My wonderful first posting as A.ssistant Engineer Irrigation Department at Mainpuri in 1963 onwards

My sub divisional staff was a wonderful team. My Barkandaz 's name was Sh. Suraj Bhan Singh who was a wrestler and his height was 6 n 1/2 feet tall. He used to drink about 1/2 kg of desi ghee/ day and plenty of food and milk . Every year he used to enter in the competition of wrestling organised by the then District Magistrate. On winning the competition Sh. Suraj Bhan Singh used to touch the feet of all the officers of the administration at district level and he was honoured with garland and the best wrestler of the district by the DM of Mainpuri. As he was my security person he used to guard the cash chest. Whenever I went for inspection I used to take him along with me in my car or the govt. jeep. I remember one instance when I was travelling to Kanpur to attend my official duty and we were in our car when all of sudden we were crossing, the bridge across the river Kali Nadi. This bridge was having only one way traffic but due to the negligence of the staff at one end of the river ,a bullock cart from the opposite side and our car was in the middle of the bridge and the position was very awkward as the bullock cart could go in the reverse direction because it had got no reverse gear. As such we were to go back by applying reverse gear. But before this heated arguments were exchanged. In the twinkling of an eye I noticed that Sh. Suraj Bhan Singh lifted the cart man by his legs and held him upside down on the river railing of the bridge and he was asking the cart man to whether he would like to be thrown into the river from the bridge. To this the cart man humbly requested him and as such he was pardoned. I had also intervened and the matter ended. As we crossed the river I had to convince him that he should be polite with the poor and humble people. Anyway we reached Kanpur quite safely. On the same day we hired a rickshaw to the canal inspection house at Phool Bagh and the rickshaw puller demanded extra charges more than the fixed rates. At that time he lifted the rickshaw and exploded on the rickshaw puller and challenged him that if he demanded more than the fixed rate , in that case he would throw the rickshaw on the road and damage it completely. On seeing this the rickshaw puller quite humbly accepted the fixed rate prevailing at that time in those days. On account of my safety personal I felt ,at that time ,very much safe.
To be continued.............

First Posting at Mainpuri (UP)

I got my first appointment letter from UP Public Service Commision and posted in Lower Ganga Canal Division 2 Mainpuri.This town was never heard by me and it was a great surprise to me.Once I had heard that Mainpuri was famous for thugs and decoits.So I was cursing my luck that I got a small placeon the first posting.I requested my eldest brother to accompany me to that fearful place.My brother told me that I would not to worry at all So we both took ours the old model car it was Landmaster black in color.We reached Mainpuri via Agra ,Firzabad and Shikohabad.We put up in office cum residence near Taparia mill on station road Mainpuri. This was a huge house having 4 to 5 big rooms.We had got only a suitcase and a bedding kit .We were in a fix where we should put our luggage as the house was too big for us.Any way we settled in one room keeping the other rooms empty.We were also astonished that we were having 5 to 6 persons at our beck and call.Mine was a mechanical sub division and I had got 2 E and M supervisors One Sub Divisional Clerk, one peon , one Duffedar , one burkandaz and 3 to 4 runners for distributing dak.There was one jeep two trucks ( Dodge,one bedfordtruck) .I was in charge of mechanical subdivision.In my subdivision there two sites one at Danahar and other at Dhandos at main Kanpur branch canal.As at that time the canal was being widened and the remodelling work of the canal was in full swing .Here it was worth mentioning that I being Civil engineer was given work of mechanical sub division.There was one workshop equipped with Lathe machine, drilling machine , one shaper , one milling machine,welding and all the mechanical stores and there was a store keeper to supervise the workshop.In the Field there was two drag lines one was of BLACK WOOD HODGE make and other Tata P and H model.two bull doze rs D-7 make.In those days the work was in full swing I had to live about 10 days at Dannahar and !0 at Dhandhos site and rest at headquarters Mainpuri.There was so many mechanical staff like mechanics drag line operators drivers of tractors and bull doze rs helpers.Or operation of machines I had to fetch the diesel and other lubricants from Delhi All the diesel and lubricants were carted by Govt Trucks and Some times I also accompanied the trucks to Delhi and return after the work toMainpuri .My interest in those days was that by doing so I had a chance to meet my parents at Delhi.Continued.......

