities

Another interesting blog - Citizen Journalist


Links to some more interesting stories –


Nashik Kumbhmela 2015 – a once in 12-years pilgrimage

Trip to Nashik should take in Shirdi and the Ajanta and Ellora caves

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the epic Ramayana

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the Mahabharata

Kumbhmela 2015 in Nashik – guided tours to wineries and vineyards

Nashik transforms from a place of pilgrimage to an industrial hub


Nine medical students go to Syria, their families try to bring them back

Health tips – lose weight without dieting


My Boss wanted me to become a detective

Auckland girl sweet talks thief to return stolen mobile phone

My Boss wanted me to become a detective

Yes, in those initial days in HAL Nashik, my Boss once wanted me to become a detective and investigate an allegation of corruption against one of the officers in the section. It was an extremely sensitive affair and an embarrassment for me to do the work but I was helpless.
The allegation was that the officer was taking bribes from the workers for booking them on overtime – the overtime meant double payment to the worker for the number of hours he does overtime and he was supposed to give a cut of his earnings to the officer.
The allegation had been sent to the General Manager through an anonymous letter and my Boss wanted me to have a look at the handwriting and identify the person who had written it.
Boss opened the drawer, took out the letter and showed it to me. I was totally confused because there were nearly 250 workers and supervisory staff in the section and anyone of them could have written it. Boss saw the confusion on my face and hinted that whoever had written it would not be any worker because it was written in English – the writing was legible and there were no grammatical errors.
The clues were there but many persons would fit the bill. To me it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. I told as much to him and he folded the letter and put it back in the drawer.
I came out of his office and heaved a sigh of relief but, I became a marked man because the workers had seen me and there was suspicion on their faces. Why should I spend nearly half an hour in the office of my Boss unless something was brewing?
My Boss’s office was on the upper floor and as I climbed down the stairs, I could feel eyes piercing me from all directions. I just ignored them – I had to survive. (to be continued …)

Another interesting blog - Violence and atrocities

Another interesting blog - Citizen Journalist