(6)
Trust

All the difficulties I had to face, made me stronger (in mind of course, physically I was weak) to face all the challenges the life had to offer. I developed the habit of predicting how others would react against my actions, words. Therefore, my words and actions were polite, understandable, non-harming and hardly hostile. It has helped me a lot. I realized later that these were the qualities which make the person a leader. It happened. In my school, I virtually grew as one of the leaders. Teachers and students trusted my words, my opinion got weight.

One small incident would show how much I was trusted. We had started a small in-house store, in which school stationery which students may need frequently, was stored. As the school was in isolated area, the students who needed even small items like pencils etc. had to wait  till they get it from other place. I was entrusted the responsibilities to run this store. I was allotted a cupboard with lock and key in our classroom, for this purpose. The cash collected against sale was also kept there. One key was with me and one was in Principal’s office. One morning I found that the cash was stolen. I reported it to the principal and my class teacher. I was very much upset as I would be the first suspect. Since the money was not much and it was in school campus, the Principal did not summon police. He called several people and made inquiries. Later I was confided by the Principal that I was out of suspicion, but did not tell me who he was. The students also trusted me. In our private talks we suspected one of the teachers but were not sure.

Later there were many occasions when I was holding responsible positions. Difference of opinions might have developed regarding working, but nobody ever suspected my honesty and integrity. One incident is still live in my mind. There was a case regarding increase in dearness allowance for employees was going on in Industrial Court. I was General Secretary of the Trade Union then. The increase in dearness allowance depended on the fluctuations of cost of living index and it was compiled by the State machinery. There were some technical history and other factors due to which cost of living index remained low in our State compared to other States of the country where our Company's branches were situated. The case was almost like a gamble. Once I suggested to the members in a meeting that we fall in line with the employees of our HO where quite there was quie big workforce, which the Company was agreeable. But the members thought otherwise and I was left alone with my arguments. I, therefore, offered that, since continuing fighting the case in the court was just a waste of time, energy and money, I would suggest to find some other person to follow their desire and relieve me from this responsibility. All the members rejected my offers and insisted that I continue as their leader because they had no doubt about my integrity and honesty. The case prolonged several more years and ultimately my suggestion was accepted. The gross result was that our branch, though very small, survived and the branches where the Company had to pay unrealistic salaries were ultimately closed. 

    I also had developed the attitude of trusting others. I trusted all persons whom I had to trust. Unless there were strong evidence against anybody I would not distrust. There have been only 2-3 incidents when the person whom I trusted proved other wise, I did not hesitate in severing relations. 

    I consider the people’s trust in me as the greatest success in my life. I attribute this to my upbringing.   

(5) 

My friends

 
I was lucky to get many friends who were all ready to help me in whatever manner they would because of my nature. One of my friends, whom I shall call V was with me from first year of primary school. He was grandson of the richest person of our village. His circumstances were such that he had to stay with his grandpa (mother’s father). They were our neighbour. We were good friends then. (And were until he expired due to cancer few years back. He became Engineer, joined government project, immigrated to US, worked there with well known automobile company, Crystler). He used to help his grandpa in his agricultural work, milking cows and buffalos. Sometime while milking one of his favorite cow, which gave sweetest milk, he used to pour the milk from the nipple direct into his mouth. He was unlucky to get moral and financial support from his father-mother, who wished he should give up study and start job soon after high school. But he was determined for further study and managed finance by arranging loans, and working part-time while he was studying engineering. His grandpa loved him, but had become financially weak to support his education. When I passed my high school graduation, and was in need of job, he took me with him to his father and tried to find me a job. His determination and helping nature had great impression on me. Our friendship continued till the last year of his life. When I visited US I called him and he promised me that he would come to my host’s place (who was also his friend) and would take me to Disneyland. But he could not come. He called me he had some health problem and could not come. He sent some gifts for me. Later we learned that the sickness turned out to be the cancer. Even today when I remember him my eyes are filled with tears. 

