Angry letter from a young lady

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Topic: Angry letter from a young lady

Angry letter from a young lady
«on: 06/24/04 at 09:25:28 »

An Angry letter from a young lady made JRD Tata change his rule...

" Sudha Murthy was livid when a job advertisement posted by a Tata company at the institution where she was completing her post graduation stated, "Lady candidates need not apply". She dashed off a post card to JRD Tata, protesting against the discrimination.

Following this, Mrs. Murthy was called for an interview and she became the first female engineer to work on the shop floor at Telco (now Tata Motors). It was the beginning of an association that would change her life in more ways than one.

"THERE are two photographs that hang on my office wall. Everyday when I enter my office I look at them before starting my day. They are pictures of two old people. One is of a gentleman in a blue suit and the other is a black and white image of a man with dreamy eyes and a white beard. People have often asked me if the people in the photographs are related to me. Some have even asked me, "Is this black and white photo that of
a Sufi saint or a religious Guru?"

I smile and reply "No, nor are they related to me. These people made an impact on my life. I am grateful to them."

"Who are they?"

"The man in the blue suit is Bharat Ratna JRD Tata and the black and white photo is of Jamsetji Tata."

"But why do you have them in your office?"

"You can call it gratitude."

Then, invariably, I have to tell the person the following story: -

It was a long time ago. I was young and bright, bold and idealistic. I was in the final year of my Master's course in Computer Science at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore, then known as the Tata Institute.

Life then was full of fun and joy. I did not know what helplessness or injustice meant. It was probably in April of 1974. Bangalore was getting warm and gulmohars were blooming at the IISc campus. I was the only girl in my postgraduate department and was staying at the ladies' hostel. Other girls were pursuing research in different departments of Science. I was looking forward to going abroad to complete a doctorate in computer science. I had been offered scholarships from Universities in
the US. I had not thought of taking up a job in India.

One day, while on the way to my hostel from our lecture-hall complex, I saw an advertisement on the notice board. It was a standard job-requirement notice from the famous automobile company Telco (now Tata Motors). It stated that the company required young, bright engineers, hardworking and with an excellent academic background, etc.

At the bottom was a small line: "Lady candidates need not apply."

I read it and was very upset. For the first time in my life I was up against gender discrimination.

Though I was not keen on taking up the job, I saw it as a challenge. I had done extremely well in academics, better than most of my male peers. Little did I know then that in real life academic excellence is not enough to be successful.

After reading the notice I went fuming to my room. I decided to inform the topmost person in Telco's management about the injustice the company was perpetrating. I got a postcard and started to write, but there was a problem: I did not know who headed Telco. I thought it must be one of the Tatas. I knew JRD Tata was the head of the Tata Group; I had seen his pictures in newspapers (actually, Sumant Moolgaokar was the company's chairman then).

I took the card, addressed it to JRD and started writing. To this day I remember clearly what I wrote:

"The great Tatas have always been pioneers. They are the people who started the basic infrastructure industries in India, such as iron and steel, chemicals, textiles and locomotives. They have cared for higher education in India, such as iron and steel, chemicals, textiles and locomotives. They have cared for higher education in India since 1900 and they were responsible for the establishment of the Indian Institute of Science. Fortunately, I study there. But I am surprised how a company
such as Telco is discriminating on the basis of gender."

I posted the letter and forgot about it. Less than 10 days later, I
received a telegram stating that I had to appear for an interview at Telco's Pune facility at the company's expense. I was taken aback by the telegram. My hostel mate told me I should use the opportunity to go to Pune free of cost and buy them the famous Pune saris for cheap! I collected Rs 30 each from everyone who wanted a sari. When I look back, I feel like laughing at the reasons for my going, but back then they seemed good enough to make the trip.

It was my first visit to Pune and I immediately fell in love with the city. To this day it remains dear to me. I feel as much at home in Pune as I do in Hubli, my hometown. The place changed my life in so many ways.