Roorkee University in year 1959 onwards upto 1963

During the engineering we enjoyed the our course and were proud to be engineer.During the tenure of Sh. G N Pandey as VC the university was expanded and there were so many parks developed.We could find greenery all our the university campus.Roads were also laid in those years.After completing the course we came back to our respective homes with satisfied frame of minds and I completed the B.E. Civil . My name was registered in employment bureau which was recently opened in the University campus in those years.I got interview letters but not enjoyed any where .I got short term commissioned post of 2nd LT from defence as there was great demand of engineers due to war in 1962.I was also given chance to get post of Supervisor grade one in MES on borders roads but sent a telegram regarding ill health.On seeing this my Bauji got annoyed and told us (including my brother who had done his Bsc) either we had to do some job or we might not get food from the house and that our beds would be lay ed in open or we would be shifted to the factory.The idea was to do something to earn our livelihood .He also told us to work hard and we would get success in our lives.He used to utter the sher ...." Mehnat karo azizo mahnat se kam hoga , kaheten hain jise waqt aa kar gulam hoga"On that day I went to Town Hall in MCD office and showed my degree of B E Civil to MR RAO the chief planning engineer and he soon gave me the appointment to the post of Graduate Section Officer in the planning department in engineering section.I worked in MCD for 3 to 4 months on this post but I could not get the pay as my medical test was not received.During medical test Doctor reported that I was having Hernia and as such I was not fit for govt job involving field work.I then pressed that I got the job in planning section as such medical fitness might be given.He gave that certificate so late that I received offer from Irrigation Department UP and was called for interview for the post of Assistant Engineer ( a class two gazetted post)in year 1963)I went to Allahabad and was immediately got selected .I then appeared in front of medical board and was given fitness certificate.I remember when I was appearing for medical before the civil surgeon who could not find some identification mark on my face and such jokingly remarked that my mother took so much care of me that she had not allowed to fall down and as such no identification marks on the face .I was much proud of my mother who took so much care during my childhood.I bow my head to the departed soul in great respects.While going to UP for service I requested my friend Sh Sohan Lal Arora to hand over the pay of my period to my mother when the name was received from MCD. I authorised Mr Arora for this purpose.Later on I got the information that the pay was duly handed over by my friend to my mother.This was the type of morality among friends and colleagues.I was also tired of my locality people as most of the people used to come and requested my father to get some work of sanction and licence etc done as I was in MCD.I had do the social work and could not sit for my work for which I was being paid by the MCD.This was also the reason which compelled me to leave the MCD job.Moreover I was also getting the higher post which attracted me for my move to join the U P cadre job .in year 1963.

Roorkee University in year 1959 onwards

During second year I was taking interest in games like Gym. and badminton .I remeber that Mr J N Tandon was secretary badminton and used to play a wonderful play.At evening the badminton courts were in the Pacific hanger and the courts were lighted wonderfully.I used to do some floor exercises, and exercises on horizontal bars and parallel bars and on rings.I also remember that there were yogic exercises also and its Secretary was Sh Harpal Singh.Our officer commanding was Prof. Mahesh Chandra and he used to encourage us and was very friendly and we had a group photograph with him wearing sports uniform.After completing we were promoted to final year as this was 3 years course .All over India there was 4 year course of Engineering and ours was the last batch of 3 years course.I remember that in those years China attacked India in year 1962 and there was great shortage of engineers and great demand in Borders roads in MES.In final year there was all India tour conducted by University and that was very much interesting.We were divided in two groups in our group about 60 students and we were given one birth in train coaches and this boggy was attached to different trains.We used to visit the new cities and places of importance and return to the same boggy.In each coach one Prof was used to be in charge one Kitchen boggy was also attached to the coach and at night we used to get the food in the coach itself.We had visited places like Bombay ,Banglore,Jagannathpuri Ajanta Ellora Aurangabad,Mysore,Madras Pune,Asonsol Jharia coal mines Kanpur,Chandigarh Bhakra Dam,Varanasi Mugalsarai Dam s.I still remember our visit of Lalit palace (MYSORE)Vrandavan gardens Nandi Bull HMT Banglore Arrey Milk colony and Shoe House , ( BOMBAY),Marine drive Madras, Chopati of Bombay.In final year we had to submit the project report and I took practical training at some project at Cannaught place .I had took training on the fire station building being constructed in those years .I submitted the project report detailing regarding layout.reinforcement shuttering scaffolding estimate and all the materials used and their specifications still remember that we got the degree and Dr Rajerdra Prasad the President of India had honoured us by distributing degree and we felt proud when we went to the stage wearing hood and gown and photographed with him and the then VC Sh G. N. Pandey.Continued..............

