L&T, AMRITA, and I.

On the 2nd of August, a month in which I completed 59yrs and 8 months, I drove to Ettimadai, 35 kms from Palakkad towards Coimbatore, from where I could see ACC cement factory of Coimbatore closer, than the Walayar cement factory of Palakkad . It was to receive an appointment order from the Director, Corporate and International Relations (CIR), of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University to enable me to be a faculty in Soft skills for their campus at Edappally, Kochi.

That journey had some peculiarities. I drove and traveled alone. Surprisingly I liked sitting beside me for that entire journey; to and fro. That was the same way I traveled from Goregaon to Andheri, 33 yrs back, alone but by a suburban train ; to meet with the Personnel officer of Larsen&Toubro Limited in the hope of making it there. That train carried not only me, but it carried the hopes and fears of my parents and few friends; whether I would make it ; as an employee. The car that carried me now also carried the anxiety and the optimism of my wife, daughters and few friends that I would make it there ;first of all whether I would make it there by driving safely, and secondly whether I would get it..
I waited for about an hour to get the letter.
I sat on the concrete bench of a small park opposite L&T's works at Powaii then; wondering whether I would fit into that job well.
This time I sat in the plastic chair of Amrita's canteen and waited. The level and reasons for the anxiety differed; but it was there. One thing was for sure. My sitting there was part of divine destiny.I have had the holy water from the hands of the Poojari's of temples when I was young.
I have also had the 'Restorer of spirits' from the bartenders of pubs and permit rooms ; probably more than what was required. Now that I am waiting to be a faculty in a known Institute. I can quote W Churchill that ''I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me''.

Can there be flood without water?.
It was a forward from Kochappan that paved the way for my trips to Ettimadai, and the trips I would be making to their Edappally campus.
If I would stand and deliver what I am supposed to deliver, it would because of the opportunities, Larsen & Toubro and Guru Rajasekharan had given me.

Victor Borge a famous pianist, after a show on stage said '' I thank my parents for making this show possible, and my wife and children who made it a necessity''

In a thanks giving speech I would alter Victor's words a little and say

'While accepting this job, I should thank kochappan, L&T, and Rajasekharan for making it possible,and the personal loan divisions of Syndicate bank And State bank of India which made it a necessity'