Kartar Singh

As I was in School in Ludhian I had made some close friends Rama, Madan and Dhir. We used to hang out a lot and see movies & play cards. This was a matter of concern to both parents condidering the time I was spending with them. I know

they did not like it. At on time we left Ludhiana and went to visit Hardwar and Rishikesh without their approval and at another time without their knowledge to Delhi. This obviously was an instance that caused one hell of pain to them. I can imagine now what anguish this would have caused them not knowing where I was. They went around from place to place looking for me and I would always feel the guilt about what stupid and insensitive this was on my part. ( And I even did not run away with a girl) They never ever mentioned this.

Taking this into consideration they were not willing to let me go to college - and I don't blame them the least. At one time they invited brother Gurbax to get me some job after I had finished school. He took me to Jullunder and wanted me to work as conductor in the local OMNI bus service. He took me for a ride in the bus to show me what it was like. He respected my decision that I did not like it a bit. He took the courage to help me get into the college and told my father that he would pay for all my fees. It so happened that during the admission process I was rejected for enrolment. At time my father agreed to use his infulence with the Landlord in Bhaura named Sawhney whose brother was a big shot in Ludhiana. With his help I got the admission and my father did pay all my fees and expenses after the first installment.

After I finished college nin 1956, he requested P.N. Thaper ICS for help in getting me some good job. Again because of his dedicated and honest service, P.N. Thaper refered me to his close friend B.C. Mukerjee ICS, Managing Director Fertilizer Corporation of India who created a new position of Supervisor Apparentice for me. I was the only one on this position for the next 5-6 years. I was sent to National Instruments Factory in Calcutta and later to FCI Sindri for training. Later around 1959 at Naya Nangal, B.C.Mukerjee, on my request, also helped brother Gurcharn get in to FCI as Office Assistant and later rise to be Asst. Chief Engineer.

Joginder