Roorkee University in year 1959 onwards

During the tenure of Kalsi camp of surveying we enjoyed the life the most and learnt the surveying work .We were divided in 5 to 6 students groups for surveying and used to live in tents and in the morning till evening we used to do surveying work on the hilly terrain and then we used to compile the readings and plot on the drawing sheets.At night we used to roam about in the small village named as CHUHAR PUR nearby.There were hilly roads and narrow hilly tracks and small river was also flowing. At night we used to burn timber bone fire so that jackals and other wild animals could not come near us.At night as we strolled we could find a hardly any body on the road.some of the villagers might drink wine at night do save them from cold whether.I remember when I was just passing at night a person was drunk and was unable to control and walking with his leg's tumbling.I just met one of neigbhour on the hills of Kalsi .He was a doctor and our next door neighbour in ALIAS BUILDING NAI BASTI IN BARA HINDU RAO NEW DELHI.His daughter "s name was Munni and she Know me .During survey work all my team went to his house just and talked welfare.Years Had passed and I lost track of that family but I utter few words in respect to that family.While returning from the survey camp I along with my friend saw Picture KOHI NOOR and that was my first picture in life in picture hall at Dehradun.Due to so much interest I saw another show the same day .I got headache and vomiting and came back to Roorkee and rested and got treatment for few days.I rather hate seeing picture but rarely saw them.Another picture I saw in those days was MUGHAL E AZAM
in Roorkee Talkies near the Centenary GAte of Roorkee University.It was a nice movie in those days.During stay at Dehradun I met our friend of pre partition named Bholu.His father had a great business of sweats and was famous as SARNI HALWAI.His KUT LAME were famous dish in good olden days.These KutLAME were just like Puries but made with desi ghee and ptato curry.Now again I lost track of of our family' s oldest friends.I rather wish to meet them which I think is my wishful thinking.During second year the studies were tough as usual and we used to study at night mostly I remember one tea shop near the University Gate which was opened throughout the whole night and the groups of students went there when ever they felt sleep and used to be fresh again.Once I took a tablet RITALIN an anti sleep tablets and I studied the whole night but I remember when I sat for exam. I was slept for 15 minutes but the teacher shrugged me and I started to solve the paper.From that date onward I never took any nasty medicine for avoiding the sleep.I was told by doctor also to avoid such medicines.I used to attend the hydrology classes and lab which was near the Azad Bhawan.
CONTINUING........................