As directed, I went to Telco's Pimpri office for the interview. There were six people on the panel and I realised then that this was serious business. "This is the girl who wrote to JRD," I heard somebody whisper as soon as I entered the room. By then I knew for sure that I would not get the job. The realisation abolished all fear from my mind, so I was rather cool while the interview was being conducted.

Even before the interview started, I reckoned the panel was biased, so I told them, rather impolitely, "I hope this is only a technical interview." They were taken aback by my rudeness, and even today I am ashamed about my attitude.

The panel asked me technical questions and I answered all of them. Then an elderly gentleman with an affectionate voice told me, "Do you know why we said lady candidates need not apply? The reason is that we have never employed any ladies on the shop floor. This is not a co-ed college; this is a factory. When it comes to academics, you are a first ranker throughout. We appreciate that, but people like you should work
in research laboratories."

I was a young girl from small-town Hubli. My world had been a limited place. I did not know the ways of large corporate houses and their difficulties, so I answered, "But you must start somewhere, otherwise no woman will ever be able to work in your factories."

Finally, after a long interview, I was told I had been successful. So this was what the future had in store for me. Never had I thought I would take up a job in Pune.

I met a shy young man from Karnataka there, we became good friends and we got married.

It was only after joining Telco that I realised whom JRD was: the
uncrowned king of Indian industry. Now I was scared, but I did not get to meet him till I was transferred to Bombay.

One day I had to show some reports to Mr. Moolgaokar, our chairman, who we all knew as SM. I was in his office on the first floor of Bombay House (the Tata headquarters) when, suddenly JRD walked in. That was the first time I saw "appro JRD". Appro means "our" in Gujarati. This was the affectionate term by which people at Bombay House called him.

I was feeling very nervous, remembering my postcard episode. SM introduced me nicely, "Jeh (that's what his close associates called him), this young woman is an engineer and that too a postgraduate. She is the first woman to work on the Telco shop floor."

JRD looked at me. I was praying he would not ask me any questions about my interview (or the postcard that preceded it). Thankfully, he didn't. Instead, he remarked, "It is nice that girls are getting into engineering in our country. By the way, what is your name?"

"When I joined Telco I was Sudha Kulkarni, Sir," I replied. "Now I am Sudha Murthy." He smiled kindly and started a discussion with SM. As for me, I almost ran out of the room.

After that I used to see JRD on and off. He was the Tata Group chairman and I was merely an engineer. There was nothing that we had in common. I was in awe of him.

One day I was waiting for Murthy, my husband, to pick me up after office hours. To my surprise I saw JRD standing next to me. I did not know how to react. Yet again I started worrying about that postcard. Looking back, I realise JRD had forgotten about it. It must have been a small incident for him, but not so for me.

"Young lady, why are you here?" he asked. "Office time is over."

I said, "Sir, I'm waiting for my husband to come and pick me up."

JRD said, "It is getting dark and there's no one in the corridor. I'll
wait with you till your husband comes."

I was quite used to waiting for Murthy, but having JRD waiting
alongside made me extremely uncomfortable.

I was nervous. Out of the corner of my eye I looked at him. He wore a simple white pant and shirt. He was old, yet his face was glowing. There wasn't any air of superiority about him. I was thinking, "Look at this person. He is a chairman, a well-respected man in our country and he is waiting for the sake of an ordinary employee."

Then I saw Murthy and I rushed out. JRD called and said, "Young lady, tell your husband never to make his wife wait again."

In 1982 I had to resign from my job at Telco. I was reluctant to go, but I really did not have a choice. I was coming down the steps of Bombay House after wrapping up my final settlement when I saw JRD coming up. He was absorbed in thought. I wanted to say goodbye to him, so I stopped. He saw me and paused.

Gently, he said, "So what are you doing, Mrs. Kulkarni?" (That was the way he always addressed me.)

"Sir, I am leaving Telco."

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"Pune, Sir. My husband is starting a company called Infosys and I'm shifting to Pune."