One of my other friends was son of a teacher. Our friendship also lasted till he expired in early age, a few years back. He was an expert bone-setter. He learnt this art from his father and made it a career after passing high school graduation. He was so successful in his art that he attracted more patients than all the orthopedic surgeons together in that town. He charged minimum so that any poor person could afford. He was so expert that he set fractured bones with his skillful hands, bandaged them with bamboo strips, card-board, cotton and bandage so that it served as the plaster. Before this he would apply the special ointment prepared from herbal medicines. This kept the bones in their original place and the gaps developed by fracture would heal by natural process. Within weeks the bones would join without any plate, nails, pipes or other supporting material. Whenever I went to my native place and had to kill time, I used to go with him to his dispensary and witness his skill. I was very much impressed by his mixing nature and skillful talks with his patients. I still remember him and keep meeting his family members occasionally.

I have talked about my childhood friends. There are many who came in my life after I started working and our relations prevailed. When I remember some of those who are no more, I always get upset.  These were such friends about whom I would be tempted to write. But this is my story so I limit myself to the above examples only.

I had no reason to write against any friend who troubled me. There may be occasions of displeasure, harsh  comments, but I  have developed the habit of positive thinking. I have hardly thought negative. I have also developed the habit of appreciating and tried to reciprocate smallest favour shown by anybody towards me. That could be the reason why I could not see evil side of any of my friends.

(4) 

My education

I remember my relations with my father as a child. My father was a farmer, and was feeding our family of mother, four sisters and a brother from the scanty income, that too seasonal.  Therefore, demanding something from him was difficult. I should admit that I was the least demanding boy. Two pairs of uniform clothes for school and a pair or so additional was more than sufficient.

My father used to take me with him to our farms. I enjoyed riding on the bullock-cart pulled by a pair of oxen. In this we traveled about a mile or so to the farms. Sometimes my father used to hand over the reigns of the oxen (pair of castrated male cow) in my hands and it was a thrilling experience to direct them  in right direction. Occasional pinching them for speeding up with a sharpened nail fixed at the end of a stick. He taught me how to handle the oxen, even when they are not tied with cart. I also enjoyed helping him while picking crops like vegetables, grains, cotton etc. from the farm.

He insisted that I concentrate more on my studies. My father was ferocious reader and encouraged me in reading books outside my curriculum. Study after 7th was a problem as there was no school nearby for further studies, but my father insisted that I continue my study in the nearby city.  For this I had to travel daily by train and the trains’ frequency was limited. So I had to leave home in the morning at 7-30 a.m. and return by about 8 p.m. railway station was (and is) about 1.5 miles walk from my village. The school in which I was admitted was also I had to walk about 1 from railway station. How difficult was the decision for him to send 12 years son unaware of city life, alone in unknown city!  It was tough time for my father and mother to wait for his safe return late in the evening, many times very late due to irregularities of trains. It was very difficult decision for him but he made it and I went to school. I remember, he used to wait for me very eagerly everyday till I return safe. Whenever the evening train was late, which happened many times, or when there were heavy rains, he used to walk up to station with a lantern to receive me. In those days the school hours were morning on Saturdays beginning at 7-00 a.m. For this I had to catch the train at 5-00 a.m. My father used to accompany me with a lantern up to railway station. 

When I look back today, I realize how difficult decision it would for him, and doubt if I could have continued study further if this continued longer. I had to spend more hours on traveling and waiting for trains than the hours I studied. There were many distractions in the city and as a child I was easily distracted. So when final examinations results were announced I could manage only to obtain grades to go up.

Luckily for me and for him, a new school came up next year near our village and I was relieved of difficult traveling, and he from worried days. I was a completely changed boy and student after I joined the new school. Memories of those years (3 years in particular) are full of good experiences and instances.

I would, however, continue about my studies here and leave those memories for later occasions. I studied ninth, tenth and eleventh grades here. Eleventh was the final year known as SSC (Secondary School Certificate Examination), which is equal to ‘high school graduation’ in many countries.

My eleventh year of school education was full of difficulties. Those days are still vivid in my memory. That year being the final year for school graduation, I was supposed to concentrate more on studies. The year began with the sad death of one of my younger sister, after a short period of sickness. She was enrolled for her studies in high school, but could not attend a single day. Before we recover from that shock, a portion of our house, where we kept out cattle and used for storing farm equipments, collapsed due to heavy rain and winds. We had a nice pair of oxen for farming. One of them died due to illness. All this happened in a short period of 2-3 months. I used to go to school, but with disturbed mind. These misfortunes occurred when funds were almost zero. I was too young to help in any way, excepting managing with whatever was available. My father and mother fought hard to win over the difficulties, obtained loans from relatives and friends and managed somehow.  