Roorkee University in year 1959 onwards

During first year all the students stayed in the C Block.After first year we were shifted to diff rent hostels namely Azad Bhawan, Ravendra Nath Tagore Bhawan , Ganga Bhawan and for Architecture there was Asian Hostel etc. There were PG Hostels also. I was allotted room in Azad Bhawan and my room number was F-48 and it was located on the first floor.This room was situated in front of stair case and all the friends going downstairs and coming up used to disturb and any way I could not help and had to reside in that room.Some times I had to put lock on the door but even then friends jump from the balcony and in that way disturbance was there .These rooms were single seated and we had common bath rooms and toilets good in number s on each floor of the hostel.There was strange type of ventilators at bottom side of the room instead of at the roof level.By peeping through these ventilators one could know what is going inside whether any body was sleeping or studying.Some times I had to study under the table with a shaded lamp so that light could not be visible outside the room. It was the habit of some of my friends that they studied and completed their home work and they would enter in the others room for gossip and recreation etc.Although this habit was not good but this was the prevailing practice in those years.During second year I did not take part in ragging and I new some of friends did ragging of first year.One of my friend and from mechanical was very much interested in ragging.I liked our Survey Professor Sh S R Singh.He was our dean of students also.At the evening all the students used to go the play ground or club and some of them played Billiards.The marker was a very nice person .We felt elated when we played as we used to see in movies in the yest er years also .In the club all types of indoor games were played like carom board playing cards .and also some books and newspaper were available.We were not allowed to go to the picture halls in the old Rookee city.We were also debarred to go to Paran Kalian Ka Mela which were held in the near by village.Stict decipline was observed. Some times we had cycle race used to Haridwar on bicycles.We had Ncc camps at Raiwala near Dehradun.I remembered that one day my duty was on cotter gaurd and it was instructed that at night if any body or enemy enters we had to ask for pass word otherwise we had to shoot the intruder.The army person used to check at night whether the cadet was doing the duty in a correct way or not.During one occasion when I was on the Duty I challenged the intruder but he did not replied then the trainer came forward and tried to snatch my rifle .Then I uttered the words Ustad Ji It was you as such I spared him otherwise I could shoot him .To this the trainer laughed and instructed me to be cautious and would not repeat and I had to say sorry for my folly.We had got intensive training in the Ncc camp.We were told to lead a hard life and try to sustain all type of difficulties.We were given one bowl and a few utensils.As we got tired we were given milk buns and butter and in the evening after the parade we used to get tea and samosa etc .Life was hard but quite interesting We used to to the river side in the jungle and take bath and used to enjoy.We were given the Lanterns in the tent some torches in the tents.Daily there was a march past and there was siren and we had to fall in in proper lines and if any body was late then he was court marshal led and had to take rounds of the parade ground with both hands up or with rifle and kits on the back of each cadet.The parade march shoes were very heavy and it was our duty to polish our shoes and also to polish our belts with bras so .In the NCC camp we were given the rifle training and shooting and how to handle the heavy 303 rifles with heavy wooden buts.I remember that in second year the Professors Sh Jai Kishan,Pro.Jain taught us theory of structures and Earth quake eng.inneering and cancreat, plain and reinforced concreate pre stressed concrete,Pro.Arya Pb Shahni (survying)Prof.Sr Singh.etc I had a great regard and respect who taught us Now I had lost track of all of the great professors.We had also gone to Kalsi Surveying camp near Dehradun. This was basically plane table surveying practice and we had to plot and submit the papers. Contiued.........

Roorkee University in year 1959 onwards

Continuing the first year in the engineering was very crucial and there were huge books relating to all the subjects as this was supposed to be common year for all branches.I had to rush to different classes and tutorial classes.The most difficult for me was higher maths.We had to attend workshop. mechanical lab smithy and carpentry and photo lab for blue prints and at the evening rather night astronomical survey and strength of material labs.I forgot that we used to attend the NCC and rifle training .During the parade we were also taught how to defend our nation and during the war how to control and keep our nation and be alert from the within and civil defence etc.The best cadet award were also given to the deserving candidate.I remember that best cadet award was given to Sh V K Gupta our batch mate.Now I have lost track of Mr Gupta. Hopefully he must had out shined in his respective Field.Some of our old Friends were Mr.VK Gupta,Mr M.P Singh (C-1)JagRoshan Lal, Antomal Jain Mr G R Madan.VR Ranjan Garg,Manohar Lal Arora,Motilal,Jain Rk Garg , Rangi Lal Gupta,Madan Lal Dhingra,Sawami Saran ,B B K Lavania,Sc Kulshrshta,PK Mahajan,SC Gupta,PksawamiDin Dayal, DcRastogi,Mr Madhar,Ram saran,HB Karki,Edward Mussazi,Ranjit Singh,( all civil side) M N Kumra (senior) Ashok Malhotra My room mate in the first year ,Sh UK kohli Ramesh R N GOYAL From Electrical side and Mr Thadani,DV singh ,Naresh , Satish , Mechanical, Mr Pusker Nath Tiwari from electrical, Mr Vinod Virmani tele communication and Mr H.C Narang ( Tele communication) I also knew Mr Mahinder Kumra a senior and the class fellow of my elder brother Sh D V Sethi during school days and I also knew his Cousin sister Miss Rekha Kumra of tele com first year .I had heard the names of some girl students and the names were like Miss Shiromani Agarwal , Rekha Kumra ,Saroj Anand etc.Sh Mahesh Tandon and JN Tandon (all civil)Sh Jasbir Singh Arch.First year GD Singh (civil) Mr Sohal ( mech) Mr Malguria , Mr Jamwal,,MBL Agarwal (civil)Now I had lost all the track of old friends. I hope all must had exelled in their profession.Now I shall jump on to Azad Bhawan during secon year of my engineering Continued ..........