"Oh! And what will you do when you are successful."

"Sir, I don't know whether we will be successful."

"Never start with diffidence," he advised me. "Always start with
confidence. When you are successful you must give back to society. Society gives us so much; we must reciprocate. I wish you all the best."

Then JRD continued walking up the stairs. I stood there for what seemed like a millennium. That was the last time I saw him alive.

Many years later I met Ratan Tata in the same Bombay House, occupying the chair JRD once did. I told him of my many sweet memories of working with Telco. Later, he wrote to me, "It was nice hearing about Jeh from you. The sad part is that he's not alive to see you today."

I consider JRD a great man because, despite being an extremely busy person, he valued one postcard written by a young girl seeking justice. He must have received thousands of letters everyday. He could have thrown mine away, but he didn't do that. He respected the intentions of that unknown girl, who had neither influence nor money, and gave her an opportunity in his company. He did not merely give her a job; he changed
her life and mindset forever.

Close to 50 per cent of the students in today's engineering colleges are girls. And there are women on the shop floor in many industry segments.

I see these changes and I think of JRD. If at all time stops and asks me what I want from life, I would say I wish JRD were alive today to see how the company we started has grown. He would have enjoyed it wholeheartedly.

My love and respect for the House of Tata remains undiminished by the passage of time. I always looked up to JRD. I saw him as a role model for his simplicity, his generosity, his kindness and the care he took of his employees. Those blue eyes always reminded me of the sky; they had the same vastness and magnificence."

Thank you,

Sudha"

Rupam
Rupam

Re: Angry letter from a young lady
«on: 07/05/04 at 17:19:46 »

marvellous piece, biswajit.

coolgal
Guest

Re: Angry letter from a young lady
«on: 07/06/04 at 12:33:07 »

That was an excellent piece. I myself have just cleared the engineering entrance and will now be going to an NIT to study computers. Your piece has been an inspiration indeed. :)
But even now Girls make up only 10% of the students in good institutions like iit and nits. Even so they are resticted to ECE and CSE and IT. One hardly sees any girls in Mechanical or Civil. Amra merar maje engineering porar josh tain awa aro baaki ase. Best of luck to all the girls who will be embarking on a journey like me! :D

Guest
Guest

Re: Angry letter from a young lady
«on: 07/10/04 at 16:36:15 »

well i too agree that that was a nice letter biswajit. but the thing is that we get mails in the office containing these kind of stuffs every day..now if each one of us starts copy pasteing these things in the discussion forum then our favourite room will loose its charm. this particular forum is meant for discussing about NIT Silchar and related topic. so i will humbly request you to post discussions about our college.

Biswajit Acharjee
Biswajit_Acharjee

Re: Angry letter from a young lady
«on: 07/12/04 at 15:33:57 »

Dear (Mr./Mrs/Miss) Guest..yes u r correct..but my friend..those who ALL visit silchar.com do not get mails like U and me=> There are students and others visitors also who can go through..I have posted this nice Article not for getting credits or aacolades from others. I thought its a good article, frm which we can take some thing in our life.
As u r taking about loosing of charm of this site(by posting this kind of article). Yes my friend that is Exactly What I am doing right now by giving u a reply. I think these king of comments(made by U) and Reply (giving by me) effects the charm of this site. I am sorry for that, I couldn't resist myself.
I hope u will not give any comments on my reply. and help to keep the site clean. I wish this site can have a "Garbage Collector".. ;D So that it can make out which post to be deleted..