In the later part of that year, my mother became seriously ill and for almost 2 months, it was doubtful if she would survive. (By God’s grace she is still with us) I shall not go into the detail how she was treated, but I would prefer to mention that she was treated under Indian herbal therapy called Ayurveda by a practitioner (they are known as ‘Vaidyas’) in our village. Allopaethic practitioners were not available in villages and calling any from a city for visit was beyond our means.   

I should not forget to mention that my teachers and school principal were very co-operative, tolerating my long and frequent absences, helping me in coping up with the lessons I missed. So when results of my final examination were announced I could manage to secure comparatively good result. I was second highest scorer in my class.

My teachers and principal (about whom I shall have to make separate article) insisted that I should continue studies in college and pursue science stream. The principal assured me that he would manage for scholarships and free stay in hostels. But the family circumstances were against such decision. My first priority was to get some job and assist my family financially, as four sisters and brother were growing up, and income of my father (who was the sole earner) was falling short.

So I joined job-oriented courses like typing, shorthand, but being under-age (below 18, which is the legal age for employment) I had to continue it for almost 15 months and then I was lucky to get a job as typist in a government organization. Luck was with me in this matter, as I was selected from more than a hundred candidates who appeared in interview and test for that post. The only reason I was selected was that I knew typing in English as well as in our language, Gujarati, and could handle both, which the post demanded.

I do not hesitate in saying that it was the opening of door from where the ladder of progress and prosperity was to open for me. I had determined that I should continue my studies further and so I enrolled as an external student with the university, and could obtain Degree (Bachelor of Arts) with honors after four years. As I had a job in the city, I had to travel the same way as I was traveling while I was in eighth grade. Office began at 10-30 p.m. and ended at 5-30 p.m. So I could utilize the time between office hours and train timings for studies. Reading at home after reaching late was very difficult because we had no electricity. Therefore, most of my reading during those years was on railway platforms and in trains. Of course, I used to take vacations when the examinations were near.

Soon after I got my graduation I joined regular college for studies in law. The college hours were in the morning so it was possible to work and study. But I had to leave home at 5 a.m. to reach in time for morning time in college. It was frustrating. I thought if I continue my present job I would not be able to progress at a speed I needed. Most of my time was wasted in traveling and poor infrastructure like lack of electricity, poor roads would hinder my aspirations. I decided that I should find a good job in a big city like Ahmedabad or Mumbai. I started applying. My family was not happy with my decision, but I could convince them. Ahmedabad had become the capital of the newly formed State of Gujarat. It was a textile city already. Potential of advancement here was tremendous. I appeared for interview for a post in a known textile mill, selected, but could not accept for the salary was not encouraging. After a few months I saw an ad from a multinational and decided I should grab this post. I applied, appeared for interview and was selected. By this time I had completed one term in my studies in law and second term was to begin. So I requested them to offer me appointment so, if they have selected me so that I can continue my second term of law degree in Ahmedabad. They have agreed and I began my studies of law in Ahmedabad. My association with this multinational continued till I opted for voluntary separation. Here also the college hours were morning so I had no difficulty. I obtained my second degree in Law after completion of studies for two years.

I still continued studies and joined evening college for one year Diploma in Labour Laws and Practice. I got through this also. Then I joined for two years Master’s Degree in Law. This was also evening college. In those days very few students ventured this Masters Degree. We were hardly about 15 students in the subjects which I offered – Constitution and International Law. After first year, known as part one only 3 students passed. I was one of them. Second year was difficult and I was involved with many other activities that I could not attend the college regularly. However, I was allowed to keep terms and appear for examination. I, however, decided not to appear for examination as I could not prepare well. My term was granted so I had option to appear in the next year, but that next year never came!

When I look back I feel happy and lucky that I could reach the level, I had never thought or imagined in my childhood in the matter of studies.