And one last request logon to your original name b4 making any comment or reply. This is one other way we can make this site a clean one. :)

guest
Guest

Re: Angry letter from a young lady
«on: 07/14/04 at 15:30:57 »

hey biswajit,
cool yaar.. i did not mean to hurt you neither did i post the message to start a quarrel with you...i only gave my view.. i think you got too "sent" ;Di about the post..thats why you virtually abused me(garbage collector!!!! ;D)..cheer up man..

x-rec
Guest

typical sichari
«on: 07/15/04 at 07:37:46 »

hi,
whats going on...among u two guys..u..guest & biswajit....so its confirmed the guest is a non silchari and biswajit a typical sichari..( living in pond like a frog..)..attitudes / thinkings and concepts never change..i am sorry..dear friend...open ur eyes...look around u...be a broad mind..person...cheer up..

an old rec student

hmm..interesting
Guest

Re: typical sichari
«on: 07/20/04 at 18:39:41 »

Well said buddy (X-Rec),

I guess Mr. Biswajit, instead of advicing others you should start thinking what you are doing. The messages you posted are not your piece of work these are mails which all of us recieve and most of us redirect them to junk box. Yeah you did you a good job by doing copy paste. Be matured, dude... there's no point eating so much space of Silchar.com. Do you want to know why we are trying to advice you hiding behind a fake identity, that's because from your immature early writtings I could understand you are not worth to be debated. Post some interesting stuff I promise I'll appreciate you

All the best

[quote author=x-rec link=board=0022&num=1088060128&start=0#6 date=07/15/04 at 07:37:46]
hi,
whats going on...among u two guys..u..guest & biswajit....so its confirmed the guest is a non silchari and biswajit a typical sichari..( living in pond like a frog..)..attitudes / thinkings and concepts never change..i am sorry..dear friend...open ur eyes...look around u...be a broad mind..person...cheer up..

an old rec student
[/quote]

haaa... Haaaa
Guest

Re: typical sichari
«on: 07/20/04 at 20:14:38 »

Haaa... Haaa....

I could not stop laughing now, after reading the previous post I tried to find out what Mr. Acharjee is upto and checked few of his old posting. For a moment I got confused am I really at Silchar.com or looking at the bulk mail folder of yahoo.

Trust me Biswajit was a achu#@ when he was at REC and my junior, I thought time has changed him. But I think few things can't be changed that includes him too..........

guest
Guest

Re: Angry letter from a young lady
«on: 07/21/04 at 20:23:45 »

hello,
i am the same old guest for which all this quarrel started.. now i came to know that biswajit is a ex rexian. so can i know from which batch he is? may be i know him.

Rexian111
Guest

Re: Angry letter from a young lady
«on: 07/21/04 at 23:50:51 »

I guess he cursed REC in between 1995-1999

Thanks

Munna_Bhai_MBBS
Munna_Bhai_MBBS

Re: Angry letter from a young lady
«on: 07/26/04 at 20:21:47 »

laage roohooo...

Rupam
Rupam

Re: Angry letter from a young lady
«on: 07/27/04 at 12:02:54 »

yeah...dude...I am sure you receive these emails at your mailboxes...day in and day out...along with several other equally or more enlightening ones...though I am skeptical to the hilt, if these bright pieces have had any impact on you...even if they have, it certainley does not show in your postings...

the point remains, not everyone is as 'blessed' as you...to be regularly filled with such self- actualising emails...spare a thought for them...

this messageboard is not anyone's fiefdom...other than the admin's ofcourse...and there might be a whole lot of readers of this messageboard who not necessarily are posters of messages here...a whole lot of people in the valley access this site...they are not as privileged as you to be regularly receiving feeds through emails as you do...the postings of this kind would surely help them...

what biswajit posted was certainley not his own musings...but he did not post any crap either...whats the whole point in wrangling so much about an innocuous posting by perhaps one of the most admired females in the country...about arguably the best industrialist in the country?

what the heck is the whole point?

I for one, did not receive that in my email...and several of my colleagues had not either...and believe me...some of them are from engineering colleges that are far far better then the college biswajit, I, or some of you are from...the Internet is a way of dissiminating information...and you have the liberty to skip and pick...so you dont like some piece...brush aside...just dont try to unsettle it...because...you simply can not.
spare a thought.
regards
Rupam.

Shankar_Chakravarti
Shankar_Chakravart

Re: Angry letter from a young lady
«on: 07/27/04 at 13:06:54 »

[quote author=Rupam link=board=0022&num=1088060128&start=0#12 date=07/27/04 at 12:02:54]
...the Internet is a way of dissiminating information...and you have the liberty to skip and pick...
[/quote]

[i]Dear Rupam[/i],
U R right . Many postings are copy /paste . Now-a-days information available is so vast that
it is difficult to access even 1%. If someone gives some information it is always welcome. No matter if anybody knows it already. I hope Biswajit Acharjee or anybody for that matter is not discouraged to share information after reading this adverse comments in this thread. I am sure, like me, many of us are learning lot of thing by simply visiting silchar.com.

Munna_Bhai_MBBS
Munna_Bhai_MBBS

Re: Angry letter from a young lady
«on: 07/27/04 at 14:24:05 »

Hi,
Whats goin on? here?? Now public will read the comments rather than the posting..and honestly this peace of information is new to me..I have seen some one used some adjectives to Mr. B. Acharjee. this is not at all good. So plz stop all those lag pulling...and stop commenting...

guest
Guest

Re: Angry letter from a young lady
«on: 07/27/04 at 22:28:53 »

dear rupam and sankar....it is true that everybody is not so "blessed" as you and me....so might be biswajit did a great job by pasting the mail...but i simply gave my view that this room is specially meant for us the rexians to talk about our college...and it was only my view...but this guy started quarreling like a damn cheap man.....thats why our fellow rexians told me what kind of a man he was when he was a student

Kankan_Bhatt
Kankan_Bhatt

Re: Angry letter from a young lady
«on: 07/29/04 at 01:20:13 »

Common Guys....give me a break... ;D

This is not a burning discussion topic....Just read the wonderfull attachment by Biswajit learn something if you wnat to and go ahead. It will automatically go below .

But you guys have made it to a top 3 burnig topic....
;D ;D ;D ;D

Aar pari na....

Kankan

Rupam
Rupam

Re: Angry letter from a young lady
«on: 07/29/04 at 12:45:50 »

and you just added to it. 8)

gauwa
Guest

Re: Angry letter from a young lady
«on: 07/29/04 at 16:18:58 »

burning topic aar jai kow discussion igu kintu jomi gese...aar Rupam da tumi to janoi REC r moidhey legpulling chollei...jodi koy ekjone miliye aar ekjoner leg pulling koriya anondo pay teile itate kunu khoti to nai.....ita re ba aamrar REC r culture...keu charte parto na...Biswajit Acharjee re shobe bage paise....itar ligai legpulling korer....
anyways tumi aakhon koi aaso? tumar MBA shes ni? aami CANDEQUE team er one of five...

Rupam
Rupam

Re: Angry letter from a young lady
«on: 07/29/04 at 17:46:37 »

shei famous five err ekjon nii...sesh paise...paach mohapurush err ek jon...
email koro rebaa...details emails e janani jaibo.

Biswajit Acharjee
Biswajit_Acharjee

Re: Angry letter from a young lady
«on: 08/04/04 at 17:24:16 »

Ohh No..... ???Sorry friends for the posting.. Its really taking a new track... Hay man(Guest) I am not doing any quarrel.. I just told what we people do by lagpulling with "FAKE IDS" C this topic has come to 2 pages..Dont u feel that now we r wasting the memory space!!! Well some one has also used some king of adjectives.I have posted the same keeping the REC student in mind. Yes we do get lots of mail...I just found it good one... R kau re ba public er oto somoy koi je nijhe kuno article lekia post kotro...r "DISCUSSION" bole to dek raiau?? kita choler... khali leg pulling na ni??

Cholo sorry again...and plz stop this topic... :)

chutolok
Guest

Re: Angry letter from a young lady
«on: 02/13/05 at 03:34:15 »

>:( :o ::) :-/ :'(otto boro boro raamkahani kemne lekho ba tumra

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